Astarte: a Fragment of Truth
Lady Byron to Theresa Villiers, [17 July 1816]
L. Wednesday.
(July 17th 1816).
I have an answer—all that it ought to be or that I could
desire—It thoroughly convinces me of her innocence in regard to all the period with which I was
concerned—and that every error towards me has not been of the heart but the judgment—I feel most thankful for this conviction & these feelings—
I hope Mr. W——1
is sensible of the propriety, indeed necessity of an indulgent conduct under these circumstances—I
have no time—but you will be too happy to know thus much for me to need any excuse.
Yours most affectly.
Sir Robert John Wilmot- Horton, third baronet (1784-1841)
Byron's cousin; he was MP for Newcastle under Lyme (1818-30), governor of Ceylon
(1831-37), and was Augusta Leigh's representative at the destruction of Byron's memoir; he
succeeded to his title in 1834.
Hon. Theresa Villiers [née Parker] (1775-1856)
The daughter of John Parker, first baron Boringdon; in 1798 she married George Villiers,
son the first earl of Clarendon. She was related to Byron through Augusta, daughter of
Admiral Byron, who had married a Parker.