Henry Crabb Robinson, Rome, to Colonel Robert Finch, 11 June 1830.

My dear Sir

       I shall excite the “inextinguishable laughter” not of Homer’s Gods but of the Goddesses of the Monte Cavello

      I stay in Rome. Not because I do not think the illuminari at Pisa is the best of all possible illuminaris but because I think that after all that sight will be purchased too dearly when seen after four days travel, I arriving the very evening of the show, without any one to help my grey hairs to a cushion – And because that I think that I shall enjoy the Roman sights more after so many days quiet reading & gentle sauntering in and about the aforesaid Monte Cavallo

      [f. 175v] I have found a thousand valid reasons for my ultimate decision but it would be very unjust to compel you to read them, so I keep them as defensive armour against the aforesaid donne ridente.

       But I shall be seriously sorry if you have troubled yourself to write a letter for me which I cannot use hereafter – It shall not be lost – You can add a codicil

                         Your obliged

                                     H. C. Robinson

11 June 1830.

Richmond will call soon

Text: Bodleian Library, Oxford, Ms. Eng. Lett., d. 458, f. 175.