386 Lady Byron and Moore. \_ APRIL, 



influence of insanity. This opinion was derived, in a great measure, from the 

 communications made to me by his nearest relatives and personal attendant, 

 who had more opportunities than myself of observing him during the latter 

 part of my stay in town. It was even represented to me, that he was in dan- 

 ger of destroying himself. With the concurrence of his family) I had consulted 

 Dr. Baillie, as a friend (Jan. 8th) respecting this supposed malady. On 

 acquainting him with the state of the case, and with Lord Byron's desire that 

 I should leave London, Dr. Baillie thought that my absence might be advisable, 

 as an experiment, assuming the fact of mental derangement; for Dr. Baillie, 

 not having had access to Lord Byron, could not pronounce a positive opinion 

 on that point. He enjoined, that in correspondence with Lord Byron, I should 

 avoid all but light and soothing topics. Under these impressions, I left Lon- 

 don, determined to follow the advice given by Dr. Baillie. Whatever might 

 have been the nature of Lord Byron's conduct towards me from the time of my 

 inarriage, yet, supposing him to be in a state of mental alienation, it was not 

 for me, nor for any person of common humanity, to manifest, at that moment, 

 a sense of injury. On the day of my departure, and again on my arrival at 

 Kirkby, Jan. 16th, I wrote to Lord Byron in a kind and cheerful tone, accord- 

 ing to those medical directions. The last letter was circulated, and employed 

 as a pretext for the charge of my having been subsequently influenced to ' de- 

 sert' my husband. It has been argued, that I parted from Lord Byron in per- 

 fect harmony : that feelings incompatible with any deep sense of injury had 

 dictated the letter which I addressed to him ; and that my sentiments must 

 have been changed by persuasion and interference, when I was under the roof 

 of my parents. These assertions and inferences are wholly destitute of foun- 

 dation. When I arrived at Kirkby Mallory, my parents were unacquainted 

 with the existence of any causes likely to destroy my prospects of happiness ; 

 and when I communicated to them the opinion which had been formed con- 

 cerning Lord Byron's state of mind, they were most anxious to promote his 

 restoration by every means in their power. They assured those relations who 

 were with him in London, that ' they would devote their whole care and atten- 

 tion to the alleviation of his malady/ and hoped to make the best arrangements 

 for his comfort, if he could be induced to visit them. With these intentions 

 my mother wrote, on the 17th, to Lord Byron, inviting him to Kirkby Mallory. 

 She had always treated him with an affectionate consideration and indulgence, 

 which extended to every little peculiarity of his feelings. Never did an irritat- 

 ing word escape her lips, in her whole intercourse with him. The accounts 

 given me after I left Lord Byron, by the persons in constant intercourse with 

 him, added to those doubts which had before transiently occurred to my mind, 

 as to the reality of the alleged disease, and the reports of his medical atten- 

 dant, were far from establishing the existence of any thing like lunacy. Under 

 this uncertainty, I deemed it right to communicate to my parents, that if 1 

 were to consider Lord Byron's past conduct as that of a person of sound mind, 

 nothing could induce me to return to him. It therefore appeared expedient, 

 both to them and myself, to consult the ablest advisers. For that object, and 

 also to obtain still further information respecting the appearances which 

 seemed to indicate mental derangement, my mother determined to go to Lori- 

 don. She was empowered by me to take legal opinions on a written statement 

 of mine, though I had then reasons for reserving a 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 Byron's proceedings, that the notion 

 of insanity was an illusion, I no longer hesitated to authorise such measures as 

 were necessary, in order to secure me from being ever again placed in his 

 power. Conformably with this resolution, my father wrote to Mm on the 2d 

 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 a 

 deed of separation. Upon applying to Dr. Lushington, who was intimately 

 acquainted with all the circumstances, to state, in writing, what he recollected 

 upon this subject, I received from him the following letter, by which it will be 



