Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-01-29
New Light on Their Domestic
Life-Mrs. Leigh ExOnerated
From Blame I'm Her Relations
With ssDon juan"

From Blame I'm Her Relations
With sDon juan"
Two volumes Of memoirs OF Lord
Byron by Francis HOdgson, one of the
poets earliest and best friends, have
Just been published. HOdgsOn MAS the
only friend in England to whom Byron
wrote when he visited Spain, Greece and
Turkey, after leaving his native country
in ahuffi in 1909. And when the poet :
mother died and he made will, Hodg-
son was one Of the three persons men
toned therein.
About the time Byron announced ms
engagement to Miss Milbank, Hodgson
was himself engaged 10 be married. IL
MAS in those days, also, that he began
correspondence with the poets famous
sister Augusta, with whom he had been
acquainted for some time. These let
tiers relate largely to Byron's engage
ment and married. life, and are printed
in these memoirs for the hrst time.
They are Of the highest Importance.
The marriage took place IN January,
1915. Early in March Mrs. Leigh II so
happy and pleased with the bride that
she does not know how to express her
satisfaction" Lady Byron has written
her that "she never saw her father and
mother 50 happy; that she believes the
latter would 90 10 the bottom OF the sea
herself To fish for BIS dinner; that he
tBl owns at least that he Is very happy
and comfortable AT Seaham, though he
had predetermined 10 be very misera-
BILE" At the end Of the month Byron .
nerves are troubleing his sister; still she
is sure he is safe in the keeping OF his
wife, whom the more she sees THE
more she loves and esteems. In Sep
tember HOdgson is married, and they
all send congratulations. Byron being
I'm the best Of spirits" A little later
Mrs. Leigh writes to HOdgsOn:
81 will own tO you, what l would not
scarcely 10 any other person, that ! had
many fears and much anxiety founded
upon many causes and circumstances
III which can not write. Thank God
that they do not appear likely To he
realized. In short, there seems Ia be
but one drawback 10 all our felicity, and
that, alas is the disposal Of dear New
stead. which am afraid is irrevOcably
decreed. | received the fatal communl-
cation from Lady Il. ten days ago, and
will own Ia YOU that II Nas not only
grief, but disappointment, for had
hattered myself such As acrihce would
not be made"
In closing this letter she describes "a
sort of donestic masquerade which has
lust taken place, in winch Byron play
fully snatched Lady Mllbanks WY
from her head and dressed himself mp
in dressing gown turned inside out,
while Lady Byron stalked about IN his
travelling cap and cloak, with sham
yhiskeTs, and mustache to match.
This was eleven months after marriage.
One month later the storm came. Mrs.
Leigh wrote HOdgsOn, entreating HIM
tn come To London. He took the first
mail coach, but found Byron IN such a
nervous condition that he would see
nobody. But his love for HOdgson
soon oyrrrame him, and the friend was
admitted. The result Of the interview
was that IlOdgs1n Immediately AT
dressed Ia I-aiy Byron "a very cour-
toOus, measured and Judicial letter OF
remonstrance. every word OF which,
coming from such a man, at such time,
Is worthy Of careful study In Il he
said:
IL am convinced that the deep and
rooted feeling of his (Byron'sl heart Is
r,-yret and sorrow for the occurrences
which have 81 deeply wounded you;
ami tha most unmixed admiration ut
your conduct i'm all its particulars, and
the warmest affection. But may he
allowed Ia state Ia LAZY Byron that
Lord r., after his general ackuoS ledge
ment Oi having frequently been very
wrong. and, from various causes, IN
painful state Oi irritation, yet declares
himself ignorant of the specific things
which have given the principal offence,
and thnt lac wishes Ia learn them that
he NAV, II eXtenuation or atonement be
possihle. endeavoT % make some reply,
or. nc all events, may understand the
uilneSs oi those reasons which have
now, aud as unexpectedly "a Sftilctlngly
driven YOUR IAdyship Ia the step YOU
have taken
To this appeal Lady Byron replied
vaguely and incoherently, and with
dark illusions O. revenge and 10 her
husbands efforts to undermine her
religious convictions. She also accused
ham OF unkindness. bat male no alu-
sion 10 yTieyious moral OHeRse ot any
kind. The letter in itself Is enough IN
the .iihslssEs,s opinion TO destroy the
whole fabric Oi her later inventions.
As D. Mrs Leigh, any suspicious II her
having ANY share ia the Snrrows Of
this unhappy family must, that paper
thinks, he finally st at rest. Her
letters reveal an imPulaye creature,
with AN anxious love for and drlicaie
sympathy with all around her, that are
eNJGisitsly engaging"