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

6D0deu MS WnOle lie. All Lne rest was a SJrug-
gle with its consequenees-sinning more and
more to conceal the sin of the past But she be-
leved he never outlived remorse; that he always
suffered; and that this showed that God had not
utterly forsaken him Remorse, she said al
ways showed moral sensbity; and, while that
remained, there was always hope.
She now began to speak of her grounds Tor
thinking 1t might be her duty fully to publish
this story before she left the world
First she said, that through the whole course
of her life she had felt the eternal value of TRUTH
| and seen how dreadful a thing falsehood,
and how fearful it was to be an accomplice in II.
even by silence. Lord Byron had demoraized
| the moral sense of England, and he had done IL
| in great degree by the sympathy excited by
| falsehood. This had been pleaded in eXtenua-
tion of all his crimes and vices, and led to low
| ering of the standard of morals in the literary
| world. Now 1t was proposed to print cheap
| editions of his works. and sell them among the
| common people, and interest them in him by
| the circulation of this same story.
She then said to this effect that she believed
In retribution and suffering in the future life,
| and that the consequences of sin here follow us
| there; and it was strongly impressed upon her
| mind that Lord Byron must suffer in looking on
the evil consequences of what he had done in this
life, and in seeing the further extension of that
evil
''It has sometimes strongly appeared to me-
she said, 'that he cannot be at peace until this
| injustice has been righted. Such is the strong
feeling that have when think of going where
| he is"
l0eSo Jnlngb, Sle Sald, nau LED ner TO inquire
| whether it might not be her duty to make a full
! and clear disclosure before she left the world.
Of course, l did not listen to this story as one
| who was investigating its worth. ! received it
as truth. And the purpose for which twas com
municated was not to enable me to prove it to
| the world, but to ask my opinion whether she
| should show it to the world before leaving it,
| The whole consultation was upon the assump-
| ton that she had at her command such proofs
could not be questioned.
Concerning what they were did not minutely
| inquire; only, in answer to general question,
she said that she had letters and documents in
| proof of her story. Knowing Lady Byrons
| strength of mind, her Observation-Disclosures her
accurate habits, and her perfect knowledge Of
the matter, considered her judgment on this
| point decisive.
| consideration, and give my opinion in few days.
| That night, after my sister and myself had re-
| tired to our own apartments, related to her the
whole history, and we spent the night in talking
| OF it. was powerfully impressed with the JUS
| tice and proprety of an immediate disclosure;
while she, on the contrary, represented the
| painful consequences that would probably come
| upon Lady Byron from taking such a step.
Before we parted the next day, requested
| Lady Byron TO give me some memoranda of
| such dates and outlines of the general story as
| would enable me better to keep it in its con
| nection; which she did
Then follows a chronological summary of the
| events of the courtship marriage, and separa-
tion of Lord and Lady Byron, in which evidence
| is brought forward to show that Mrs Leigh en-
| deavored to convince Lady Byron that her hus-
band was insane and the letters lately published
in the Quarterly Regie,o are referred to as show
| ing that Lady Byron hesitated to believe the
| guilt of her husband and his sister, and that she
was not convinced Of it until some time after the
| separation. Mrs Stowe certainly does not over
turn the evidence of these letters and this part
| of her story is as great a muddle rs ever. The
characters of the two witnesses Lord and Lady
| Byron, are then compared, and Mrs. Stowe
! proves conclusively, to her own satisfaction at
| least that the latter is alone entitled to Gre
dence. Then comes the direct argument to
| prove the crime, of which we quote the essential
| portions-
We shall now proceed to state the argument
| against Lord Byron.
| First There is direct evidence that Lord Byron
| was guilty of some unusual immortality.
The evidence is not, as the BldCk'oood says,
that Lushington yielded assent to the eG pdrte
statement of client, nor, as the Qndrterty inti-
mates, that he was affected by the charms of an
| attractive young woman.
The first evidence of it is the fact that Lush
ington and Romilly offered to take the case into
| court; and make there a public exhibition of
the proofs on which their convictions were
| founded.
Second. 1t is very strong evidence of this fact
that Lord Byron, while loudly declaring that
declined this open investigation, and, rather
than meet it, signed paper which he had be-
fore refused to sign.
Third. 1t is also strong eviden of this fact
that, although secretly declaring TO all his intimate
| friends that he still wished open investigation
in court of justice, and affirming his belief
that his character was being ruined for want of
it, he never afterwards took the means to get it,
Instead of writing q private handful, he might
have come to England and entered suit; and
| he did not do it.
That Lord Byron was conscious of great
crime is further made probable by the peculiar
malice he seemed to bear to his wifes legal
counsel.
If there had been nothing to fear in that legal
| investigation wherewith they threatened him.
why did he not only flee from it, but regard with
3 peculiar bitterness those who advised and pro-
posed it? To an innocent man falsely accused,
the certanties of law are a blessing and
refuge. Female charms Lcannot mslead in a
court cf justice; and the atrocities of rumor are
there sifted and deprived of power. trial is
| not threat to an innocent man; it is an invita-
ton, an opportunity. Why, then, did he hate
Sir Samuel Romilly, 30 that he eXulhd like u
fend over his tragica death The letter in
which he pours forth this malignity was SO
brutal that Moore was obliged, by the general
outcry of society, TO suppress it. Is this the
language of innocent man who has been
offered fair trial under his country's laws
or of guilty man, TO whom the very idea of
public trial means public exposure?
Fourth. 1t Improbable that the crime was the
one now alleged because that was the nost i'm
portant crime charged against him by rumor at
the period. This appears by the following eX-
tract of a letter from Shelley furnished by the
Quarterly, dated Bath, September 30, 1885,
81 saw Knnalrd, and had long talk with him.
He informed me that Lady Byron was now in perfect
health that she was living with your sister. felt
much pleasure from this intelligence consider the