Lady Byron Vindicated

Alluding to Buchanan’s election.

37

Shelton Mackenzie, in a note to the ‘Noctes’ of July 1822, gives the following saying of Maginn, one of the principal lights of the club: ‘No man, however much he might tend to civilisation, was to be regarded as having absolutely reached its apex until he was drunk.’  He also records it as a further joke of the club, that a man’s having reached this apex was to be tested by his inability to pronounce the word ‘civilisation,’ which, he says, after ten o’clock at night ought to be abridged to civilation, ‘by syncope, or vigorously speaking by hic-cup.’

38

Vol. v. pp.61, 75.

39

These italics are ours.

40

This little incident shows the characteristic carefulness and accuracy of Lady Byron’s habits.  This statement was written fourteen years after the events spoken of; but Lady Byron carefully quotes a passage from her mother’s letter written at that time.  This shows that a copy of Lady Milbanke’s letter had been preserved, and makes it appear probable that copies of the whole correspondence of that period were also kept.  Great light could be thrown on the whole transaction, could these documents be consulted.

41

Here, again, Lady Byron’s sealed papers might furnish light.  The letters addressed to her at this time by those in constant intercourse with Lord Byron are doubtless preserved, and would show her ground of action.

42

Probably Lady Milbanke’s letters are among the sealed papers, and would more fully explain the situation.

43

Hunt’s Byron, p.77. Philadelphia, 1828.

44

From the Temple Bar article, October 1869.  ‘Mrs. Leigh, Lord Byron’s sister, had other thoughts of Mrs. Clermont, and wrote to her offering public testimony to her tenderness and forbearance under circumstances which must have been trying to any friend of Lady Byron.’—Campbell, in the New Monthly Magazine, 1830, p.380.

45

‘My Recollections,’ p.238.

46

Vol. vi.  p.242.

47

The reader is here referred to the remarks of ‘Blackwood’ on ‘Don Juan’ in Part III.

48

The article in question is worth a careful reading.  Its industry and accuracy in amassing evidence are worthy attention.

49

Probably ‘The Christian Aspects of Faith and Duty.’  Mr. Tayler has also written ‘A Retrospect of the Religious Life of England.’

50

‘The National Review.’