Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-01-29

IEuINGToN AND BYRON The death OF
the eminent lawyer and civilian, the Right
Honorable Stephen Lushington, once more re-
calls attention to the Byron controversy. The
attack made upon the character OF the poet by
Mrs. H. B. Stowe three years ago will be fresh
ia the recollection of our readers. She therein
eudcavored to fix upon him the stigma OF a
fearful crime But when she made this attack
there were but two persons living who really
knew ANYTHING about the causes OF the separa-
tion between Lord aud Lady Byron, and these
we're Lord Bruughtou 1.-THE John Cam Hob
house who was Byron's fellow traveller IN
Greece and who wrote the voluminous notes
TO Chjlde Harold. since dead, and Dr. Lushing-
ton, OF these two Mr.. Hobhouse was the
conidant of Lord Byron; DR.. Washington that
of Lady Byron as well as her legal adviser, IN
coniuc,ior with Sir Samuel Romily, in tn:
matter of the separation. Mr.. Hobhouse act
ed us mediator between the poet and his wife,
and, according to Byron's statement, made on
his behalf, the proposition to 90 before the Dl-
yorce Court aud to publish all the previous cor
Lady Byron refused to state the real reasons Of
her wishing to separate from him; and her le-
cal advisers. when applied to by Hobhouse,
declared their lips to be sealed up
Mr.. NJ &. Lewis, another friend of
Byrou'S, was equally unsuccessful in OBJ
tanning the desired information. The
only answer that could be obtained
from Lady Byron was one made under
the advice of her counsel, that if he
(Byrou) insisted on the specifications he
must receive them in open court in suit for
DIVORCE Byron asserts that he was willing
TO do this, and sent Mr.. Hobhouse to her to
say So The case, however, for some reason
or other not known, did not come before the
public. Lady Byron left her husband and
went to her father in January, 1916, and on
the 25th Of April of the same year Byron left
England never to return. They never saw
after Byron death, Lady Byron wrote to DR..
Washington requesting him to state in writing
what he recollected on the subject. The reply
WAS to The effect that he Or. Lushington) had
been retained by her mother to act as her legal
adviser, and that from his first instructions ne
considered reconciliation with Lord Byron
possible, but that fortnight afterwards ne
was Informed by Lady Byron Of facts which
are utterly unknown The had no doubt) to her
father and mother, and these changed his opln-
ions entirely, so that he considered a reconcile
alton impossible; and he added that if such an
idea should be entertained he could not, either
professionally or otherwise, take any part to-
wards etccting it. From that time to his death
Dr. Lushington kept inviolate the secrets or
secret con6ded to him by Lady Byron, and
unless he has left among his papers some re-
cord of it, the truth will now never be known.
As for Mr. Hobhouse, he Of course knew only
what Lord Byron chose to tell him. and that
has been repeatedly published, but throws no
clear light Oh the subject. The poet protested
TO the last that he was unable to imagine what
Lady Byron's real grievance was, of which she
made so profound secret Philadelphia
IeflUcr