Henry Crabb Robinson and others, from Albemarle Street, on behalf of William Godwin, 8 July 1823.

  We take the Liberty of soliciting your attention for the Case of Mr Godwin, a Writer of great Talents and Reputation, distinguished by Works of Literature not relating to any disputed Questions, who in the Sixty-seventh year of his Age has been suddenly involved in difficulties without any want of Industry and Prudence on his part. He has for fifteen years earned a moderate Income as a Bookseller. He was unexpectedly engaged in a Law Suit, occasioned by a disputed Title to the Premises which he occupied, and being compelled to change his Residence, he has again established himself in another House, with all appearances of the same moderate success as before. But the arrears of his former Rent, (which he had no reason to expect would ever have fallen upon him) together with the Costs of the Law Suit, amount to a Sum which he is wholly unable to pay. We hope that this Sum, which does not exceed £600, may be raised by a Subscription which will not press heavily on any Individual, and that a Man of Genius may thus be enabled by his own Industry to earn a creditable Subsistence during the remainder of his Life.

       We have the Honor to be, Your most obedt Servants,

                                     Dudley

                                   Wm Lamb         

                                     J. Mackintosh

                                    H. C. Robinson

                                     W. Ayrton

                                     John Murray

                                     Charles Lamb

          There are a few circumstances belonging to the case which are not sufficiently adverted to in the above letter[.]

        Mr Godwin’s opponent declare[s] himself determined to act against him [f. 28v.] with the last degree of hostility the law gives him the power the first week in November to sieze Mr Godwin’s property, furniture, books &c, together with all his present source of income for the support of himself & his family. Mr Godwin has at this time made considerable progress in a work of great research, & requiring all the powers of his mind, to the completion of which he had looked for future pecuniary advantage. His mind is at this moment so entirely occupied in this work, that he feels within himself the firmness & resolution that no prospect of evil or calamity shall draw him off from it or suspend his labours. But the calamity itself, impending evil, if permitted to arrive, will produce the physical impossibility for him to proceed. His books & the materials of his work, as well as his present sources of income will be taken from him. Those materials are the collection of several years, & it would require a long time to replace them, if they ever could be replaced.

        The favour of an early answer is particularly requested, that the extent of the funds supplied may as soon as possible be ascertained, particularly as any aid, however kindly intended, will, after the lapse of a very few weeks, become useless to the purpose in view.

Text: MS Abinger, c. 38, fol. 28, Bodleian Library, Oxford.