The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-04

they appeared before their generation, that pre-
vented such report from arising; on the con
trary, there something in their relations that
made 1t seem probable. Aud it appears that his
own family friends were 50 affected by 1t that
they with one accord, deserted him. The Quar-
terly presents the fact that Lady Byron went
to visit Mrs. Leigh at this time, triumph
ant proof that she did not then believe il. Can
the Quarterly show just what Lady Byron's
state of mind was, or what her motives were, in
making that visit?
woman, without gross hypocrisy, can stand by
a sister proven TO have been guilty. We can
appeal on this subject to all women. We fear
lessly AJAX any wife, ''Supposing your husband
and sister were involved together in an Infamous
crime, and that you were the mother of young
daughter whose life would be tainted by Il know
ledge of that crime, what would be your wish
Would you wish to proclaim it forthwith or
would you wish quietly to separate from your
husband, and to cover the crime from the eye of
man ?"
1t has been proved that Lady Byron did not
reveal this even to her nearest relatives. 1t is
proved that she sealed the mouths of her coun-
sci, and even of servants effectualy, that they
remain sealed even to this day. This Is evidence
that she did not wish the thing known. 1t is
proved also, that in spite of her secrecy with
her parents and friends, the rumor got out, and
was spoken of by Shelley as the only important
one.
Now, let us see how this note, cited by the
Quarterly, confirms one of Lady Byrons
own statements. She says to Lady Anne
Barnard
81 trust you understand my Wishes which never
were TO lnJure Lord Byron In any way; 1or though
he would not suffer me to remain his wife, he can
not prevent me from continuing his friend; and it
was from considering myself as such that sienced
the accusations by which my own conduct might
have been more fully justified"
How did Lady Byron silence accusations
First, by keeping silence to her nearest rela-
tives; second, by shutting the mouths of SER
wants; third, by imposing silence on her friends
-as Lady Anne Barnard; fourth, by seucing
her legal counsel fifth, and most entirely, by
treating Mrs. Leigh before the world, with un-
altered kindness. In the midst of the rumors,
Lady Byron went to visit her; and Shelley says
that the movement was effectual. Can the
quarterly prove that at this time Mrs. Leigh
had not confessed ALL and thrown herself on
Lady Byron's mercy?
1t is not necessary to suppose great horror
and indignation on the part of Lady Byron.
She may have regarded her sister as the victim
of a most singularly powerful tempter. Lord
Byron, as she knew, had tried to corrupt her own
morals and faith. He had obtained power over
some women, even in the highest circles in Eng
| land which had led them to forego the usual
decorums of their sex, and had given rise to
| great scandals. He was q being of wonderful
| personal attractions. He had not only strong
| poetical, but also strong logical power. He was
| daring in speculation, and vigorous in sophis-
| tical argument; beautiful, dazzling, and pos
| sessed of magnetic power of fascination. His
| sister had been kind and considerate to Lady
| Byron when Lord Byron was brutal and cruel.
| She had been overcome by him, as weaker
| nature sometimes sinks under the force of a
stronger one and Lady Byron may really have
considered her to be more sinned against than
SHINING.
| Mrs. Stowe then adduces the evidence of Lord
| Byron's Manfred, Cain" and other works,
and describes these effusions and the attacks on
| his wife as at once the productions of mind
| burdened by great and unnatural crime and a
| ho1l A.
| Again the evidence of this crime appears in
Lord Byron's admission, in @ letter to Moore
| that he had an ilegitimate child born before he
left England, and still living al the time.
In letter 507, to Mr.. Moore under date Venice
| Feb. q 1918, Byron says, speaking of Moores
| loss of q child
81 know how to feel with you, because am quite
| wrapped up in my own children. Besides my little
since (Ada's birth) to say nothing OF one before
and look forward to one of these as the pillar of my
| old age, supposing that / ever reach, as hope l
| never shall, that desolating period"
The illegtimate child that he had made to
| himself since Adah's birth was Allegra, born
| about nine or ten months after the separation.
| The other illegitimate alluded to was born be-
fore, and, as the reader sees, was spoken of as
| still living.
| Moore appears to be puzzled to know who
| this child can be, and conjectures that it may
| possibly be the child referred to in an early
poem, written, while schoolboy of nineteen, at
| Harrow.
On turning back to the note referred to, we
find two things: first, that the child there men
| toned was not claimed by Lord Byron as his
| own, but that he asked his mother to care for it
| as belonging to schoomate now dead; Sc
| cond, that the infant died shortly after, and,
consequently, could not be the child mentioned
| in this letter.
| Now, beside this fact, that Lord Byron admit
| ted living illegitimate child born before Ada,
| we place this other fact, that there was child
in England which was believed to be his by those
| who had every opportunity of knowing.
| On this subject we shall cite passage from q
| letter recently received by us from England, and
| written by person who appears well informed
on the subject of his letter.
'"The fact is, the incest was first committed and
the child OF it born before shortly before the Byron
marriage. The child "a daughter) must not be con-
founded with the natural daughter OF Lord Byron,
| born about year after his separation
1.-The history more or less, OF that child OF incest,
| is known TO many for in Lady Byron's attempts to
| watch over her, and rescue her from ruin she was
| compelled TO employ various agents at different
| times"
This letter contains full recognition, by an
| intelligent person in England, of a child corre-
| spending well with Lord Byron's declaration of
an illegitimate, born before he left England.
Then follows a summing up of all the testi-
mony and defense of Lady Byron for telling
the story. Another chapter is devoted to a
physiological argument to prove that Lord Byron
was fully capable of committing the crime with
which he is charged, discussion of the reason
why Lady Byron loved him, and an appeal to
the public. The third part of the book is made
up of miscellaneous documents such as Mrs.
Stoves original Atlantic article, Lord Lindsay's
letter to the London Times, letters of Lady
| Byron, and various communications that have
been made to the press on the subject We
cannot see that Mrs. Stowe has proved her case