The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-01-04


discussion of the controversies which have
followed. The appendix contains a re.
print of the atlantic Monthly article
| and other documents of as little value.
One chapter alone, of but thrty.fve pages, is
devoted to the positive Arguments to prove
the commission Of the alleged crime and
the statement Of those arguments is diluted
with an abundance of irrelevant matter.
This chapter begins as follows:
Firsi-There is direct evidence that Lord BYRON
was guilty OF some unusual immortality
The evidence is not, as the Biock'rood says, that
LEXINGTON yielded assent to the &c pdi's state.
mcnt OF client nor, as the QVdfteriv intimate T.,
that he was affected by the charms Of an attractive
The nrst evidence Of II is the met that Lusuiva.
TON and RonILLY offered 70 take the cascinto court,
and make there public exhibition of Tie proofs
which thcir convictions were founded.
Moond-lt is very strong evidence Of this fact that
| to know with what he was charged, declined this
open investigation and, rather than meet II, signed
paper which he had before refused 70 sign
1htrd-lt Is also strong evidence of this fact that
although secretly declaring 10 all his intimate friends
that he still Wished open investigation In court Of
justice, and ahrming his belief that his character
wee being rm2ed for want OF It. he never alterwrd
took the means 10 get IT. Instead OF writing pri
vate handful, he might have come 20 England and
entered suit; and he did not do II.
That Lord BYRON was conscious Of a grent crime
further e, made Pro6a6le By the peculiar malice he
II there had been nothing TO fear In that legal
Investigation wherewith they threatened him, why
did he not only fee from II, but regard with
a peculiar bitterness those Who advised and rro.
posedhf 10 an innocent man falsely accused, tile
certanties OF law are a blessing and a refuge, Re
male charms cannot nislead in a court OF Justice
and the atrocities OF rumor there sifted and de-
prived OF power. trial IS not threat to an limo
cent man II IL an invitation, an opportunity. Why,
then, did he hate Sir SAMUEL RoNuLy, so that he
exuted like hend over his tragical donthi The
An hsf sN
brutal, that MOORE was Obliged, by the general out
cry Of society 20 suppress IT, Is this the language
OF an innocent man who has been offered fan trial
under his couutry's lawsY or OF guilty man 10
whom the very idea Of public trial means public
t.arf1-It Is probable that the crime was the one
now alleged because that was the mos, Important
crime charged against lin by rumor AZ the period
Ins appears oy the following extract Of letter rom
Smiley lrrn'sned BY the QadT,Jiy, dated IA,h,
sept 90 1slG
D. saw KISSiirp. ard had a long tax with him lie
intrmcd me that Lady BYRON was now N perfect
hytlihi that She was living with your sister / FELT
nutt palt of t a. aoi decisive contradiction TO
Vac ONLY important caluiuny that ever was adl anced
the world hereafter to ne silent 80
appears evident here that the charge Of improper
intimacy with his sister MAS IN tue mind OF SHri.
Lti TIC only important one that had yet been made
against Lord BYEoS.
Then follow a number of pages of dis.
sertation upon Lord BYRoN's singular power
Of fascination over both men and women. and
other matters of that sort, after which MrA
STOWE resumes her argument as follows:
TIE peculiar bitterness Of remorse expressed In
his works by Lord BYRON IL further evidence that
10 bad committed an unusual crime. We arc aware
tuaf evidence cannot he drawn IN this manner from
"u au'nor "1nNs merely, " Unsupported by any eS.
frequently and powerfully treated by HAWTHORNE IL
ths influence Of secret uuconiessed crime ON the
SOU tntrertheltss as HAWTHORNE Is well known to
have always lived pure and regular life nobody has
ever suspected Inn OF any greater sin than vigorous
uncommon immortality by the two hest LAWYERS 10
Ensanr, ana threatened with open exposure whch
ne does rot diIe TO meet The crime is named in
count OF II il only set at rest BY the heroic con-
duct OF his wife.
This point having been duly hammered
out, fresh one is introduced:
His evident fear and hatred Of his wife were
other symptoms OF crime, There was no apparent
INC bad been bright, amable, good, agreeable; that
her marriage had been very uncomfortable one ;
and he said to Madame DE STAKI tliat he did moi
doubt she thought him derlnged. Why then ala he
late her Tor wanting 10 live peacclbly by herselff
Nhy Nd he 80 fear her that not year OF his life
passed without fis concocting and circulating some
Tubhc or private accusation against herf She by
Ais own showing, published none against him. # Is
remarkable th9t, IN a his zeal TO represent hiuse,
yJmed, he nowhere quotes single remark from
Lady BYRON, nor story coming either directly or
| In Noticc, not from what she has spokcn hut he.
cause she has sealed the lips Of her COUNSEL and be.
| cause she ana her family DO not speak 40 that he
processes himself utterly ignorant what form her al
legations against him may take. He had heard from
sHtLI ~ tnat lhs wife slenced the most important
| talunuy by gong 20 make Mrs. Lieu visit and
et nc Is AFRAID o her-so afraid that he tells MoORK
| be expect. she VIII attack him aier death. and
| charges hm to defend his grave.
Now. n Lord by ron knew that his wife had 4
deadly secret that she could tell. all this conduct j.
cxph'able; it Is N the ordinary course of human
nature. Men always distrust those vho hold facts
by winch they can be ruined. They fear them they
are antae'nistic to them; they cannot trust them
On the subject Of the alleged unhappy of.
spring Of the Illicit connection, the following
il what Mrs. Stowe presents as evidence:
Again, the evidence OF this crime appears In Ior,
| BYRON admission, IN letter 20 MooRE, that he
had 90 illc-tmatc child born before he len En-.
| Land, and s'ill living st the tine.
In letter 30, TO Mr. MooRE, under date Venice
Ftb. ISIS, BYRON says, speaking of NooEL's less
wrapped M IN NY oSn chiiIi'n Tcsdcs NV fIi'iiy
legitimate. ihayci u.to mys'li llesmi .ncc
look forward 70 one n these ~ the pillar old age
s,h hs , fa REACH % Hope aeVer ha
The Legitimate Child that he had made 10 lin.
self since ADA. birth was ALICIA, born ABOUT nine
or ten months after the separation. The other lie.
| Ultimate alluded to was born before, and as the
reader secs, was spoken Of as still living.
MOORE appears TO DC puzzled to know WHO this
the child referred 10 In an early poem, written,
willie SOCIOLOGY OF nineteen. at Narrow
| on turning back TO the note referred TO- We find
tNO things: hrst, that the child there mention (,
was not claimed by Lord BYRON ns his own bnt
tina, he asked his mother 70 care for 1t III belonging
! 10 schoolmate now dead; stcond, that tie infant
died shortly after aud, consequently, could not be
| the child mentioned in this letter.
Now, beside this fact, that Lord BYRON admitted
| a living ileHtimat6 child born before ADA, we
place this other fact thlt there was n child In Eng.
land which was believed to be bis by those vino had
every opportunity OF knowing
After all, Mrs. STOwE's only sheet anchor
is Lady BYRoN's own incredible story.
From mis- background Of proof ] come forward,
| md testify 20 an Interview With Lady BYRuS. u.
winch she gave Inc specific Information OF The facts
IN he case That report the facts just ~ recoy,
ed them from her not altered or ml.rCmcm br.Cd Is
shown ny the testimony Of my sister, 10 whom re.
lated them 0t the time n cannot, then, be denied
thtI tad this interview and that this commune alton
! was made therefore testify That Lady BYRON for
proi cr purpose, AID At proper time, stated 70 nc
| tic following things:
/. That the crime which separated her rom Lord
BYBoS was incest. 2. That sle first a sc0yerpd n
10y improper actions toward bic sister, which he
Wc7nt 10 make her understand indicated ne guilty
| relation. b That he admitted 1t, reasoned Oh ii.
defended y, tried 10 make her an ncComy.ice AMI
failing m that, hated her and expelled her. T. That
he Threatened Der that he would make ID
Nis HES OBJECT 10 destroy her character o. That
for period she was led to regard this conduct rs IN.
sanity, and 20 consider him only M diseased per-
sou. q, That she hHd subsequent proof that tho
mr,s We're really NJ she suspected; that there had
1 Il 4 H.