“As to what Reviews and the world says, I do not care a jot, but when persons who have known me are capable of conceiving of me—not that I have fallen into a great error, as would have been the living with Claire as my mistress—but that I have committed such unutterable crimes as destroying or abandoning a child, and that my own! Imagine my despair of good!
“Imagine how it is possible that one of so weak and sensitive a nature can run further the gauntlet through this hellish society of men! _You_ should write to the Hoppners a letter refuting the charge, in case you believe, and know, and can prove that it is false, stating the grounds and proofs of your belief. I need not dictate what you should say, nor, I hope, inspire you with warmth to rebut a charge which you only can effectually rebut. If you will send the letter to me here, I will forward it to the Hoppners.”
_Mary Shelley to Shelley._ “MY DEAR SHELLEY,
“Shocked beyond measure as I was, I instantly wrote the enclosed. If the task be not too dreadful, pray copy it for me. I cannot.
“Read that part of your letter which contains the accusation. I tried, but I could not write it. I think I could as soon have died. I send also Elise’s last letter: enclose it or not as you think best.
“I wrote to you with far different feeling last night, beloved friend. Our barque is indeed ‘tempest-tost,’ but love me, as you have ever done, and God preserve my child to me, and our enemies shall not be too much for us.
“Adieu, dearest! Take care of yourself—all yet is well. The shock for me is over, and I now despise the slander; but it must not pass uncontradicted. I sincerely thank Lord Byron for his kind unbelief.
“P.S. Do not think me imprudent in mentioning Claire’s illness at Naples. It is well to meet facts. They are as cunning as wicked. I have read over my letter; it is written in haste, but it were as well that the first burst of feeling should be expressed.”
_Mary Shelley to Mrs. Hoppner._ “PISA, AUG. 10, 1821.
“After a silence of nearly two years, I address you again, and most bitterly do I regret the occasion on which I now write. . . .
“I write to defend him to whom I have the happiness to be united, whom I love and esteem beyond all living creatures, from the foulest calumnies; and to you I write this, who were so kind, and to Mr. Hoppner, to both of whom I indulged the pleasing idea that I have every reason to feel gratitude. This is indeed a painful task. Shelley is at present on a visit to Lord Byron at Ravenna, and I received a letter from him to-day, containing accounts that make my hand tremble so much that I can hardly hold the pen.