Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-02-15
THE BYRON OONTROvERsY.
Mrs. Leigh ExcuIpatOd by Lady
Byron.

|
The London Quarterly Review has
already replied 10 Mrs Stoves LADY
Byron indicated, 4" and explains the cir
cumsiances under which the important
letters printed in its previous issue were
brought to light They were given on the
authority of the Earl of Chichester, Lord
William Godolphin Osborne, and Mr.
George Leigh, the only surviving son of
Col. and. Mrs. Leigh. Several others, of
similar purport are added, and also the
following, in which Lady Byron refers to
the charge of incest, which was then
already whispered:
''MNART's HoTEI, Feb. 20, lS16.-
My Dear Mrs. Villiers: 1 consider your
letter as very kindproof of the justice you
do to my feelings, which are by no means
so absorbed in my own distress as to for
get THOSE of others, who, perhaps, suffer
still more. deeply regret the reports
which have been circulated relative to the
cause of the separation between Lord D.
and myself, and none can occasion me
more sorrow than that which you mention
as rejecting on Mrs. Leigh's character;
but as can positively assert that not one
| OF the many reports now current have
been sanctioned or encouraged by me, my
family or my friends, cannot consider
myself in any degree responsible for
| them.
"During my residence under the same
roof with Mrs. Leigh, all my friends have
heard me express the most grateful and |
affectionate sense of her good offices to-
ward me; and before / left the house, l |
wrote of her, and spoke of her in those
terms TO every one who was intimate
with me.
In the present state of circumstances,
you must be aware that a publication of
the real grounds of difference between
Lord b. and myself would be extremely
improper, and, in conformity with the
advice | have received, | must abstain
from any further disclosure. 1t is very
painful to me to be obliged in conse-
quence to appear less confidential, than l
wish toward you. | have been with my
father ever since | came to town, of
course wishing to be as unObserYed as
possible; and it is insisted upon by my
legal advisers that shall have no COM
muuication with Piccadilly. must ask
free indulgence for this answer. You
do not know the ertrenae perplexities
and miseries of my present circumstances,
or l should feel secure of it. At least,
believe me, my dear Mrs. Villiers, yours
most truly, A. l. BYRON
"The Hon. Mrs. ViIliers."
In the spring of 1880, continues the re-
viewer, fourteen years after the separa
ton of husband and wife, Lady Byron
and Mrs. Leigh quarreled-about money
matters, it is believed, Mrs. Leigh taking
the initiative by declining all further init
macy with Lady Byron. In regard to
Medora Leigh, the reviewer states that
Lady Byron, F'having known all about
this unhappy girl for ten years without
making any effort to reclaim her, sudden
y sent for her in the autumn of 1910,
brought her to Paris, and there, OF at
Fontainbleau, told her the revolving story
Of her alleged paternity" In 1843 she
Ook measures for establishing Medors !
Leigh abroad. 'The paragraph that has :
1een going the round of the papers stating A
hat her story was received by everybody
Is true, is a sheer invention of the wri-
er. Lady Byron did not forgive Me | :
iora Leign's relapse into frailty. She died 4
n 1647. The reviewer declares that he D,
las seen the memorandum which Lady
Byron gave Mrs. Stowe, and that sit con
aims not a syllable from which any sane =
'erson without a 'prejudicate' opinion <
ould collect that Lady Byron ever made
be charge in question, or any charge in
diving crime at any time" 4