Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to Elizabeth Reid, [no address], 23 August 1842. 

30 Russell Square

23d Augt 1842

My dear Mrs Reid

       I know not where you are, nor did Miss Sturch a few days ago, however this will be forwarded to you I have no doubt – I own I was rather sulky with you, tho’ delighted with Miss Martineau for her admirable letter, – A dead cut said I to myself – however I could not complain for according to my theory of the rights of men every body has a right to cut every body –

       But when your very acceptable letter did come, then I acknowledged your wisdom in writing apart, it was giving me two pleasure instead of one – Besides, as you truly hint you could tell me of our friend a great deal that she could not tell of herself – Did you read her letter to me? If you did, you will not think that I committed any act of treachery in sending to Mrs Arnold that part of it that respected the Doctor & his suffering – I am about to do a similar act towards Mrs Clarkson & yourself But I must not anticipate – I wrote to you from Bowness where I remained three days – And saw Miss B: twice – My next place of enjoyment & rest was at a charming little inn at Kirkby Lonsdale – a small house that resembles the cabinet of old fashioned spinsters of family rather than a house of reception for he to travellers for hire – ^But the adjacent village of Casterton is the chief attraction^ – I enjoyed my friend Mrs Niven at Skipton –Was two days at that huge den of working slaves – Leeds – but one of which I gladly spent at the retired little village Ilkly wells – my good friends, the Stansfelds (-- the Miss St) the ladies I mean, were there – I  next ^was^  next three days at Matlock So this answers a friendly hint you let fall – It is a delightful place – I saw no more of Derbyshire this year – I made the usual excursion to Chatsworth – doing what every body else does – But it was very little to my taste – Haddon Hall however is a curious object – I did not know how near I was to Bakewell – Every part of Derbyshire has a certain degree of beauty – Dovedale I shod be most glad indeed to visit, were it only to grope among its “untrodden ways” and fancy them haunted tho’ invisibly by the spirit of Lucy

       I fell in with Edward Strutt at Derby – from whence I came straight to London by the rail road – Since my return here very little has occurred that you would be interested to hear of – I have just seen Mr Madge – It is settled that his daughter is to go to Madiera which I am glad to hear of –

       A few days ago I was startled by a call from Miss Bayley – She arrived the day before & was to leave the following day – She was on the road to Hastings – I have accepted an invitation to spend a week there – I suppose I shall go next week – I feel not at all inclined to remain here during the whole of September And had not Miss Bs invitation preengaged me I should perhaps have gone down to Luton again And spent a few days with Mr Leigh whom you will not have forgotten –

       Not long ago I received a letter from my old friend Mrs Clarkson, the first sheet of which I inclose And which you will read with an interest akin to that with which Mrs Arnold read Miss Martineau’s letter – Surely there is a deficiency in language for not having a word that precisely expresses this sort of feeling – Burke was the first writer who ever ^to my knowledge^ defined delight, which according to him means the Sensation we feel at the being relieved from pain – It is certainly not used commonly in that precise sense – now the word I want is one to express the emotion we feel at havg forcibly brought to our consciousness affection and sorrow, a renewed sense of excellence & worth & grief at its loss – I had a long letter to write to Mrs C & forgot to mention her friend J. G. [most likely her Quaker friend Joseph John Gurney of Norwich] tho it was on my mind – I have just read Dr  Channings Duty of the free states – Part the second – He argues agt a separation of the free from the slave states – but does not convince me – I hope soon to read J. Gs Who’s to blame?  You recollect Miss Bayleys address Orient Cottage – A letter sent thither the latter end of next week or beging of the following to whomsoever addressed would gratify more than one –

              Your sincere friend                             

                        H. C. Robinson

No Address, Postmark, or Endorsement 

Text: BC/RF/103/4/2], Archives, Royal Holloway University of London, London.