Byron: The Last Phase Part 33

'I've been unable to write to you till this moment. Mr. H.[67] stayed till a late hour, and is now here again. B. dined with me, and after I left the room I sent your note in, thinking him in better spirits and more free from irritations. He has only just mentioned it to me: "Oh, by-the-by, I've had a note from H., Augusta, whom you must write to, and say I'm so full of domestic calamities that I can't see anybody."

Still, I think he _will_ see you if he hears you are here, or that even it would be better, if the worst came to the worst, to let the servant announce you and walk in. Can you call here about eleven to-morrow morning, when he will not be up, or scarcely awake, and Capt. B., you, and I, can hold a council on what is best to be done?

The fact is, he is now _afraid_ of everybody who would tell him the truth. It is a most dreadful situation, dear Mr. H.! The worst is, that _if_ you said you have done so-and-so, etc., he would deny it; and I see he is afraid of _your despair_, as he terms it, when you hear of his situation, and, in short, of your telling him the truth.

He can only bear to see those who flatter him and encourage him to all that is wrong. I've not mentioned having seen you, because I wish him to suppose your opinions unprejudiced. You _must_ see him; and pray see me and George B. to-morrow morning, when we will consult upon the best means. You are the only comfort I've had this long time. I'm quite of your opinion on all that is to be feared.

'Ever yours truly, 'A. L.'

'PICCADILLY TERRACE.

'DEAR MR. H.,

'About three you will be sure of finding me, if not sooner. I've sent in your letter; he said in return I was to do what I pleased about it.

I _think_ and _hope_ he will find comfort in seeing you.

'Yours truly, 'A. L.'

'_Sat.u.r.day._

'DEAR MR. H.,

'B. will see you. I saw him open your note, and said I had given his message this morning, when I had seen you and talked generally on the subject of his present situation, of which you had before heard. He replied, "Oh, then, tell him I will see him, certainly; my reason for _not_ was the fear of distressing him." You had better call towards three, and wait if he is not yet out of his room. Mr. Hanson has sent for me in consequence (probably) of your interview. I'm going to him about three with Capt. B., but have said nothing to B. of this.

'Ever yours, 'A. L.'

Immediately after the interview, which took place on the day after the last note was written, Hodgson, feeling that nothing could be lost and that much might be gained by judicious remonstrance, resolved to hazard an appeal to Lady Byron's feelings--with what success will be seen from her ladys.h.i.+p's reply. It is impossible to over-estimate the combined tact and zeal displayed by Hodgson in this most delicate and difficult matter.

'Whether I am outstepping the bounds of prudence in this address to your ladys.h.i.+p I cannot feel a.s.sured; and yet there is so much at stake in a quarter so loved and valuable that I cannot forbear running the risk, and making one effort more to plead a cause which your ladys.h.i.+p's own heart must plead with a power so superior to all other voices. If, then, a word that is here said only adds to the pain of this unhappy conflict between affection and views of duty, without lending any weight of reason to the object it seeks, I would earnestly implore that it may be forgiven; and, above all, the interference itself, which nothing but its obvious motive and the present awful circ.u.mstance could in any way justify.

'After a long and most confidential conversation with my friend (whom I have known thoroughly, I believe, for many trying years), I am convinced that the deep and rooted feeling in his heart is regret and sorrow for the occurrences which have so deeply wounded you; and the most unmixed admiration of your conduct in all its particulars, and the warmest affection. But may I be allowed to state to Lady Byron that Lord B., after his general acknowledgment of having frequently been very wrong, and, from various causes, in a painful state of irritation, yet declares himself ignorant of the specific things which have given the princ.i.p.al offence, and that he wishes to hear of them; that he may, if extenuation or atonement be possible, endeavour to make some reply; or, at all events, may understand the fulness of those reasons which have now, and as unexpectedly as afflictingly, driven your ladys.h.i.+p to the step you have taken?

'It would be waste of words and idle presumption for me, however your ladys.h.i.+p's goodness might be led to excuse it, to observe how very extreme, how decidedly irreconcilable, such a case should be, before the last measure is resorted to. But it may not be quite so improper to urge, from my deep conviction of their truth and importance, the following reflections. I entreat your ladys.h.i.+p's indulgence to them.

What can be the consequence, to a man so peculiarly const.i.tuted, of such an event? If I may give vent to my fear, my thorough certainty, nothing short of absolute and utter destruction. I turn from the idea; but _no_ being except your ladys.h.i.+p can prevent this. _None_, I am thoroughly convinced, ever could have done so, notwithstanding the unhappy appearances to the contrary. Whatever, then, may be against it, whatever restraining remembrances or antic.i.p.ations, to a person who was not already qualified by sad experience to teach this very truth, I would say that there _is_ a claim paramount to all others--that of attempting to save the human beings nearest and dearest to us from the most comprehensive ruin that can be suffered by them, at the expense of any suffering to ourselves.

'If I have not gone too far, I would add that so suddenly and at once to shut every avenue to returning comfort must, when looked back upon, appear a strong measure; and, if it proceeds (pray pardon the suggestion) from the unfortunate notion of the very person to whom my friend now looks for consolation being unable to administer it, that notion I would combat with all the energy of conviction; and a.s.sert, that whatever unguarded and unjustifiable words, and even actions, may have inculcated this idea, it is the very rock on which the peace of both would, as unnecessarily as wretchedly, be sacrificed. But G.o.d Almighty forbid that there should be any sacrifice. Be all that is right called out into action, all that is wrong suppressed (and by your only instrumentality, Lady Byron, as by yours only it can be) in my dear friend. May you both yet be what G.o.d intended you for: the support, the watchful correction, and improvement, of each other! Of yourself, Lord B. from his heart declares that he would wish nothing altered--nothing but that sudden, surely sudden, determination which must _for ever_ destroy one of you, and perhaps even both. G.o.d bless both!

'I am, with deep regard, 'Your ladys.h.i.+p's faithful servant, 'FRANCIS HODGSON.'

Lady Byron's answer was as follows:

'KIRKBY, '_February 15, 1816_.

'DEAR SIR,

'I feel most sensibly the kindness of a remonstrance which equally proves your friends.h.i.+p for Lord Byron and consideration for me. I have declined all discussion of this subject with others, but my knowledge of your principles induces me to justify my own; and yet I would forbear to accuse as much as possible.

'I married Lord B. determined to endure everything whilst there was _any_ chance of my contributing to his welfare. I remained with him under trials of the severest nature. In leaving him, which, however, I can scarcely call a _voluntary_ measure, I probably saved him from the bitterest remorse. I may give you a general idea of what I have experienced by saying that he married me with the deepest determination of Revenge, avowed on the day of my marriage, and executed ever since with systematic and increasing cruelty, which no affection could change.... My security depended on the total abandonment of every moral and religious principle, against which (though I trust they were never obtruded) his hatred and endeavours were uniformly directed.... The circ.u.mstances, which are of too convincing a nature, shall not be generally known whilst Lord B.

allows me to spare him. It is not unkindness that can always change affection.

'With you I may consider this subject in a less worldly point of view.

Is the present injury to his reputation to be put in compet.i.tion with the danger of unchecked success to this wicked pride? and may not his actual sufferings (in which, be a.s.sured, that affection for me has very little share) expiate a future account? I know him too well to dread the fatal event which he so often mysteriously threatens. I have acquired my knowledge of him bitterly indeed, and it was long before I learned to mistrust the apparent candour by which he deceives all but himself. He _does_ know--too well--what he affects to inquire. You reason with me as I have reasoned with myself, and I therefore derive from your letter an additional and melancholy confidence in the rect.i.tude of this determination, which has been deliberated on the grounds that you would approve. It was not suggested, and has not been enforced, by others; though it is sanctioned by my parents.

'You will continue Lord Byron's friend, and the time may yet come when he will receive from that friends.h.i.+p such benefits as he now rejects.

I will even indulge the consolatory thought that the remembrance of me, when time has softened the irritation created by my presence, may contribute to the same end. May I hope that you will still retain any value for the regard with which I am,

'Your most obliged and faithful servant, 'A. I. BYRON.'

'I must add that Lord Byron had been fully, earnestly, and affectionately warned of the unhappy consequences of his conduct.'

It is most unfortunate that the second letter which Hodgson wrote on this most distressing occasion is lost, but some clue to its contents may be gathered from Lady Byron's reply:

'_February 24, 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 princ.i.p.al subject.

'I eagerly adopted the belief on insanity as a consolation; and 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 G.o.d. 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 every 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 circ.u.mstances (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. Goodness of heart--when there are impetuous pa.s.sions and no principles--is a frail security.

'Every possible means have been employed to effect a private and amicable arrangement; and I would sacrifice such advantages in terms as, I believe, the law would insure 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 my father, Sir Ralph Noel, Mivart's Hotel, Lower Brook Street, London, as I am not sure where I may be at that time. My considerations of duty are of a very complicated nature; for my duty as a mother seems to point out the same conduct as I pursue upon other principles that I have partly explained.

'I must observe upon one pa.s.sage of your letter that I _had_ (_sic_) 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 change 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.'

It is worthy of note that Lady Byron, _two days after her interview with Lus.h.i.+ngton_, here states that, in the event of 'an amicable arrangement'

(an amicable separation) being arrived at, it would not destroy the opening for reconciliation. This is an extraordinary statement, because, as we have seen, Dr. Lus.h.i.+ngton absolutely declined to be a party to any such step. On March 14 Lady Byron signed a declaration, giving her reasons for the separation, as will be seen presently.

On March 16 Augusta Leigh returned to her apartments in St. James's Palace, and on the following day Byron consented to a separation from his wife. On April 8 Lady Jersey gave a party in honour of Byron, and to show her sympathy for him in his matrimonial troubles. Both Byron and Augusta were present, but it was a cold and spiritless affair, and nothing came of this attempt to stem the tide of prejudice.

On April 14 Augusta parted for ever from her brother, and retired into the country, her health broken down by the worry and anxiety of the past three months. On April 21 and 22, 1816, the deed of separation was signed by both Lord and Lady Byron. On April 23 Byron left London, and travelled to Dover accompanied by his friends Hobhouse and Scrope-Davies. On the 25th he embarked for Ostend, unable to face the consequences of his quarrel with his wife.

'To his susceptible temperament and generous feelings,' says his schoolfellow Harness, 'the reproach of having ill-used a woman must have been poignant in the extreme. It was repulsive to his chivalrous character as a gentleman; it belied all he had written of the devoted fervour of his attachments; and rather than meet the frowns and sneers which awaited him in the world, as many a less sensitive man might have done, he turned his back on them and fled.'

CHAPTER III

The publication of 'Astarte' has had one good result; it has placed beyond question the precise nature of Lady Byron's complaints against her husband. On March 14, 1816, Lady Byron was induced by Dr. Lus.h.i.+ngton to draw up and sign a statement which would be useful if her conduct should at any future time be criticized.