Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-11-07
New Light on the ByrOn Question

The London QI0Tferly Reriel0 fol
October has an article on the relations
of Lord Byron to his wife and sister
in which his innocence Of the charges
made public in Mrs. Stoves article l.
asserted, and the attempt made tO
show that the wife and sister were on
the best Of terms at the time the sepa-
ration of the married pair took place
and afterward. To support this view,
five letters from Lady Byron to Mrs.
Leigh, are quoted, which have a
/ strong negative force, in showing that
! il Lady Byron discovered the guilt ol
/ her husband and sister-in-law, ii must
have been at later period than stated
by Mrs. Stowe.
The first, not dated, was evidently
written by Lady Byron, in January,
1916, shortly before she left for Kirby
Mallory, her sister-in-law being then
under the same roof with her. Mrs.
| Leigh remained with Lord Byron in
Piccadilly for several weeks after the
departure Of Lady Byron, and only
LETT him when she found she could be
OF no further use to either party:
You viii think me very foolish,
but / have tried two or three times,
and cannot talk to you of your depart
ure, with q decent visage-sO let me
say one word in this way, to spare my
philosophy. With the expectations
which ! have, | never will or can ask
you TO stay one moment longer than
you are inclined TO do. 1t would (be)
the worst return for all ! ever received
from you. Bat, in this, at least, / an
truth ITSELF when ! say that what
ever the situation may be, there is no
one whose society is deaTer to me, or
who can contribute more to my hap
piness. These feelings will not change
under any circumstances, and | should
be grieved if you did not understand
them. Should you hereafter condemn
me, / shal. not love you less. ! will
say 80 more. Juuge for yOurselfab0ut
going or staying. l wish you to con-
slider for yourself, If you could be wise
enough 10 do that the first time i'll
your life. Thine, \. [. B."
Addressed On the cover, $40 the
Hon. Mrs. Leigh"
kirby MALLORY, January lG, 1916 .
(the day after she left LOudOn.)
1!,I Dearest H.: 1t is my great com
iortthat you are in Pieadilly.
KIRBY MALLORY, January %, 1916.
De,gef H.: l know YOU feel for me
as | do for you, and perhaps | am bet
ter understood than ! think. You
have been, ever since l knew you, my
best comforter, and will so remain,
unless you grow tired Of the Office,
which may be.
JANUARY .. lsi6
NJ Dearest -iUg,tstd: Shall | still
be your sister? ! must resign my
rights to be so considered. But / don't
think that will make any difference
in the kindness l have so uniformly
experienced from you.
kirby MALLORY, February 3, 1916.
Ny Dearest AugiLStd.. You are de-
sired by your brother to ask if my
iather has acted with my concurrence
in proposing a separation. He has.
1t cannot be supposed that in my
present distressing situation, | am ca
pable Of stating in a detailed manner
the reasons which viii not nlyjustify
this measure, but compel me to take
it; and ii never can be my wish to re-
member unnecessarily [ sic those in
juries for which, however deep, L feel
no resentment. | viii now only recall
to Lord ByrUn's mind his avOwed and
insUTmOuntable aversion to the mar
ried state, and the desire and deter
minatiCn he has expressed ever since
its commencement to free himself
from that bondage, as finding it quite
insuppurtable, thOU"i. Candidly ac-
knOWledging that no effort Of duty or
affection has been wanting on my
part. lie has too Ia.nfnlly convinced
me that all these attempts to con-
tribute toward his happiness We're
wholly useless, and most uuwelcOme
to him. | inClOse this letter to my
father, wishing it to receive his sane
ton. Ever yours, most tafiectiOnately,
4. l. BYRON.
February 4. 1915.
I hope, my dear A that you would
on no account withhold from your
ssazzber the letter which | sent yester-
day, in answer to yours, written by
his desire, particularly, as one which
l have received from himself to-day
renders it still more important that he
should know the contents of that ad-
dressed to you.
Yours, most affectiOnately, 4
4. |. BYRON.
KIRBY MALLORY. February Il. 1916.
The present sutferings of all may vet [
be repaid in blessings. Do not de-
5pair absolutely, dearest; and leave
me enough OF your interest to afford
you any consolation which l am most /
unhappy to cause thus unintentionaI-
~. AOu viii bee Of my opinion here
after, and at present your bltterest re- /
proach would be forgiven; though I
heaven knows you have considered f.
me more than a thousand would have /
iOne-mCre than anything but my
for b., one most dear to you,
could deserve. ! must not remember .
these feelings. Farewell! God bless
you, from the bottom of my heart.
y. B. !