The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-08-06
The Byron Scandal.
Lady Byron and Mrs. Leigh.
New York Post. /

New York Post.l
late number of the London Academy con-
tains some additions to Byronic literature-a
part of which we transfer to our columns to-
day-that will be read with profound interest
These are certain papers that belonged to Mrs.
Leigh, Lord Byron's sister. They were
bought by the British Museum and have now
been printed, doubtless with the assent of all
concerned, in the Academy They consist
mainly of letters written by Lady Byron to
Mrs. Leigh during period of thirty-fve
years, that is to say, from January 16, 1916,
the day after Lady Byron left her husbands
house. to 1851, just prior to Mrs. Leigh's fatal
illness.
These letters evince unmistakable and un-
varying affection and respect and they are
consequently utterly incompatible with the
truth of that latest and darkest story about
Lord Byron which has been so widely and va
riously discussed. As Mr.. f. Maunde Thomp-
son says, in communicating these letters to the
Academy, "they dispose of the whole calumny.
and Danish it to the regions of after-thought"
The implication here plainly saves Mrs. Stowe
and leaves the responsibility for what she
allowed herself to promulgate solely with Lady
Byron herself. A morbid state OF mind, a
latent, if long veiled discomfort with the obvi-
vious leanings or sympathies Of the world, and
conceivably, certain mystification- By
ron mystifed everybody he came in contact
with if he could do so-are thus in the end to
be credited with tale that to many has seemed
like conception of insanity. When woman
Of Lady Byron's lofty and scrupulous delicacy
writes, during long term of years, such let
tiers as these to person to whom she after
wards imputes an infamous crime Of which
during all these years she, as we were asked
to believe, had knowledge, there is but one
inference in the light of these letters to be
drawn; and that is, that Lady Byron had dis
pr owed her statement in the most effectual
manner before she ever thought of making
it. Her separation was distinctly assigned in
that hideous story to her discovery of its
central eliminating fact; yet ten days after
that separation she wrote to Mrs Leigh, call
ing her Dearest Augusta" and ending by
saying: Feelings must not now be indulged;
but whatever / feel at all it will be as kindly
as you could. Independently of malady do
not think of the past with any spirit of resent
ment, and scarcely with the sense of injury.
God bless himp Sharp and experienced eyes
will perceive in this letter clew which
various things in Lord Byrons career after
ward will carry forward to probable conclu-
sion.
1t is true that after twenty years OF close in
timacy coldness arose between Mrs. Byron
and Mrs. Leigh; but it sprang out of a certain
business matter connected with the appoint
ment of a trustee under Lady Byrons settle
ment. Lady Byron appointed DIR. Lushington
the same DR.. Lushington who knew things
which he died without telling-and Mrs. Leigh
objected to the appointment. But Lady Byron
wrote with great affection to her sister-in-law
later on, and the circumstances of one dispute
between them are sufficient in every sense to
account for their temporary alienation. There
will be as there always are, some dissentients
from the kindlier and nobler view; when mud
is thrown there are always a certain number of
persons who wish that some of 1t may stick.
But the great mass of right-minded people will
rejoice to find in these letters now printed in
A l. IL n
cherished sister from a frightful aspersion, and
the blotting out for all time of one OF the black
est charges ever recorded by one human being
against another.
The following is one of the letters:-
January %.
Shall L still be your sister? | must resign these
tieo cords are an alteration from have resignedD my
rights to be so considered, but don't think that
will make any difference in the kindness have so
uniformly experienced from you.
1 follow my duty and look to that peace which it
alone can insure, here or hereafter. 1t would have
been deception and Inconsistency in me to give
ddrice or opinion to B. have written you the few
lines in an envelope to be shown, If you please.
! am sorry, very sorry, to have occasioned you or
other friends more than necessary ueasiness by the
weakness of my mind during that struggle which is
now past. j will not renew your anxiety in the
same way. have not heard from my mother to-
day. Yesterday she wrote of you most kindly and
with the fullest sense of what you have been to me-
fear her nerves will not keep quiet much longer.
If she should quarrel with you think of 1t but the
misery of the moment know she will ever feel
grateful to you in her hedrt,-and it Is of the
best, in spite of an irritable temper.
1t is often great comfort to to think that the
approaching event will not be felt seregely Ger
tany, the heart will not suffer. So far from ever
wishing to be the of regrets it would grieye
me most to think that should be loss. The dis
positions are SO GRtidomestic that hope TO be re-
membered only a burden.
Feelings must not now be INDUCED; but whenever
feel at all, it will be kindly as you could.
Independent of malady, do not think of the past
with any spirit of resentment and scarcely with the
sense of injury. God bless him.
You must not let B. know of the contents of this
as it would be dsadyantageOus before my fathers
letter.
The Hon. Mrs. Leigh.