I suppose alluding to the note you sent him last night, recommending the decisive answer, and in circumstances he may have heard since. "I wish you could contrive to see him soon-as soon as possible. "In haste, "Yours truly, "A. LEIGH." 43. The Hon. Augusta Leigh to the Rev. Francis Hodgson. [Morrison MSS., and Athenæum, August 18, 1883.] 'Thursday, 5 o'clock [February, 1816]. "DEAR MR. H.,-I've not time to say more than a few words to-day, but you shall hear more to-morrow. The definitive refusal is sent this morning to Sr. R. [Sir Ralph]. Yesterday Captain B. was summoned to Mrs. Clermont's. It appeared to me they either wished to frighten or coax B. into an amicable arrangement. From what passed, however, now, if they choose it, it must come into Court! God alone knows the consequences. I think all you do of poor Ly B., and, alas, of my dearest B. He is much the same as when I last wrote. This is all I've time for to-day. God bless you, dear Mr. H." 44.-William Hoar to John Hanson. [Murray MSS.] "Durham, 17th Feby 1816. Saturday. "DEAR SIR,-Before I receiv'd your Letter, brought by yesterday's post, I had suffer'd much from the afflicting State of Lord and Lady Byron and her Family, and your Intelligence has greatly added to my pain. I have lost no Time in communicating to Lady Byron, through Lady Noel, the Representations you have made;-This is the only Course I can take;-it must be left to them to act upon it, as in their Judgement may seem best;-And most truly should I rejoice if it should bring about a Result productive of the Happiness of all the Parties. You can have been actuated only by a sincere Desire to be instrumental to such an Issue as may best promote their Welfare. "I am, Dear Sir, yours very faithfully, "WM HOAR." 45.-Lady Byron to the Hon. Augusta Leigh. [B.M. Add. MSS. 31037, f. 28, and Athenæum, August 18, 1883.] "Kirkby, Feb. 19, 1816. "MY DEAREST A.,-I have received your very painful letter, and am truly sorry that you should be so much alarmed, though I think without cause. 1816.] SANE OR INSANE. 315 "On the mysterious subject of which I am ignorant, I can only say that if the reports allude to anything I know to be false, I will bear testimony of its falsehood. "With the history of the letter I was before acquainted-and, having guessed the author, had written to impose silence as to whatever might have been collected from Servants or Observation during the visit here. The [blotted out; imprudence ?] has been acknowledged [erasure]. You do not know the person. I am stopped by post. "Yours ever, "A. I. B." 46.-Lady Byron to the Hon. Augusta Leigh. [B.M. Add. MSS. 31037, f. 30, and Athenæum, August 18, 1883.] "Kirkby, Feb. 20. "I will take a moment's opportunity, dearest A., to say I am better and the child quite well. Dear A., more soon. "Ever yours, 47.-Lady Byron to the Hon. Augusta Leigh. [Murray MSS.] "Feb. 21, 1816. "MY DEAREST A.,-I have received your letter, and with it one which it adds to my affliction to read. He has written in a state of agitation that does not allow his judgment its due weight. "I cannot suppose that my silence will occasion suspense, but to-day I really am unable to write to him. 'I must desire that you will explicitly state to me every thing that you allude to as suppressed. "A. I. B." 48.-Lady Byron to the Rev. Francis Hodgson. [Morrison MSS., and Memoir of Rev. F. Hodgson, vol. ii. pp. 30-33.] "February 24th, 1816. "DEAR SIR,-I have received your second letter.' First let me thank you for the charity with which you consider my motives. And now of the principal subject. "I eagerly adopted the belief of insanity as a consolation, and, 1. This "second letter" has been lost. though such malady has been found insufficient to prevent his responsibility with man, I will still trust that it may latently exist, so as to acquit him towards God. This no human being can judge. It certainly does not destroy the powers of self-control, or impair the knowledge of moral good and evil. "Considering the case upon the supposition of derangement, you may have heard what any medical adviser would confirm, that it is in the nature of such malady to reverse the affections, and to make those who would naturally be dearest the greatest objects of aversion, the most exposed to acts of violence, and the least capable of alleviating the malady. Upon such grounds my absence from Lord B. was medically advised before I left town, but the advisers had not then seen him, and since Mr. Le Mann has had opportunities of personal observation, it has been found that the supposed physical causes do not exist, so as to render him not an accountable agent. "I believe the nature of Lord B.'s mind to be most benevolent; but there may have been circumstances (I would hope the consequences, not the causes, of mental disorder) which would render an original tenderness of conscience the motive of desperation, even of guilt, when self-esteem had been forfeited too far. No external motive can be so strong. I entrust this to you under the most absolute secrecy. Goodness of heart, when there are impetuous passions and no principles, is a frail security. 66 Every possible means have been employed to effect a private and amicable arrangement, and I would sacrifice such advantages in terms as I believe that the Law would ensure to me to avoid this dreadful necessity. Yet I must have some security, and Lord B. refuses to afford any. If you could persuade him to the agreement, you would save me from what I most deprecate. I have now applied to Lord Holland for that end. "If you wish to answer, and I shall always be happy to hear from you, I must request you to enclose your letter to Sir Ralph Noel, Mivart's Hotel, Lower Brook St., London, as I am not sure where I may be at that time. "My considerations of duty are of a very complicated nature, but my duty as a mother seems to point out the same conduct that I pursue upon other principles, that I have partly explained. "I must observe upon one passage of your letter that I have had expectations of personal violence, though I was too miserable to have feelings of fear, and those expectations would now be still stronger. "In regard to any changes which the future state of Lord B.'s mind might justify in my intentions, an amicable arrangement would not destroy the opening for reconciliation. Pray endeavour to promote the dispositions to such an arrangement; there is every reason to desire it. "Yours very truly, "A. I. BYRON." 1816.] LORD HOLLAND AND DR. LUSHINGTON. 49.-Lord Byron to John Hanson. [Murray MSS.] 317 "Fy 29th 1816. "DEAR SIR,-I hear they have got Romilly; pray ascertain that point because he may have forgotten that he has a retainer for us, and do not delay in it as it may lead to awkward mistakes on both sides. "Yours ever, "B." 50.-The Hon. Augusta Leigh to the Rev. Francis Hodgson. [Morrison MSS., and Athenæum, August 18, 1883.] "Saturday, [February], 1816. "DEAR MR. H.,-I have heard no more, but believe Ly. B. is in town. B. heard last night from Dr. Holland to this effect, that he had been requested by Dr. Lushington, a particular friend of his, to hear him and see B. You recollect, I daresay, that he is the legal adviser on the other side. Dr. H. very properly asked B.'s will and pleasure before he consented; permission being granted, Dr. H. is now here, and it will be too late to tell you the result, post hour as usual, and no time to say more, except that I agree in all you said in yr letter, it strikes me that if their pecuniary proposals are favourable he will be too happy to escape the exposure. He must be anxious, dear Mr. H. It is impossible he should not in some degree. I can say no more to-day. "Ever yours, "A. L." 51.-Lord Holland to Lord Byron. [Murray MSS.] "Saville Row, 3d March, 1816. "MY DEAR LORD,-I am quite vexed at what the French would call most correctly a Contretemps,' tho' I cannot reproach myself with having occasioned it. "On receiving your note I wrote the substance of it to Dr. Lushington, and happening to dine in the neighbourhood took my note with me and sent it from the place where I dined. On my return home I found that Dr. Lushington, who was out when my note was delivered, had called here without receiving it. He now informs me that he did so for the purpose of communicating a proposal in consequence of our former conversation. His letter and enclosure will explain the rest. If the delay of the other party in answering was the real motive of your determination, and if the proposal now made suits your views in any degree, surely the difference of a few hours, or rather the mere accident of Lushington's being occupied all the morning and consequently compelled to defer his visit here till the evening, will not be sufficient to prevent you from giving due consideration to any arrangement that can save both parties the trouble, inconvenience, vexation, and expence of a suit. At any rate it would not justify me in withholding the communication of the enclosed papers. On their contents I do not venture to offer an opinion; but as by calling at Doctors' Commons I might perhaps have received the proposal before I got your note declaring off, I do venture to entreat you to read them in case they should contain any suggestions likely to bring matters to an accommodation. "Ever truly yours, "VASSALL HOLLAND." 52.-Dr. Lushington to Lord Holland. [Murray MSS.] "Doctors Commons, March 3a, 1816. "MY DEAR LORD HOLLAND,-On my return home last night I found your note, and tho' the terms in which Lord Byron's communication to you are couched, seem to close up all the avenues to an amicable arrangement, yet it is my duty to all parties, to prevent any measure being adopted under misapprehension. "I think it right therefore to send you the inclosed proposal, which I hope you will submit to Lord B. for his consideration, and at the same time explain the causes of such a proposition being deferred till last night. "Before it was possible to offer any specific terms, it was neces sary to obtain information as to the property. Neither Lady B. nor any of her friends were in possession of a copy of the marriage settlement; application was made to Mr. Hanson on the same day I last saw you, but he was absent from London, and I did not receive it [till] Wednesday night. Thursday I was engaged before the Privy Council all day and could not possibly read so voluminous an instrument till Friday. I then waited upon Lady B., and last night called in Saville Row for the purpose of requesting you to communicate the proposal now inclosed. "I am sure you will be satisfied that there has been no delay which could possibly be avoided, and, I think, agree with me in opinion that an explanation should be given to Lord Byron. Whatever determination he may think fit to adopt, he must be anxious not to form his resolutions without a full knowledge of all the circumstances; I therefore trust you will concur in thinking an explanation due to Lord B. And I must add, I feel personally desirous it should be made in justification of any part I may have borne in this transaction. "Ever most truly yours, "STEPHEN LUSHINGTON. |