A note by Henry Crabb Robinson dated June 1833, concerning the Smiths.

The three Mr Smiths, mentioned here and in other parts of the Volume were the three sons of a respectable silversmith in the Poultry, London – Through this casual meeting I formed an acquaintance which still continues. They form a family I very much respect The eldest, who is somewhat lame was a tea-dealer and affluent; And retired from business – but too early – For he married and had a larger family than was looked for: he retired into Devonshire where he enterd into a partnership in which he was not prosperous – he is now out of business, lives in the country near Exeter in economical but happy retirement – his name is Edward – The second brother [    ] is a Country clergyman in Sussex or Surrey – He is married, is in comfortable circumstances And as his brother Edward says, as happy as man can be – The third Son Crafton in talents by far the superior one of the three, has been the least fortunate He went into business when very young, soon after his return from the Continent And formed a partnership with a German Merchant. They failed And he left upwards of £10,000 which he had inherited from his deceased father, besides a part of the fortune of his brothers – But he lost nothing in character – he had friends with whose assistance he went to Trieste – From thence to Fusine where he now carries on a profitable manufactory of paper under the protection & favor of the Austrian government – I visited him there in 1829 – I found him unmarried, but seemingly living very happily – Connected with a partner, forming a small and agreeable society – he whisperd to me that he had no intention of dying there; that he hoped & expected soon to recover all he had lost, And repay his brothers what they had lost through him he spoke of his Italian journey And of his meeting with the Wordsworths with great pleasure And said that having been a few days of [sic] the party, he was proud of appropriating to himself a portion of the dedication of the Memorials

                                                 H. C. R.

June 1833. / –

Text: WWL, DCMS 90.35, Wordsworth Trust and Museum, Grasmere.