rful difficulties.

That such was the case is plainly asserted by Lady Byron in her statement
published in 1830. Speaking of her separation, Lady Byron says:--

'The facts are, I left London for Kirkby Mallory, the residence of my
father and mother, on the 15th of January, 1816. Lord Byron had
signified to me in writing, Jan. 6, his absolute desire that I should
leave London on the earliest day that I could conveniently fix. It
was not safe for me to encounter the fatigues of a journey sooner than
the 15th. Previously to my departure, it had been strongly impressed
on my mind that Lord Byron was under the influence of insanity.

'This opinion was in a great measure derived from the communications
made to me by his nearest relatives and personal attendant'

Now there was no nearer relative than Mrs. Leigh; and the personal
attendant was Fletcher. It was therefore presumably Mrs. Leigh who
convinced Lady Byron of her husband's insanity.

Lady Byron says, 'It was even represented to me that he was in danger of
destroying himself.

'With the concurrence of his family, I had consulted with Dr. Baillie, as
a friend, on Jan. 8, as to his supposed malady.' Now, Lord Byron's
written order for her to leave came on Jan. 6. It appears, then, that
Lady Byron, acting in concurrence with Mrs. Leigh and others of her
husband's family, consulted Dr. Baillie, on Jan. 8, as to what she should
do; the symptoms presented to Dr. Baillie being, evidently, insane hatred
of his wife on the part of Lord Byron, and a determination to get her out
of the house. Lady Byron goes on:--

'On acquainting him with the state of the case, and with Lord Byron's
desire that I should leave London, Dr. Baillie thought 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 an 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 me by Dr. Baillie. Whatever might have
been the nature of Lord Byron's treatment of me from the time of my
marriage, yet, supposing him to have been 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.'

It appears, the