Smyrna times., 1870-01-12
Mrs. Stoves Vindication.

Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stoves book in vidi-
cation of Lady Byron, or rather III vindicatlon
of herself for writing against Lord Byron III the
Atlantic Monthly, il just published, and the
following outline Of its contents is going the
rounds Of the papers
Much of the vindicatiOn is an example of
close dialectics and sharp logic. Something in it
is general and philosophical. But the compact
mass is an inquiry into the constitution, traits
and habits of Lord and Lady Byron, designed
to show the credibility of the wife's testimony
in every respect, and that the testimony pro
ceeded from her the moral insanity of Byron
and his hints of crime like the one charged,
and current reports of some similar offence in
England during his life The gravamen Of the
matter is contained in the following paragraph:
l therefore testify that Lady Byron, for
proper purpose, and at proper time, stated to
me the following things l. That the crime
which separated her from Lord Byron was in.
cest. 2. That she first discovered it by im-
proper actions toward his sister, which, he
meant to make her understand, indicated the
guilty relation. 8. That he admitted it, reas-
Oned on it, defended it. tried to make her an
accOmplce, and failing in that, hated her al d
expelled her. 4. That he threatened her he
would make it his lifes object TO destroy her
character. 5. That for a period she was led to
regard this conduct as insanity, and to conSid
er him only asa diseased person 6. That she
had subsequent proofs that the facts were real
ly as she suspected that there had been a child
| born of the crime, whose history she knew
that Mrs. Leigh had repented."
Mrs. Stowe alleges that Lady Byron's solici-
| tors admit that she has left sealed papers Of
great importance in the hands of trustees, with
discretionary powers, and that their nature sup
ports these allegations. She calls for their
publication. She accounts for Lady Byron
late conduct toward Mrs. Leigh by the latter
repentance, and by knowledge that. as hel
husband had tried to corrupt her own morals
and faith, as he had corrupted those of many
ladies in England, he had succeeded wi tn tn,
impressive nature of Mrs. Leigh. The direc
argument in support of the charge is tina
Lushington and ROmilly, council consulted b.
Lady Byron, were convinced, and offered Il
take the case to court. while he avoided it, anC
signed a paper he had always before refused Il
sign, rather than undergo trial that he nev
er took means TO free himself from the charge
that were to his own knowledge current agains
him that rumor named this very crime, ant
that his imagination, as manifested in his la
, ter poems, always dwelt upon it. His contra
diction passes for nothing, as he was a liar a.
I of his life, while she was noted for the mos
precise truth
Mrs Stowe claims that her participation il
this gross scandal does not proceed from a
it"h for notOriety, but from an anxiety to Great
true history, to defend the friend who ha
given her the facts, and from the importunitie
of few who knew her information in the pre-
: misses, and were offended by Byron persister
!; attacks on his wiies character. The boo
! makes a volume of nearly five hundred page
s There is rather bitter tone in parts of the tire,
}, tisc, called forth by the judgements passe
: ) upon herself by the press.