my house, has been working _systematically_ to starve me out by _never_
having given me enough to live on! He _premeditated this_ before we
married, when then not having an acre of land in the world—(for it was
my little pittance of £350 a year that gave him a qualification for
Parliament), he settled the munificent sum of £1,030 on me to _bar
dower_. Soon his necessity made him want what little land I had, and
though strictly tied upon me, I gave it up,—the sole surviving trustee
to my marriage settlement being _then_ his brother WILLIAM BULWER. Soon
after this he again wanted money. I said, You know I have no more,—“Yes,
you have that £1,000 I settled upon you to bar dower.” Oh! I said that
is neither worth giving or refusing. Now this reminds me to answer your
other questions. The sum my Lord LYTTON paid for my 25 years’ debts,
to patch up the Madhouse conspiracy, was £3,500, and Mr. HYDE told me,
and I think he also wrote it in one of his letters while I was abroad:
“Sir EDWARD boasts that he has generously given you back all your own
money, to pay your debts; and I’m sure you would rather feel this than be
beholden to him.”
Supplemental Notes.
THE CASE OF LADY BULWER LYTTON.
From the _Somerset County Gazette and West of England Advertiser_, July
13th, 1858.
For some three years past a lady, rather above middle age, of somewhat
portly figure and handsome countenance, has occupied apartments in the
quiet, comfortable, and pleasant establishment at Taunton, known as
CLARKE’S Hotel. Her appearance, manners, and habits, so far as the latter
were known, did not cause her to be particularly noticed as she walked
in public; for she was much like ordinary ladies—plainly and becomingly
dressed—conducted herself with propriety, remarked objects that were
likely to attract attention, and passed without notice those that were
not so. She sometimes did a little “shopping,” as ladies generally are
fond of doing, and when she asked for any particular article, she did so
in ordinary terms, and answered questions in a rational manner, though
at times with haughtiness. In her country walks she was occasionally
accompanied by a female friend, though generally in these her only
companion was a little dog, for which she always showed great fondness.
Sometimes also she has been seen at public entertainments, though but
seldom, and there her attire has been similarly becoming to that in
her walks in town or country. In a place like Taunton, a person of any
note does not long reside before he or she becomes known to many of
the inhabitants; and soon after the arrival of the lady we have been
describing she was generally known to be Lady BULWER LYTTON, wife of the
eminent novelist, who now holds the distinguished position of Colonial
Secretary in her Majesty’s Government.
Persons who are in a state of madness give indications of their
misfortunes at home and abroad. They
“Bend their eyes on vacancy,
And with the incorporeal air do hold discourse;
Their words are loose
As heaps of sand, and scattering wide from sense;”
But Lady LYTTON during the three years she was at Taunton never did aught
that we are aware of (and we have taken pains to ascertain the truth) to
cause in any one with whom she had communication the slightest suspicion
that in her case reason had been dethroned, or that her brain was in any
degree affected with lunacy. Yet this lady has been taken from the quiet
retreat she had chosen in this fair town of Somerset—perhaps we might
say to which she was driven—and carried to one of those miserable abodes
of the most hapless of human beings—a “Madhouse.”
The circumstances under which Taunton has lost one of its inhabitants,
are so extraordinary and so shocking, that, as may be supposed, they have
greatly excited the minds of the people generally. Upon those persons
who were on terms of intimacy with Lady LYTTON (they were only few, for
she evinced little inclination to mix in society, and it was pretty well
known that her pecuniary means were too limited to allow of her doing
so), upon her personal friends the first mention of the fact fell like
a clap of thunder, when the skies give no sign of an approaching storm.
They could not credit such strange information with truth; but when
convinced of its veracity their exclamation has been, “Good Heavens!
Lady LYTTON in a _Madhouse_. For what? Who can have sent her there? She
is no more mad than I am, or any one else.” And those who have merely
seen her as she passed them in the streets or other public highways,
have been hardly less startled by the intelligence. There is on all
hands a firm belief that this unfortunate lady—we say unfortunate in
allusion only to her present lamentable position, and without reference
to circumstances which have given both to herself and her husband an
unenviable notoriety—there is, we say, a firm belief that Lady LYTTON is
the subject of a horrible and appalling injustice and wrong; that while
perfectly sane she has been shut up in a lunatic asylum, merely in order
that a woman who has, no doubt, been a constant source of annoyance to
her husband, may be prevented for ever, from again giving him similar
trouble, or again molesting him in any way. In ascribing to her the
character we have given, we desire to avoid the indication of any opinion
as to her conduct towards Sir Edward, or as to his general treatment of
her. We only state a fact, that people among whom she has resided during
a period of three years—to many of whom she is well and intimately known,
and most of whom have had frequent opportunities of seeing her—believe
that though sent to an asylum for lunatics, her intellect is perfectly
sound, and therefore that she has been made, for some reason or other,
the victim of an atrocity which a hundred years ago might have excited
no great attention beyond the circle of the doomed one’s own relatives,
but which cannot be overlooked in the present age without danger to “that
liberty of the subject” which has been since achieved, and which is the
highest boast and most glorious privilege of the people of this country.
In giving to Lady LYTTON the character we have ascribed, and in stating
what is the general opinion of her in this town, we by no means wish
to have it supposed that we regard her as one of the most pleasant or
amiable of women. Her later literary works (for none of which can be
claimed any considerable praise) seem to have been undertaken in a great
measure for the purpose of publishing to the world her own sufferings,
and of exposing what she conceived to be the foul treatment she received
from one who vowed at the altar to “love and cherish her”; and in more
than one instance her writings evince unkind and uncharitable feelings
towards very estimable and excellent persons. We particularly allude to
one of her latest productions, entitled, “Very Successful,” in which
a lady of this town, who is only known to be respected and esteemed,
is held up to most undeserved ridicule for no other reason than that
she did not desire to cultivate her ladyship’s acquaintance, having,
probably from the nature of her daily engagements, little time to give to
the maintenance of friendships beyond the circle of associates she had
already gathered around her. And we happen to know that in several cases
her ladyship has manifested much haughtiness to persons who have had
occasion to come in contact with her. But such things as these, however
much to be deprecated in all persons, certainly cannot be regarded as
evidence of a deranged brain, for if unkind and offensive personalities
in print were so considered, few writers would be safe from incarceration
in a Lunatic Asylum; and if haughtiness were held to be a proof of
lunacy, who is there that should give the necessary “certificates,” and
who become “warders”? Displays of ill-temper and malignity, of pride and
arrogance, are never very reasonable; they are in truth very ridiculous;
still there is much yet to be learnt if they are to be held as
indications of madness. We make these remarks to show that, while under
an impression—we will say a conviction—that in Lady LYTTON’S transfer to
a Lunatic Asylum she has been made the victim of a shocking outrage and
crime, we are not unacquainted with, or insensible to, her weaknesses
and defects. And we may here state that our object in alluding to her
case at all is to enforce by its publicity that strict investigation into
its circumstances to which she is in common justice entitled, and which
society demands for its own satisfaction and as its own safeguard.
Lady LYTTON when married, in 1827, to Sir EDWARD, possessed a small
property worth about £400 per annum, and it is stated that, her husband
being then in far less affluent circumstances than at present, she
transferred this to him, in order to give him a qualification for a
seat in Parliament. Her experience of the married state was an unhappy
one, and in 1838 a separation took place by mutual consent, Sir EDWARD
consenting to pay her £400 a year during his life, which has been her
allowance from that to the present time, notwithstanding he is, or is
reputed to be, a wealthy man, his annual income being estimated at from
£8,000 to £10,000.
Four hundred a-year being unequal to the requirements of a lady who
had moved in the higher classes of society—leaving luxuries out of the
question—Lady LYTTON became involved in debt, which of late has claimed
about one half of her income, and of course every year saw her sink
deeper and deeper into the mire. One of her chief complaints against
her husband was, the smallness of the means he allowed her for her
support, and certainly if, as is stated, his own income is £10,000, it
is a very reasonable one—for the allowance of £8 a year to his wife by
a man whose income is £200 would be just in the same proportion; and
there are few who would not decry and condemn the injustice which such
a payment by a person having £200 a-year would exhibit. By the deed of
separation Lady LYTTON was to possess in her own right any property she
might acquire thereafter, which has been chiefly from her publications—in
some cases remunerative, but in others miserable failures. She has
been severely censured for the bitterness displayed in some of her
writings, but perhaps not altogether with justice. Let those who would
condemn the use of harsh language just learn under what circumstances
it has been used; and if they find the author’s life has been one of
excessive trial and suffering—that she has either been compelled to
quit, or has felt it imperatively necessary to flee from, the house of
her husband—that from a position of pecuniary ease she has been cast
down to a condition of humiliating poverty—that instead of her society
being courted by numerous “friends” whose acts of kindness caused her
days to pass lightly and happily, she is shunned by most of them as no
longer worthy of their regard—that while her husband still moves among
the gayest and noblest of society, she remains the occupant of two small
rooms in a country hotel—if they make in her case the allowance which
such an accumulation of woes and miseries ought to ensure, they will not
fail to be very sparing of censure—they will hardly express surprise,
perhaps, at the display of ill-feeling, however bitter or general it may
be. When a person is treated as an Ishmael, it is not to be wondered at
if he regards himself as such; and the best of tempers will at last be
soured and ruined by constant irritation and suffering. A not very high
authority has said, “Revenge is sweet, especially to women.” Perhaps he
did not flatter the sex when he so wrote; but assuredly if there are
ever circumstances in which the worm will turn, and may be pardoned for
turning, they are such as are here represented. It is human so to turn,
as it is to “err” generally. When persons are under a higher influence
than any which belongs to mere humanity, they may adopt a higher line
of conduct, and submit patiently to whatever befalls them, under a
conviction that it is good for them to suffer; but Lady LYTTON has
never made any pretensions or professions that would justify the higher
standard to her case, and therefore should not be too hardly judged.
Divesting one’s thoughts of the unfavourable effect produced by her
display of bitter feeling towards others—though they are those to whom
she ascribes treatment almost too dreadful for human endurance—her life
appears unsullied and blameless. This is a tribute undeniably her due.
Lady LYTTON has for some years past endeavoured to obtain an increase
to her allowance, which in consequence of the liabilities which she had
incurred and was obliged to meet as best she could, had fallen to about
£180 per annum; but her appeals, if not wholly disregarded, were quite
unsuccessful. Continually smarting under the denial of her claims, and
rendered desperate probably by increasing difficulties, she determined
to adopt a step which might prove more effective in this behalf than the
means she had previously employed. Sir EDWARD having recently accepted
office as a Cabinet Minister, the seat he held in Parliament as one of
the members for Hertfordshire became vacant, and according to custom
it was necessary for him to meet his constituents in order to his
re-election. Lady LYTTON resolved to be present upon that occasion, and
to take a conspicuous part in the proceedings. Before she left Taunton
she caused handbills to be circulated in Hertfordshire in which it was
announced that she would address the assembled electors on the day of the
nomination; and accompanied by a female friend, she proceeded by railway
to Oxford, and thence posted to Hertford. Precaution seems to have been
taken to prevent the scandal which had been thus threatened, and on her
arriving at the hotel, and asking at what hour the proceedings at the
hustings would commence, she was answered that it was twelve o’clock—the
fact being that eleven was the time appointed. Shortly before twelve,
still in the company of her friend, she drove to the hustings in a hired
carriage, and arrived there just in time to hear her husband close his
address with an eloquent tribute to the galaxy of beauty by which he was
surrounded. The scene that followed is thus graphically described in a
London contemporary:—
“Towards the close of the proceedings of the Hertfordshire
election, just after Sir EDWARD had concluded his address with
a fervent tribute of admiration to the womanly beauty exhibited
in the long line of open carriages, chaises and vans, drawn
up in front of the hustings, there was an unwonted stir in
the crowd, which parted to admit of the passage of a hired
brougham from one of the town inns. Two ladies alighted—one
an exceedingly handsome woman of about 45 years of age,
with fresh complexion and eyes of dazzling beauty. Evidently
labouring under excitement, she advanced through the crowd
towards the hustings, and announced herself as the wife of Sir
E. BULWER LYTTON. She had come according to promise to confront
her husband and expose the wrongs described in her works and in
a pamphlet. The appearance of the lady was not unexpected, as
her coming had been announced in placards and bills; but some
person had detained her while the election was proceeding in
the vicinity. Recognised, as soon as observed, her voice was
nearly drowned by the shouts of Sir EDWARD’S supporters: but
Sir EDWARD’S eye caught hers, and his face paled. He looked
like a man suddenly attacked by paralysis. Those near him
say he trembled exceedingly. For a few moments he retained
his position in front of the hustings, and turned his back
on the unwelcome visitor. Then he suddenly disappeared below
the hustings platform, while his wife cried ‘COWARD,’ and he
having hastily signed the usual declaration, escaped into the
residence of the gentleman on whose grounds the election took
place. Lady LYTTON continued to address the audience assembled
for more than a quarter of an hour. Her ladyship subsequently
made an application to the Mayor for the use of the Town Hall,
for the purpose of making a public statement; but this being
refused her, she left the town early in the afternoon. Lady
LYTTON arrived in Hertford at three o’clock on the morning of
the election, having posted from Taunton, where she resides.
It is needless to say that the event has caused the greatest
possible excitement in Hertfordshire.”
For several months past, her ladyship was under an impression that she
was closely watched, and she seemed to be suspicious that the object of
this espionage was the miserable fate which has at last fallen upon her.
Circumstances occurred about a month ago that were of a character to
confirm her apprehensions. At that time a gentleman came to Taunton, and
took up his residence at the Castle Hotel, which was in close contiguity
to the house in which she resided. He had had a great deal to do with the
subject of her separation from Sir EDWARD, being, in fact, the honourable
baronet’s solicitor, and she held him in extreme aversion. He remained
here some short time, it is said, and then left, but not before his
sojourn had become known to her ladyship. On the 12th of June, another
gentleman arrived in Taunton, and calling at CLARKE’S Hotel, sent his
card to Lady LYTTON, with a request for an interview. This was a “Dr.
THOMPSON,” and he was accompanied by a nurse from a neighbouring lunatic
asylum. After some reflection, her ladyship consented to his admission,
but took the precaution to request the landlady’s presence during his
stay. Mrs. CLARKE was present accordingly, and we are informed that
the conversation which ensued between Lady LYTTON and Dr. THOMPSON,
originated and sustained by him, referred wholly to subjects that were
calculated to excite intense anger and indignation on her part. This
interview lasted five hours, and at last she asked if he had not come
from Mr. LOADER, Sir EDWARD’S solicitor, to which interrogatory he
answered, “I am.” Her ladyship, who had preserved unwonted calmness,
then asked, “Is the farce played out?—and if not, how much longer is it
to last?” Dr. THOMPSON replied, “The farce is ended, and your ladyship
will not, from this hour, hear any more upon these painful matters.”
It may be stated that during the interview, two police officers, a
solicitor, and a medical gentleman, were in the adjoining room, the
object of whose presence it is not difficult to imagine. But Lady
LYTTON’S calmness rendered their presence unnecessary. Previous to his
departure, Dr. THOMPSON requested her to put upon paper what demand she
wished to make upon her husband; and she complied, writing in substance
as follows:—“Sir EDWARD to pay my debts, the interest of which swallows
up the greater part of my income, and increase my income to £500 a year.
Upon his doing this, I solemnly promise never again to molest him in any
way, nor even to mention his name.” Dr. THOMPSON promised to lay these
requirements before Sir EDWARD immediately upon his return to London,
and then withdrew, Lady LYTTON giving vent on his departure to her
overwrought feelings in a flood of tears, which could not be restrained
for a considerable time, notwithstanding the consolation offered by
the landlady, whose kindness to her throughout these painful and sad
proceedings had been very great; and even of the nurse, whose opinion as
to the state of her ladyship’s mind had undergone a considerable change
since the time she was in her presence.
Several days elapsed, and still no communication arriving from Dr.
THOMPSON, Lady LYTTON naturally became impatient, and she wrote him,
reminding him of his promise, and requesting information as to his
success with Sir EDWARD. No answer was received to her letter, and she
addressed him again and again with the same result. Unable to remain
longer in suspense, upon a matter of such moment, she at last wrote
to him to the effect that she would go to London in the course of the
following week, and hoped to be able to see him with a view to a final
arrangement. Unfortunately for her, she carried out her intention.
Accompanied by a Miss RYVES, and a lady of Taunton, who has always taken
an interest in her affairs, and will hereafter be found, it is presumed,
capable of rendering her very important service in the proceedings which
are contemplated, with a view to prove her sanity, Lady LYTTON took an
evening train, and arrived in London shortly after 5 o’clock in the
morning, a dreary time to enter the great lumbering city, even when one’s
business is of no such dreary character as theirs. The chief reason
of their travelling by night instead of by day, was the inability of
the female friend referred to, to remain away from her home more than
one day. But another may have been a sudden desire of Lady LYTTON’S to
know, without further delay, what determination, if any, her husband
had come to with respect to her written request, taken charge of by Dr.
THOMPSON—an insatiable craving for the answer which should place her in
comparatively pecuniary ease, or doom her still to the “shameful needs
of poverty.” Entering an hotel, they partook of refreshments, and whiled
away, as well as they could, the lagging hours until what was deemed an
appropriate time to call upon Dr. THOMPSON came round. They then set out,
and on reaching his house were courteously received. It was remarked by
the doctor, however, that as they had come rather early, “Would they do
him the favour to postpone discussion of the subject which had brought
them until five o’clock in the afternoon?” Assent was, of course, given,
and at the hour specified they were again at the door of his residence.
On announcing their names, they were shown into the drawing-room, and
Dr. THOMPSON waited upon them. He had hastily closed the door, however,
when it was again opened, and another gentleman entered—“A friend of
mine, who has casually dropped in.” It was remarked that, notwithstanding
the subject to be discussed, and which had been broached, was quite of
a private nature, the friend kept his seat, and that though he took no
part in the conversation, he listened attentively to what was said.
There being signs that the interview was near its close, he withdrew.
Lady LYTTON seemed to have, on entering the house, a presentiment that
there was no favourable information for her, and after putting a few
questions to Dr. THOMPSON, which he answered hesitatingly, she said, “You
have not consulted Sir EDWARD, Dr. THOMPSON; tell me, is not that the
case?” He owned that he could not give her any satisfactory answer, and
her ladyship arose with her friends to depart, Dr. THOMPSON expressing a
desire that she would not hurry away. Nevertheless she proceeded, and, on
getting outside the room, was astonished to see before her two policemen,
two women who had the appearance of nurses, and a gentleman who, it has
since been found, is a keeper of a Lunatic Asylum in the neighbourhood
of London. Dissemblance or concealment being no longer necessary or
possible, the purpose of this assembly was in a few words explained.