LIFE OF MYTTON. 135 



ancients — a poor excuse, if not a little blasphemous ; 

 and I should rather lay it to poor human Nature, 

 who sometimes exhibits herself in most mysterious 

 guises, as was the case here, accompanied by errors 

 and failings over which, as we are not permitted to 

 command oblivion, delicacy and humanity would fain 

 draw the veil. 



But this painful part of my subject, if my end is to 

 be attained, will not admit of concealment, and the 

 evil must at once be laid bare to our view. I reluc- 

 tantly admit, that Mr. Mytton's conduct in the mar- 

 riage state is in great part indefensible, and can only 

 be palliated by a due allowance, which must not be 

 denied him, for that sort of insane delirium under 

 which he so frequently laboured — no matter from 

 what cause — and to which so many of his otherwise 

 unaccountable acts — not the acts of John Mytton per 

 se — can alone be placed. Delusion is the true cha- 

 racter of insanity ; and when I say that great part of 

 his unjustifiable, and, by the world, I fear, hitherto 

 unpardoned treatment of two of the most exemplary 

 and virtuous women in existence, was jealousy,, 

 nothing more need be said to establish this point. 

 What says the poet ? and beautifully has he said 

 it — 



