communications made to me by his nearest relatives and personal
attendant, who had more opportunities than myself of observing him
during the latter part of my stay in town. It was even represented to
me that he was in danger of destroying himself. With the concurrence
of his family, I had consulted Dr. Baillie, as a friend (Jan. 8),
respecting this supposed malady. On acquainting him with the state of
the case, and with Lord Byron's desire that I should leave London, Dr.
Baillie thought that my absence might be advisable as an experiment,
assuming the fact of mental derangement; for Dr. Baillie, not having
had access to Lord Byron, could not pronounce a positive opinion on
that point. He enjoined that, in correspondence with Lord Byron, I
should avoid all but light and soothing topics. Under these
impressions I left London, determined to follow the advice given by
Dr. Baillie. Whatever might have been the nature of Lord Byron's
conduct towards me from the time of my marriage, yet, supposing him to
be in a state of mental alienation, it was not for me, nor for any
person of common humanity, to manifest at that moment a sense of
injury. On the day of my departure, and again on my arrival at Kirkby
(Jan. 16), I wrote to Lord Byron in a kind and cheerful tone,
according to those medical directions.

'The last letter was circulated, and employed as a pretext for the
charge of my having been subsequently influenced to "desert" {72} my
husband. It has been argued that I parted from Lord Byron in perfect
harmony; that feelings incompatible with any deep sense of injury had
dictated the letter which I addressed to him; and that my sentiments
must have been changed by persuasion and interference when I was under
the roof of my parents. These assertions and inferences are wholly
destitute of foundation. When I arrived at Kirkby Mallory, my parents
were unacquainted with the existence of any causes likely to destroy