Astarte: a Fragment of Truth
Lady Byron to Theresa Villiers, 12 May 1816
Kirkby. May 12. 1816.
My dear Mrs Villiers—I consider it as a
very kind proof of your wish to do me justice that you desire to know my reasons, which I shall
have real satisfaction in submitting to you—
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| LADY BYRON AND MRS. LEIGH (I) |
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It must be remembered that my
Conviction was progressively formed, and not till lately fixed—and though
my suspicion had been awakened very early, it was not at the period you allude to, sufficiently
corroborated to have been made a principle of conduct without risking a cruel injury to one who
professed herself most affectionately & disinterestedly devoted to my welfare. There was no
medium—I must either have treated her as guilty or innocent—My Instinct too
strongly dictated the former, but the evidence then rested chiefly on his
words & manners, & her otherwise unaccountable assent &
submission to both. If you regret that I did not attach more weight to my own wretched doubts, you
will not dislike the feeling which rejected them as long as possible. Besides at the time of her
return to Piccadilly, I conceived there was no danger to her from him, as his inclinations were
most averse from her, & absorbed in another direction—and believing that the residence of any
human being in the house would be the means of saving myself and my child, I had but her to look
to, and was almost compelled to banish the ideas that would have deprived me of this last resource.
Nevertheless before I allowed her to come, for she had many times offered it, I seriously urged her
to reflect on the consequences that might ensue to herself. During her last visit my suspicions as
to previous circumstances were most strongly corroborated—above all by her
confessions & admissions when in a state of despair & distraction. They were of the most
unequivocal nature possible, unless she had expressly named the subject of her remorse and horror.
I have answered them in as pointed a manner—and have urged to her that everything was expiable by repentance, when she repeatedly said she had forfeited all hope
of salvation—I must have had a heart of iron could I then have cast her off—No—she was only dearer
to me, and I felt more bound to be the support of one whom I thought broken-hearted. I honor
you—and love you for being her determined friend—it is the best privilege of an unblemished reputa-
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| ASTARTE |
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tion to be kind to victims like her. Do not trouble yourself about her
unjust language concerning me. If it had been my principal object to gain worldly opinion, you must
be sensible that I should have acted differently throughout. Perhaps she does not feel towards me
the anger she may think it necessary to show. You observe her omissions. It has appeared to me that all she has or has not said, has had so
studied a reference to one consideration as to prove that it constantly occupied her
thoughts.—Guilt has often betrayed itself by the endeavour to make out a good
case—and I will venture to assert that her letters, if all produced together, would strongly
tend to such an effect, by providing against it—When I tell you that
Ld. B. made two, and I believe three of the worst women in
London his confidantes on this subject, even in detail—and even on paper—you will not wonder at the
report—I have been the means of silencing its principal sources. . . .
Ever yours affectly.
I have written to thank Col.
L—— for a letter apprizing me of the event1
which you of course have heard.
George Leigh (1771-1850)
Officer in the 10th Light Dragoons, gambler, and boon companion of the Prince of Wales;
he married Augusta Byron in 1807.
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.
