The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-07


Dear s. Enclosed l send you a copy of
what Miss Leigh yesterday wrote in answer to
an enclosure Of f10 from the Duke of Leeds
He is the only one who has answered. | have
been somewhat occupied, or | would have
called.
over-anxiety. Should anything transpire will
~. DE B."
"P. Sit is entirely her own composition. I
did not like It,"
"No. 8 CHURcn Row, OLD ST. PANcRAs,
Aug. 90, 1943-Your Grace:--I beg most CRATE
fully to acknowledge the receipt of the e1O you
sent for the relief of my distress; and though
fearing, from the briefness of its enclosure, to
be deemed presuming or intrusive, the hard
pressure Of misery drives me to do that for which
/ solicited your Gface's permission.
s'Ruined at the age of fifteen by the unprinci-
pied man to whom was exposed by those whose
duty II was to watch over and protect me (and
from whom / alone freed myself three years
snce) l unexpectedly found kindness and pro-
lection for myself and child, from one whose
subsequent conduct proves how deeply l was
deceived in trusting to her as / did, gratefully
and sincerely, and in giving what she sought
oil i had to give-unbounded condolences after
giving more than ! had long hoped to re-
ceive from those near me-affection and
trying to waken In me, what never pos
sessed, q taste for the delicaccs, ETC.. my
broken health required and which money alone
can procure, and teaching me all had yet to
learn of the infamy of the mother, once so
dearly loved, that l owed my birth to incest and
adultery to impress on me the claims had
(Which did not seek) to be enabled to live ac-
cording to the rank in life to which was born,
/ found myself placed by her in position not
to be endured, dependent on servants over whom
/ had no control, unable to have what was ne
cessary for my health, and refused what my
child's education required and in the endeayors
/ have made to save myself from such, have
found restitution.
'sThough Mons. Berryer Captain De B
and Mr.. s., who have kindly endeavored to
help me-the first by addressing Lady Byron on
my behalf, the others in becoming the channels
of communication denied directly to me-have
been met by dsIrust, almost by disdain; three
times have l. as was wished, sought, humbly
asked pardon, if 1 had displeased or pained by
the step / had taken to alter the position in
which had been placed. She who had shown
me kindness, who had called me her other
child, and begged me, when in every other
point she might err, never to mistrust her affec-
ton, which could not change, has now unhesi-
tatngly accused me of what has been proved
untrue, and detained, and still detains on false
pretensions, what / entrusted TO her care, and
seeks, dares, and drives me to what now do,
to ask aid and protection from all The only
resource for existence | have is q deed of ap-
pointment for G30O0, payable at the death OF
Lady Byron and my mother, the sole provision
made for me out of the large property she re-
ceived from my father-and her brotherhood
| Byron. For nearly three months l have been
| indebted for the existence OF myself and child
| claim but pity, but who know me as am, and
not as those who have cast me on the world
| without home or protection would have me.
| ''The distance at which your Grace is,
| renders it difficult to do as l should be
anxious, to give all and every proof of the truth
of what advance, and which is known to those
| alike respected and respectable. l must beg
| your Grace's indulgence to what now write, as
| am suffering from the effects of over-exertion,
/ not to deny me the protection l so much need.
/ could say much more, but almost stranger as
/ am to your Grace, can only beg you to con-
slider my desolate and destitute position, and its
| causes and subscribe myself most gratefully
''Your Grace's obedient humble servant,
"E. M. LEIGH
| ''His Grace the Duke of Leeds,
"Mar Lodge, Braemar, n. B"
Before writing this letter to the Duke OF
| Leeds, and making application to various other
| relatives Miss Leigh had made efforts to COM
municate with or see her mother. In a note
from Captain De B to Mr.. s., dated the
18th August, the former states:-"Miss Leigh
has not received any answer to any of her notes
forwarded on Saturday. She called on her
| mother, but was refused. Not at home! Miss
Leigh has wish to forward the enclosed (three
letters); perhaps you may be able to put the
addresses upon them. Should anything trans
pire, will lose no time in letting you know. II
you should not approve of the letter to Mrs.
| Leigh retain it,"
A memorandum on the back of Captain De
B--s note, dated August 16, shows that its
receipt was acknowledged in the following
|
81 received your note with Miss Leigh's three
| enclosures. We (Mr. s. and his partner)
| think that to Mrs. Leigh is very proper and
natural under the circumstances; but is 1t not
somewhat premature? day or two may make
an important change, and we think short time
| may yet be given for answers to the letters
already sent. We retain them till we see or
hear from YOU"
Two of the letters were addressed to Miss
Leigh's cousins, the Hon. Darcy Osborne,
| and the Hon. W. Osborne, and were as follow
''9 CHURCH Row, ST. PANcRAs Aug. a. 1913.
When was happy child you used to be kind
and good-natured to me. Now that l am In
am compelled to ask of all who will give it to
me-aid and protection! L am sure you will
not if you will let me tell you why am so.
''Your cousin,
| ''ELIzABETH MEDoRA LEIGH.
| ''To the Hon. William Osborne
| 'S CHURCH Row, ST. PANCRAs, Aug. IA, 1913.
I have thought that, though so many long
years have gone by since we met, you will moi
have forgotten, or refuse to befriend, one you
were once fond of; destitute, alone In the world,
| forced to seek aid and protection from all who
give it. do not think you will refuse to listen
and hear why am so and then accord me the
help and assistance that are in your power IL
/ am mistaken in so thinking, forgive this appli
| cation from ''Your cousin,
"ELIZABETH MEDoRA LEIGH
The third letter, the one to Mrs. Leigh, is the
| most painful of all the documents In this un
happy case and must have been written under
deep feelings of irritation, caused by hel
mothers refusal to see her or admit her into hel
house. 1t is of such a nature that, after mature
deliberation, we have deemed it both eXpedien
and proper to exclude it from these pages.
| Whether Mrs. Leigh were innocent OF the
charge against her-whch we believe and shall
attempt to prove hereafter-or guilty OF 'whlcl