The New York herald., 1870-01-04


fulncss IN versof Then, to show how much Lady
Byron suffered we arc s0ld Of Murray's ungenle-
. manly conducs IN tine mater Of obtaining her
portIait for an edition OF her husbands WORKS.
And we have besides, Thomas Campbell, the
poets defence OF hcr against Moore's biography OF
Dyrsn Farther on we are made acquainted with
an attack on Lady Byron's grave" IN the shape Of
the Countess 0uiccioliss "Recolectionsn ana ON
article that appeared In BJacttoo0d's, as wen as
various other papers Of minor importance. The
most noticeable feature In these two chapters,
covering over one hundred pages, Ia the absence OF
anytising like connected argument tending TO
prove Lord byron guilty OF incest Mrs. Stowe dis
tncty charged him with an inocssuous intercourse
witrhis sister. She was denounced all sides and
called upon to prove the cnarge. Instead OF dong
Inns snc enters upon somewhat rambling
review OF the married lie OF Lord and Lady Byron,
IN which VIC told absolutely nothing that we
were not as intimately familiar with AZ Mrs.. Stowe
herself What connection have certain paDers pub
llshed years ago with the charge OF incesb?
But lei us not be hasty. Let as rather enter upon
the second part of the book, ana with as much pa
uence AZ we can summon read the thirty pages
descriptive or Lady Byron as Mrs. Stowe knew her.
Az "reminiscences they are interesting enough; as
bearing upon the crime OF incest they tlre5Ome.
Mls. Stowe's sister, IN brei letter. corr0borates all
the statements made in the Atlantic Monthly article
THIS lady accompanied Mrs. Stowe on her VISIT TO
Lady Byron, and told the story Immediately
alter AS might be supposed the widow or the poet Is
Immensely praised. II we believe all that Mrs.
stowe writes about her we must inevitably arrive at
the conclusion that during her lifetime was the
most perfect woman In the world. Mentally as well
as morally she was unequalled. She united the
puDlty OF Mary with the intellectual capacity OF De
Stael. Her temper was sweet and anlable; her
charities b0undless. In a word, Lady Byron IL re-
presented Just such character as never did and
exist Even the most cXtravagaat or
novefsts would hesitate before drawing such being
as s here described. Mrs. Stowe labors hard 10
proye4ihat this remarkably gifted woman was not .
victim OF hallucination. Several letters from Lady
Byron to her given evidence Of the formers
clear, robust mind. When we consider that they
relate mainly to the slavery question we might
fairly question their worth. Certainly not few OF
those who Interested themselves in the abolition OF
slavery were anything but sane. Yet we are willing
TO admit that they are written in very clear ln-
telIigcnt style. Hut does thar prove she was no
victim TO hallncination2 The monomaniac Is invaria
bly, other mortals save on the single sub
ject that Is distorted In his mind. However, to the
subject Mrs. StOwe's acquaintance with Lady
Byron ripens into friendship and the latter bestows
her confidence on the author Of .Uncle Toms
Cabin.n
Ana now we come to the story OF the incest.
Because OF desire that Mrs. Stowe shall be heard
tuly and impartially in her own Defence we give
the chapter entire excepting some letters from Mrs.
stowe and one from Mr.. Ard, to which we shall
refer hereafter
Inow come 10 the particulars of that most painful
interview which has been the cause OF all this con-
Lroyersy. My sister and myself were gong from
Lonao TO Eversey TO visit Inc Rev. g. hin1sley. On
our way we stopped. 0y Lady Byrons invitation, TO
lunch with her al her summer residence on Ham
Common, near Richmond; and It was then arranged
that return We should make her q short visit,
a. she said she mad subject Of Importance on
which she wished to converse with me aone.
ON our return from Eyersiey we arrived al her
house Ill the morning.
il appeared to De one OF Lady Byrons wen days.
She was ny and dressed and moved about her house
with ner usual air Of quiet 6impllclty-as fuli of
little acts OF consideration ior all about her as n
they We're the hlbltual nvalds and She the well
There were with her two ladies' OF her most init.
mate friends, by whom she seemed 10 be regarded
with a sort oi worship When she left the room for
a LloHieat They looked after her with singular ex
presslon OF RESPECT ana auction, and expressed
lreciy their admiration OF her character and their
lears that her uDseishEess might be leading her To
over eXertol.
AFTER iuncn I retired with Lady Byron, ana my
sister remained Win her frendS. should here re-
mark that the chleI subject or the conversation
winch cnsued was MOI entirely new to Inc. In the
interval Detween my nrst ana second visits to Eng
land a lady who for many years had enjoyed Lady
Byron's friendship and conndence had with her
consent stated the case generally 10 me, giving
some Of the incidents, so tnat was III manner
prepared Tor what followed.
lnose who accuse Lady Byron OF being person
fOud OF talking upon this subject and apt 10 make
unconsldercd condolences can have known very
little Of ner OF her reserve anu OF the apparent diii-
Guilty sne had II speaking ON subjects nearest her
heart
Her habltual calmness and composure OF manner,
her collected dignity on ali OCCASIONS, are
often mentioned by her husband sometimes
with bitterness, sometimes WITH admiration. lie
says Though accuse Lady Byron oi an excess OF
L
persOa had excuse for an extraordinary portion Of
IL she nas: as In all her Thoughts words and deeds
sne Ia the most decorons woman that ever existed,
and must appear what few | fancy could, "a per-
fectiy refined gentewonlan even 10 her femme de
TINS caImness and dignity were never more
manifested than IN this interview. In recalling
the conversation at tnis distance OF time
cannot remember AL the language used. Some
particular words and forms OF expression DO re-
member and taose give; and In other cases give
my recollection OF the substance OF what was sad.
Tnere Something awful to me IN the intensity
OF fepressed emotion which she showed a. sne pro-
ceeued. 1he great TACT upon which all turned was
stated in words that were unmstakaoie:-
"Mrs. Stowe. he was guilty OF incest with his
sister ~
soc nere became SO deatny pale that ] feared she
would faint and hastened 10 say, "My dear friend,
l have heard that" she asked quickly From
she replied, Oh. yes y as If recoilectlng herself
then asked ner some questions, IN reply TO wnich
she then spoke OF her first acquaintance with
Lord Byron, from when gathered that she
only Child brought up In retirement, and living
much within herself, hao been, as deep natures
often were. intensely stirred by his poetry, and had
felt deep interest IN MN personally, rs one that
had the germs oi all that Is glorious and noble.
When she was introduced to him and perceived
his admiration OF herself, and at last received his
01er, although deeply moved, she doubted
her own power 10 be to hin all tnat wife
should be. she declined his offer, there
fore, but desired to retain still his friendship
Alter this she said, correspondence ensued,
mostly on moral ana literary subjects, anu by this
correspondence her interest III nun was constaally
increased
At last she SAID, lie sent her very beautiful letter
Offering himself again. II thought she added,
THAT was sincere, and that might now show him
ali felt. wrote just what was In my neart
Afterwards, - sne said, III found III one OF his
journals this notice VI my iesJer--'A letter from
Be-never rains but 1t Dours.'
There was through her habitual calm shade OF
womany Indignation rs sue spoke these words but
iG was gone in moment said "And did he not
love you, rhen ~ She answered, ''No, my dear, he
did not love me-"
..Wny, tnen did he wish to marry you?,' She
laid her hand on mine and said in q low voice, You
VIII see"
She then told me that shortly after the de-
ciared engagement, he came 10 her iither's