LORD  BYRON  and  his  TIMES
Byron
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Astarte: a Fragment of Truth
Augusta Leigh to Lady Byron, [25 June 1819]
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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Introduction
Preface
Contents
I. Byron Characteristics
II. Three Stages of Lord Byron’s Life
III. Manfred
IV. Correspondence of Augusta Byron
V. Anne Isabella Byron
VI. Lady Byron’s Policy of Silence
VII. Informers and Defamers
VIII. “When We Dead Awake”
IX. Lady Byron and Mrs. Leigh (I)
X. Lady Byron and Mrs. Leigh (II)
XI. Byron and Augusta
Notes by the Editor
Appendix
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Friday [June 25, 1819]
My dearest A—

I have been pining for a letter from you—& am afraid I should not have left you in peace so long—had I not heard thro Mrs G V— that you had arrived safe & well—I am glad you found your Mother improving in health—& that ye place agrees with you—but you tell me not a word in particular of your own health & whethre you have tried ye Waters—I am pleased that Ada has been so with Noah &c.

As for Mazeppa & Appendages I am all astonishment not knowing it was out—what are the Appendages my dear A? not the Don I hope—I think I shall never read another of those performances,—I have just got Mrs Hoares Book which I mean to study & the new Tales are awaiting my leisure or my inclination to read Some way or other I have not had energy of mind or body for any
83
ASTARTE
thing of late—& all I do is an effort—You were not wrong in thinking me depressed & oppressed my dear A when we met—& certainly the sight of dear Ada contributed in a great degree to unnerve me—I’m sorry you discovered it—& I need not dwell on all the painful feelings it occasioned & which you can enter into—I will only tell you of my pleasure in seeing her all you could wish. I never saw—prejugés a part so very engaging a Child—I might say a great deal of her tractability—& your good management—but as you hate praises & I am very awkward about expressing my approbation & admiration I will not dwell on that either.

I felt greatly annoyed at not seeing you again alone—before you left [London], as I had made up my mind to what I am now doing—tho’ I am not clear I may be acting right, & it has been made and unmade on the subject 20 times—Yet I can safely affirm not on my own acct have I doubted—I really must enclose ye last letter I spoke to you of—for I have endeavoured in vain, in thought & deed to reply to it—I am so afraid of saying what might do harm—or omitting any possible good—burn it—& tell me you have & answer me as soon as you can—I shall be anxious—& my unusually long silence may cause agitation—which I always avoid—in short he is surely to be considered a Maniac—I do not believe any feelings expressed are by any means permanent—only occasioned by ye passing & present reflection & occupation of writing to the unfortunate Being to whom they are addressed—

pray pardon me if you think me wrong—for I do not mean it to be so—tho I am convinced there are many wd condemn the act as an insult but it is yr advice & superior judgment that is wished for. Independent of this misery I have plenty of Home ones—but I will not worry you dear A—The Babes are well. I am hurried for post having unexpectedly got this frank1 & being anxious not to delay—God bless you ever & ever