At one time Mrs.Mimms thinks Lady Byron had resolved to follow her counsel and impart her wrongs to Sir Ralph; but on arriving at Seaham Hall her ladyship strictly enjoined Mrs.Mimms to preserve absolute silence on the subject--a course which she followed herself;--so that when, six weeks later, she and Lord Byron left Seaham for London, not a word had escaped her to disturb her parents' tranquillity as to their daughter's domestic happiness.

As might be expected, Mrs.Mimms bears the warmest testimony to the noble and lovable qualities of her departed mistress.

She also declares that Lady Byron was by no means of a cold temperament, but that the affectionate impulses of her nature were checked by the unkind treatment she experienced from her husband.' We have already shown that Lord Byron had been, ever since his separation, engaged in a systematic attempt to reverse the judgment of the world against himself, by making converts of all his friends to a most odious view of his wife's character, and inspiring them with the zeal of propagandists to spread these views through society.

We have seen how he prepared partisans to interpret the Fourth Canto of 'Childe Harold.' This plan of solemn and heroic accusation was the first public attack on his wife.

Next we see him commencing a scurrilous attempt to turn her to ridicule in the First Canto of 'Don Juan.' It is to our point now to show how carefully and cautiously this Don Juan campaign was planned.
Vol.IV.