Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-01-06
Mrs, stoves New Book.

"THE TRUE STORY OF LADY BYRoNs LIFE.
Mrs Stoves new book on the Byron sub
iect, will be issued on January 7th. From the
Introductory, first chapter we make the fol-
lowing extract -
The interval since my publication of The
True Story of Lady Byron's life" has been
one OF stormy discussion and OF much in
vective.
have not thought il necessary TO disturb
my spirit and confuse my sense Of right by
even an attempt at reading the many abu-
| siye artic es that both here and in Epgland
have followed that disclosure.
| Friends have undertaken the task Tor me,
giving me from time to time the substance
of anything really worthy OF attention which
came to view in the tumult.
1t appeared to me essential that this first
excitement should in measure spend itself
before there would be a possibility of speak
ing to any purpose. Now, when all would
seem to have spoken who can speak, and, it
is 10 be hoped, have said the utmost they can
say, there seems proprlety in listening
calmly, II that be possible, to what have to
say in reply.
And first, why have made this'disclosure
at all?
10 this / ansWer briefly, because 1
considered IL my duty to make ii.
Il made il in defense of u beloved, revered
friend, whose memory stood forth in the
eyes of the civilized world charged with
most repusive crimes, OF which certainty
knew her innocent.
} claim, and shall prove, that Lady Byron S
reputation has been The victim of concerted
attack, begun by Ler husband during her
lifetime, and coming TO its climax over her
grave. claim, and shall prove, that it was
not who stirred up this controversy in this
, year 1869. shall show tUhO did dO 1t,
and who is responsible for bringing on me
that hard duty of making these disclosures,
which appears To me ought TO have been
made by others.
claim that these facts were given to me
unguarded by any promise or seal OF secre-
, sy, expressed or implied that they were
lodged with me as one sister rests her story
with another for sympathy, for counsel, fol
defense. Nev.r did suppose the day woult
come that | should be obliged to do so crue
an anguish as this use OF them has been 10
me. Never did suppose that, when thoss
kind hands that had shed nothing but bless
ings, were lying in the helplessness of deatt
i when that gentle heart, SO sorely tried ant
: to the last so full of love, was lying cold il
4 the tomb-a countryman In England coult
!. be found to cast the foulest ISLANDERS on he
y grave, and NOT one in all England to rais
s an effective voice in her defense.
n / admit tlfe ieebleness of my plea, in poin
If of execution. 1t was written in a state o
g exhausted health, when no labor of the kin'
y ;. was safe for me, when my hand had no
. strength to hold the pen, and l was force'
. to dictate TO another.
Referring to the newspaper attacks ol
: = her, she says:-
: NV fellow countrymen of America-mel
= of the press, have Done you one act q
- 1st tss>r /
y y read not one.
= | shall never be troubled in tue futur
= time by the remembrance of any uIkin
= word you have said of me, for at this mo
y ment reco!lect not one. l had such fait
!. in you, such pride in my c0untrymen, a
II men with whom, above all others, the caus
y If woman was safe and sacred, that was O
le first astonished and incrcdulous at what
e g heard of the course OF the American press
- and was silent, not merely from the imposs
= biity of being heard, but from grief an
u shame. But reflection convinces me tha
,s you were. in many cases, acting from mis-
" understanding Of facts, and through mis-
u guided honorable feeling; and l still fet
~ courage, therefore, TO ask from you ia
~ hearing. Now, as / have done you th
Y Justice, will you also do me the justic
NJ n. to hear me seriously and candidlys
Hear me, tnen, Wnlle tell you bue pos
y, tion in which stood, and what was m
- course in relation to it.
u A shameless attack on my friends meme
81 81 ry had appeared in the BtdckVood of Jul
81 81 1869, branding Lady Byron as the vilest
III ~ criminals, and recommending the Guiccic
~ ~ book to Christian public as interestir
" from the very fact that it was the avowt
= production of Lord Byron's mistress. N
s' ~ efficient protest was made against this on
y, rage in England. and LittelFs Lifting AZ
~ reprinted the Bldck,Dood article, ard Il
= .Harpers, the largest publishisg house
u, America, perhaps in the world, republisht
ys 10 the book.
10 Its statements-with those cfthe Btdc
~, ,uood, Pail Mall Gazette, and other E
w glish periodicais-were being propagat,
nS through all the young reading and, wlitil
eu world of America. l was meeting them a
ud od vertised in dailes, and made up into articl
"u in magazines, and thus the generation oft
-, day, who had no means of judging Lat
oS ~, Byron but by these fables of her slanderei
'a ou were being foully deceived. The frien
,e, who knew her personally were small 6
ass as. lect circle in England, whom death is eve
IA "a day reducing. They were few in numb
iI ilv compared with the great world: and we
II silent.
nk When time passed on and no voice W
CIV raised, spoke. gave at first SIM
q, story, for knew inslinctively that whoeN
w W put the first steel point of truth into 4
aso ao dark cloud of SANDER must wait for
aso ase storm to spend itself must say the stol
as', ssu exceeded my expectations and has rag
cry loud and long. But now that there is co
va va parative stiffness ] shall proceed, first
'a" aue prove what have just been asserting, Q
'ei- second, to add to my true story such IA
and incidents as did not think proper
,,ra first TO state.