When malice goes abroad to blacken the character and wound the feelings, the truth or falsehood of the statement is little regarded by the slanderer: indeed, the latter generally gains a preference, excepting when certain facts are necessary to give a currency to the whole.

At the time Lord Byron was one of the managing committee of Drury Lane Theatre, Mrs. Mardyn, an actress of that establishment, had leave of absence for a fortnight: Lord Byron on some occasion, had a necessity of quitting London about the same period. This circumstance gave rise to an immediate report through most of the newspapers, that the said Lady and his Lordship, had eloped together, and were absolutely living at Bath: "that there was no secret in the matter, as they were seen in the streets and elsewhere daily." Now these reports, though false and malicious, gave him little or no uneasiness: in proof of which, I shall relate an event that offered him the

most certain opportunities of contradicting them, had he thought it worth his while.

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I had the honor to be with Lord Byron one morning at his residence in Piccadilly, when Mr. Dowton's name was announced: he entered the drawing-room, and was received with great kindness; he however, proposed to retire, observing that his visit at that moment was on business, but finding his Lordship engaged, he would take another opportunity. no!" replied Lord Byron, "you shall not go: never mind Nathan: he has been composing-you love music and poetry, and you must listen to what he has done." "I should be much gratified," answered Dowton, "but I must, with your Lordship's permission relate a little anecdote, and read you a letter, in which I am, as well as your Lordship, a little concerned, and which I am proud to say, will enable me most clearly to demonstrate to the world, the falsity of those reports in circulation, respecting your Lordship and Mrs. Mardyn; for, by heavens! my son Harry has been the gallant, and not your Lordship: and he

is at this moment on a living speculation with her round the Kentish coast." Dowton here seemed in breathless anxiety to open a letter which he pullęd from his pocket in a most animated manner, but could not restrain his feelings, and thus continued. "His Grandmother writes me here, that my Son Harry sends her word from Dover, that he is going to Folkstone, Hastings, and so on, to visit his Father in London, in company with a friend: but that she had discovered that friend to be Mrs. Mardyn, who had been acting at Canterbury on the previous week." Here Dowton made a full stop for a moment, and gave Lord Byron one of his peculiar good-humoured looks, exclaiming with great archness: "there my Lord! what think you of my Harry? There's a young dog-his father's son-a chip of the old block." He then almost in the same breath thus continued. "But what added to the horror his Grandmother felt at the consequences was, that he had obtained from her (his Grandmother) fifty pounds, under some specious pretence, which doubtless, was to defray the cost of this hopeful adventure; adding, that she hoped I would fetch him

back, and lecture him severely: not forgetting her fifty pounds"

Well, Dowton," remarked his Lordship, highly amused at the honest narration of his naughty son's doings: "what would you have me do in this affair?" "Why, my Lord," returned Dowton, "use this adventure in any way you please, as a contradiction of the dd calumnies heaped on yourself." Poor Dowton in the concluding sentence, appeared very indignant he paced the room, drew his hand across his forehead, by way of cooling his rage, and warmly exclaimed against his Lordship's calumniators.

"Though my boy," continued Dowton, "is only eighteen, and has began his vagaries rather early, I confess; yet if your Lordship chooses to use this matter as I have before said, in any way you think proper, pray do so, for it is after all, only a boyish folly, and cannot injure my son: therefore, my Lord, pray stand upon no ceremony! As to his Grandmother, she may lecture him herself: I'll be bound

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she'll not forget her fifty pounds-for my part I shall not notice it: he has only done what I have done before him. It's my way-it's all our ways-it runs in the blood of the Absolutes!"

Lord Byron, who had been listening attentively to Dowton's animated frankness, and highly entertained as well as delighted at the zeal he evinced in his cause, and the earnest manner in which he expressed himself, exclaimed with much cheerfulness, "Dowton, I thank you: I take your offer kindly, but let them say on, it is alike to me indifferent. I would not stir a step out of my way to prevent them from indulging in their favourite theme-slander will find its level." His Lordship then turned to me, and said, "Come, Nathan, now for some music: do let Dowton hear the composition you had just finished, as he entered the room." It was "Bright be the place of thy soul:" a song his Lordship had only that morning written for me, impromptu: which I sang, to the following words.