The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-11-05
Nev Facts = Lady Byron TO Mrs
Leigh.

october supplies the Following comments
and letters:
The new number Of NC Qtdrisriv Repis-
contains an elaborate article on the contro.
versy raised by Mrs. Stoves "True story OF
Lady Byron's Life" The reviewer writes
In style Of which the present generation
has had little cxpcriepcc-that OF the slash
ing pamphIeteer-and In his fury assails not
only those who have taken q part In the
present controversy, but some who have not
done 40, and who, he thinks, have no right
to look Idly on. lie begins by apparently
the plea put forward by some OF
Byron's defenders that the poets works are
to be judged Of apart from his life; the ''fair
fame" Of Lord Byron Is dear to the admirers
of his genius, and to "weaken his moral |
character Is to lower his literary reputation"
We are not called to follow the Quarterly |
Reviewer through the complete summary and
analysis Of the controversy which he holds
to bc imperatlvely required, and will not at
present weigh his conclusions. The writer
has some substantial contributions to make,
not, perhaps, to q solution Of the Byron
mystery, but to the defence Of Lord Byron
against Mrs. Stoves particular charge, and
il is Of these that we wish to take note.
They consist Of letters written by Lady Byron
to Mrs. Leigh, the poets sister, long after
the date at which ccordlng to Mrs. Stoves
narrative, Lady Byron had become aware OF
the connection between her husband and
that lady.
OF the letters, now published for the first
time, We are told that the first, not dated,
was evidently written by Lady Byron In Jan
uary, 1915, shortly before she len for Kirby
Mallory, her slster-in.law being then under
tho same roof with her. Mrs. Leigh re-
manned with Lord Byron In Piccadllly for
several weeks after the departure OF Lady
Byron, and only left him when she found
that she could be OF no further use to either
party;
tried two or three times, and cannot talk to
you Of your departure with decent visage-
so let me say one word 10 this way, to spare
my philosophy. With the expectations which
Ihsve never will nor eau ask you to stay
one moment longer than you are Inclined to
do. 1t would tbel the worst return for all !
lam truth ITSELF when say that, Whatever
the situation may be, there is no one whose
society Is ees.er to me or can contribute more
change under any circumstances, and should
be grieved Il you did not understand them
Should you hereafter condemn ne, I shall mol
love you less. / will say no more. Judge
for yourself about going or staying. | wish
you to consider for yourself II you could bt
wise enough to do that the first ttne II
"Thine, A1Hr
Addressed on the cover, ''to the Hor. Mrs
Leigh"
KIRBY MALLORY, Jan. y, 1916.
1.-The day after she left London.)
Ny Dearest 1T 10 my great comfort tn al
you are In Piecadilly.
DeartH 81 know you feel for meas do
for you, and perhaps I am better understood
than think. You have bcca, ever since
knew you, my best comforter, and Will 80 re.
main, unless you grow tired OF the Office.
which may well be.
Ny DeGrcn ATgTSidi-Sh,ll be your sister I
must resign my rights to be so considered.
But don't think that will make any differ.
enee in the kindnessI have 80 uniformly cx-
kIRnY MALLORY, Feb. 3, 1916.
My Dearest Augusta You are desired by
with my concurrence in proposing ascpnr,
tion. He has. Il cannot be supposed that,
In my present distressing situation, am
the reason which will not oniy Justify tho
measure, but compel me to take 1t; and II
sariiy t,ic) those ii juries for which, however
deep, feel no resentment. l will now only
recall TO Lord Byron's mind his avowed and
Insurmountablc aversion to the married state
and the desire and deter minstIon he has cx.
pressed ever since Its commencement to free
himself from that bondage. as finding II quite
insupportable, though clndiliy acknowledge
Ing that no effort OF duty or affection has
been wanting on my part. He has too palm
fully convinced me that all these attempts to
contribute towards his happiness were wholly
useless and most unwelcOme 10 him. enclose
this letter to nv father, wishing 1t to receive
his sanction. Ever yours, most afeetiouately,
A. |. ByRoS.
hope, my dear A, that you would Oh no sc.
count withhold from your brother the letter
which sent yesterday, in answer 10 you're writ
ten by his desirei particularly as one which
have received from himself to-day rondcrs II
still more important that he should know the
contents of that addressed to you. am, IN
ately, A l. BYRoN.
The present suferings OF all may yet be re.
paid 10 blessings. DO not despair absolutely,
dearest; and leave me but enough of your In.
terest to afford you any consolation by par.
taking Of that sorrow which l am most Mn'
happy to cause thus unintcntionAlly. You
will be Of my opinion hereafter, and at present
your biterest reproach would be forgiven
though heaven knows YOU hHye considered n'
than anything but my affection for Is on
most dear TO yog, e9nId deserve. ! must no
you from the bottom OF my heart Alb.
The reviewer thinks 1t not unlikely tina,
there are those who, even with these letter.
In their hands, will believe that Byron die
act as Mrs. Stowe has related, and he
imagines a number OF sophlsms by which
they may deceive themselves. We think
however, most people will admit that nc
lady would declare of friend that ''no one
was dearer" to her, or could have contrib,
uted more to her happiness, or was lei
best comforter" or would address her al
dearest" If she knew at that time what
Mrs. Stowe believes Lady Byron to have
known. After these letters, the following
from the Earl OF stanhope will probably
seem pale and suparauous.
Earl stanhope has kindly permitted us to
print the following extract from a private
letter written by him:
u was very well acquainted with Ers.
Leigh about forty years ago, (alas) and used
70 call upon her At st. James Palace to hear
her speak about Lord Byron, IS she was very
tOQd doing faef .alT
ion against what Is alleged, since, on such 4
supposition, the subject would surely be felt
unprePossessing 10 her person and appearance,
more like nun than anything, and never can
nave had the least pretensiOa to beauty /
thought her shy and sensitive to A t,uit In
her mind and character, and, from what saw
and knew OF her, | hold her to have been
pR..hy iGGsapaoIe Of such a crime as hr.
to cast upon her memory" ''h
The reviewer accounts for considerable
proportion Of Byron's evil reputation by
ibis tendency to be le fan tdron dcs piccs qua
n'dvdh pas" His habit of mystl1catlon was
so inyeterate that he paltered with himself.
or Lady Byron the reviewers conclusion Is
that her delusions are most charitably &C.
counted for by monomania. "Her mind was
not weak one, but she had impaired 1t by
religious speculations beyond her reach, and
long broodng over her trials, involving
some real and many imaginary wrongs"
BRAss.-Something has been said by one
OF the parties to the recent gold conspiracy
about President Grants abuse of his hospi.
tally. This probably arose from the occur
renoes on Gen. Grants trip here during jubl-
lee week. The President left New York foy
this city upon one Of the boats under the
charge OF the party to which reference is
above madei but all the arrangements were
made by one OF the Governors aid, who was
deputed to accompany and escort Grant to
Massachusetts. When the latter took pas
sage on board the boat, the "naval gentle
man." In uniform complete, appeared and
ioisted himself upon the company OF the
President, who was as much amused with his
conduct as with his makeup. In the course
OF the passage that person suggested the
propriety OF preparing supper for the dis
unRuisheu passenger. To this the Cover
nor AID assented, and ut the proper time
the onclous manager announced the repnst.
and Gen. Grant and party partook OF it,
When the presidential company reached
Boston, the busy gold SPECTATOR got itito one
Of the coaches provided by the city to convey
It's guests to the 81. James, and many qucs-
tons were asked by the municipal commit,