PREFACE. THE EDITOR of the following pages thinks it necessary, in order to prevent misconception, that he should explain in what manner, and for what reasons, he undertook to bring before the world the sad story of Medora Leigh, and to make his comments and observations upon it. A month or six weeks after the accusations brought against the memory of the illustrious poet by Mrs. Beecher Stowe on the alleged authority and information of Lady Byron-he received a note from an acquaintance of his boyhood-a friend of thirty years' standing-requesting him to call upon him at his office on a matter of literary interest. He waited upon that gentleman as requested, and received from his hands the autobiography of Medora Leigh, daughter of the Hon. Augusta Leigh, Lord Byron's sister. His advice as to the publication of that narrative, and the documents that accompanied it, was solicited. The MSS. had lain undivulged and unheeded among his papers for twenty-six years, where they would possibly have remained in obscurity for ever -or been committed to the flames-had it not been for Mrs. Beecher Stowe's attack on Lord Byron's memory. The Editor's first impression, after a hasty perusal of the story, was that Medora Leigh might be an impostor. An attentive study of the autobiography and the accompanying documents removed that impression, and convinced him that, whatever and whoever else she might be, Medora Leigh was the undoubted daughter of Lord Byron's sister. His next impression was that, under all the circumstances, the suppression of the whole story-if it could be effected-was desirable. This course he at once recommended. The custodian of the papersthe gentleman into whose hands they had |