The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-03-09
Book Notices.
LADY BYRON INDICATED. H. B. STOWE. published
By Fields Osgoed d Co., Of Boston.


We have only read the Introductory chapter
of Mrs. Stoves second statement from which
it is apparent that either the celebrated author
is conscious of weak case, and tries to divert
attention TO immateriai points, or else is unable
to appreciate the difference between feeling and
reasoning. Perhaps both. This raising null
tiplicity of side issues is sure mark of weakness
in the plea, or IN the advocate
Mrs. Stowe says she has not disturbed her
spirit or confused her sense of right, by reading
the abusive articles raised by Der disclosure, but
has kept silent until she might be heard calmly,
IN reply. To what is she to reply, who has
heard nothing? Was she wise, thus to close her
ears to the storm of iurective and discussion,
which she says, and truly, her first article ex-
cited Did Mrs. Stowe think that her state
ment, made without the authority or request of
Lady Byron, or of any of Lady Byron's heirs or
friends would go unquestioned? But the point
is not whether Mrs Stowe had right to herald
this story without consulting the natural and
legal protector of Lady Byron's interests, nor
whether ii was her duty to do so prematurely,
without giving all the grounds on which the
truth of the story may be established. Nor is it
material, that Mrs Stowe did not falsify, so far
as she knew, and did not make her best literary
effort.
How near the mark Mrs. Stoves reply"
strikes appears in the following extracts from
her book claim that these facts were given
me unguarded by any promise or seal of secrecy,
expressed or implied. Are the cries of the
oppressed. the gasps of the dying, the last pray
ers Of mothers,-are any words, wrung like drops
of blood from human hearts, to be judged as
literary efforts? My fellow countrymen of
America men of the press, have done you one
act of justce-of all your bitter articles, have
read not one.-I had such faith in you such
pride IN my countrymen, as men with whom of
all others, the cause of woman was safe and
sacred, that was at first astonished and incred-
ulous, at what / heard of the course Of the
American press, and was silent not merely from
the impossibility Of being heard, but from grief
and shame. But reflection convinces me, that
lOu hSiS Al S1SOS NSNihS nun q hlSuhNSi-
standing Of facts and through misguided honor
able feeling aud still feel courage, therefore, to
ask of you fair hearing-what interest have
you or l. my brother and my sister, in this short
life of ours, to utter anything but the truth ?"
The only question now seems to be, whether
Mrs Stowe is INDICATED instead of Lady Byron,
or whether we shall side with those misguided
countrymen, who of all the world are expected
to regard women's rights, to the extent of ac-
cepting Mrs. Stoves defence of sister who
neeGed no defence, and her charges against an
other sister, whose good name was never sullied
in her life time.
Even if this horrid story about Byron was
true, and its truth had been established in a
court of justice, and DR.. Washington had decreed
divorce upon the evidence. would there have
been then, or would there be now, any good
reason for making familiar household reading of
the evidence and fact One thing is clear, Mrs.
Stowe has undertaken the prosecution, and must
sustain the burden Of proof 1t is useless to
stray into such discussions as -wbo began it p
Do you suppose could tell lie p We doubt
not Lady Byron had only too good grounds for
leaving Byron, but we suspect those grounds can
be established only by legal evidence.