The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-02-05
PETROLEUM V. Massey,
witch VIM P. NJ. ]
Miss Milford on Lord Byron.

Miss Mitford's earlier letters contain fire.
luent illusions to Lord Byron, that, with
just appreciation of his moral character,
vince high admiration of his genius
,ad, apropos to the present controversy
respecting his separation from his wife, it
S interesting to know that her sympathy
was not altogether on the side of Lady By
ron. In letter to Sir William Elford,
lated April 20, 1916, she writes:
care net Lord Byron's leave-taking
verses beautiful? / believe INDUCED my
self with abusing him to you but ever
since those verses l have felt certain re-
Jennings toward the luckless author. Part
ly, l believe, this effect may be owing to
some particles of contrariness in my dispo-
sitien, which have been good deal excited
by the delicate morality of his admirers in
this neighborhood, who excuse themselves
to themselves for their cid uant admiration
by double portion of rancor toward his
lordship and pity toward his wife. Poor
Lady Byron" Unfortunate victim p
Hapless sufferer : and so forth, are her
style and titles at present. Now, without
It all attempting to vindicate him or accuse
her, can not help thinking this immense
quantity of sympathy rather more than
The case requires. Why did she marry
hmo for, to do the man justice, he was no
hypocrite; his vices were public enough
Why did she marry him but to partake his
celebrity and bask in the sunshine of his
rame? And by what device of conjugal
iattery could that object have been attain
ed so fully as at present ? She has now
the comfort of being interesting in the
eyes of all men, and exemplary in the
mouths of all women; and she has, more
overland even !, spinster as am, can feel
that this must be solid conselation-she has,
moreover, the delight of hating her hus-
band. to the admiration and edification of
the whole world"
In letter to the same friend, written
few months after Lord Byron's death, she
yives an account of the obstruction of the
poet memoirs, which, as it is quite inter-
estins, we give entire:
Zone can not help regretting the des-
truction of Lord Byren's Memoirs; though,
from what the Examiner says of his feel
ings land on this point the Examiner is,
suppose, good authority) it might not per-
haps have been quite proper to publish
them at present without great omissions
Ny friend Mrs. Franklin, who lives in an
atmosphere Of Albemarle Street gossip,
wrote me an account of these Memoirs,
which will transcribe for you uerbattn -
'On inspection, they were found so dis
graceful in every way that they could not
he published, either on lis account or that
of his readers. A friend of mine, who was
at Naples when he gave them to Moore Ia
whele sackful of detached papers, and
who read them in the carriage as they af-
terward travelled through Italy together,
told me at the time that if ever they met
the public eye it must be with such changes
and curtailments as would almost destroy
their authenticity. No one whom he ever
met, if but once and in the most casual
manner seems to have escaped vitupera-
ton in his black journal (; and his pen was
always dipped in the deepest gall when
writing of those who at the moment were
his greatest intimates-Hobhouse for in
stance =
"Now, if this be at all true land Mrs.
| Franklin is undoubtedly person Of vara-
city, it is certainly very good reason fer
not publishing what would give so much
pain to many unoffending Individuals
But there must be parts that are harmless;
why not publish them? And why utterly
destroy the last relics of so remarkable
man? But that little man-miiliner of q
poet seems to me to have a sort of design
of turning good as he grows old; witness
his attack on Rousseau. Shall l confess to
you that, except his .jeur d'esprH, which are
capital, am no admrer of the dandy song
writer? And-I am half afraid to say it
but was no very ardent enthusiast for
Lord Byron l admit his stupendous pow
ers-his exquisite morceaur;; but he was
too melancholy-too morbid-too sneering.
He attacked Napoleon he failed in the
drama, and did net find out that he had
failed And the want of purity God for
bid that | should be a canter but the want
of purity-the harm that both he and Mr..
Moore have done to the young men and
women of the day-must not be overlook
ed, though trust it is forgiven. After all,
it is great light that is quenched-a most
powerful instrument for good and for evil
and the evil will pass away, and the good
will remain Peace to his spirit Prom
"Mary Russell Milford" by s. s. CoNANT
in Harper's Magazine for february.