The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-11

| w HohuOu' one was empowered by me TO
! take legal opinions on a written statement of
mine, though had then reasons for reserv-
ing part of the case from the knowledge
even of my father and mother
Being convinced by the result of
these inquiries, and by the tenor of
Lord Byrons proceedings, that the
notion OF insanity was an illusion, 1
no longer hesitated to authorize such
| measures as were necessary, in order to Sc
cure me from being ever again placed in his
power. Conformably with this resolution my
1ather wrote to him. .onthe I'd of February to
propose an amicable separation. Lord Byron
at first rejected this proposal but when it was
distinctly notified to him, that if he persisted
IN his refusal, recourse must be had to legal
measures, he agreed to sign deed of separa-
ton. Upon applying to DIR. Lushington, who
was intimately acquainted with all the cir
cumstances, to state in writing what he re-
collected upon this subject, l received from
him the following letter, by which il will be
manifest that my mother cannot have been
actuated by any hostile or ungenerous motives
towards Lord Byron:-
rocr y Dear Lady Byron - can rely upon the
| - NJ was originally consulted by Lady Noel on your
oenal whilst you were in the country the circum-
stances detailed by her such as justified sepa-
ration but they were not Of that aggravated descrip
tion as to render such measure Indispensable. On
Lazy Noels representation, deemed a reconcilia-
lion with Lord Byron practicable and felt most sim
cerely, awish to aid In enectingit. There was not,
on Lady Noels part any exaggeration OF the facts,
nor so far as could perceive any determination To
prevent return TO Lord Byron; certainly none was
| expressed when spoke OF reconciliation. When
you came to town in fortnight or perhaps more
my hrst interview with Lady Noel, was for the first
time informed by you OF facts utterly unknown. as
/ have no doubt, TO SIR Ralph and LADY Noel. on
receiving this additional Information my opinion
| impossible. declared my opinion, and added that
II such an idea should be entertained, could not
eltner professionally or otherwise, take any part
believe me- very faithfully yours,
"Great George street, Jan. 81, $780,
| 1 have only to observe that, if the state
ments on which my legal advisers (the late Sir
Samuel Romilly and Dr. Lushington) formed
their opinions were false the responsibility
and the odium should rest with me only.
l trust that the facts which have here
briefly recapitulated, will absolye my father
and mother from all accusations with regard
to the part they took in the separation be-
tween Lord Byron and myself. They neither
originated, instigated, nor advised that sepa-
ration; and they cannot be condemned for
having afforded to their daughter the assist
ance and protection which she claimed.
| There is no other near relative to vindicate
their memory from insult. am, therefore.
compelled to break the silence which 1 had
hoped always to Observe and to solicit from
the readers of Lord Byron's life an impartial
| consideration of the testimony extorted from
me. "A l. NOEL BYRoN
Hanger Hill, Feb. 10, 1880.
BYRON'S LAST LETTER TO HIS
SISTER,
From "Recolectons OF the Last DAYS of Shelley and
Byron" BY K. j. Treawny. London: 1858.
A letter from his half sister, Augusta Leigh,
was on his writing table This lady was the only
relation Byron had, or at least acknowledged;
| and he always spoke of her in the most affec-
A,,x1 - Il T. 4
to her when he was taken ill. This unfinished
letter ] copied, as the original would run
many risks of being lost before it reached it's
destination. 1t is interesting as the last of
Byron writings-as an index, too of his real
and inward feelings.
His sisters letter contained long tran
script of one from Lady Byron, with minute
mental and physical account of their child,
Ada. Lady Byron's letter mentioned a profile
of the child.
This unfinished letter was the last of
Byrons writings; it is to his half-sister,
Augusta Leigh
''M1ssoLoNcH1, Feb. %, 1S24.-My Dearest
Augusta, received few days ago your and
Lady Byron's report of Ada's health, with
other letters from England, for which ought
to be, and am q hope) sufficiently thankful,
as they are of great comfort, and wanted
some, having been recently unwell, but am
now much better, so that you must not be
alarmed. You will have heard of our
journeys and escapes and so forth
perhaps with some exaggeration; but it
IS all very well now, and have been
some time in Greece, which is in as
good state as could be expected, considering
circumstances. But 1 will not plague you with
politics, wars or earthquakes, though we have
had rather smart one three nights ago.
which produced q scene ridiculous enough, as
no damage was done, except to those who
stuck fast in the scuffie to get first out of the
doors or windows amongst whom some recent
lmportations from England, who had been
used to quieter elements, were rather
squeezed in the press for precedence.
Il have been obtaining the release of
about nine and-twenty Turkish prisoners
men, women, and children, and have
sent them, at my own expense, home
to their friends; but one pretty
little girl of nine years of age, named Hato
or Hatagee, has expressed a strong wish to
remain with me or under my care and have
nearly determined to adopt her, if / thought
that Lady Byron would let her come to Eng
land as a companion to Ada They are about
the same age, and we could easily provide for
her; if not, j can send her to Italy for educa-
ton. She is very lively and quick, and with
great black Oriental eyes and Asiatic features. |
All her brothers were killed in the revolution.
Her mother wishes to return to her husband.
who is at Previsa, but says that she would
rather entrust the child to me in the
present state of the country. Her ex-
treme youth and sex have hitherto saved her
life, but there is no saying what might hap
pen in the course of the war; and of such a
war. i shall probably commit her to the care |