Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to Elizabeth Reid, [no address], 26 July 1843. 

30 Russell Square

26th July 1843

My dear friend,

       On the Evening of Monday the 17th I arrived from my month’s excursion – And early the next morning I sallied out W. N. W. for it happened that the objects of greatest immediate interest lay all in that direction – I could not pass York Terrace without a knock, tho’ I could under no circumstance have staid long – The Hall was in disorder. And the answers were “both out” – “gone this morning” .... And I did not collect that your Sister would be yet ^by this time^ returned

           In a few days arrived a letter from our common friend, very agreeable & acceptable in all respects except that it announced the peril in which you had been placed – But at the same time relieved me from the all anxiety concerning any disastrous result

       The worst consequence of this incident is that it may disturb the enjoyment of all coach travelling in future With me it fortunately has been the very contrary – When I was young I was a sad coward in travelling, but I was twice overturned being once above & once within And these accidents took away all fear.  For this reason, that in both cases no one was seriously injured but on the contrary the accompaniments were only ludicrous & comical – In one – but no – Its a story to tell, not write – It must be acted –

      I fear it will be otherwise with you – Yet Miss Martineaus letter satisfies me that you have sustained no serious injury – It is not a case of maiming not even of your poor Servant

       I am not going to write a long letter merely a few words of light talk – And chiefly concerning my trip – (my journey is entitled to no higher designation) –

       You are aware that you did not send me the promised letter to Miss Clarke – And when I told her of your intention She did not seem inclined to take the will for the deed. My own excursion was altogether uneventful – Perhaps the least so of any one I ever made across the channel I never saw the gay city of Paris and the lively city people of France so still and so dull – I saw nothing I did nothing, but very quietly saunter along the old walks & lounge over a few books of the day – I was not unfrequent in my evening calls on your friend who has a pleasant residence at the top of a large house in the Rue du Bac – I found her attended by a few faithful companions kommes de lettres German & French who assemble in the Evenings pour cases – You know her address And will do well to inform her of your movements tho’ on reflection I do not suppose you can in any way combine them with her’s –

       She is going to visit Mrs Fletcher at Grasmere this Summer; but I suspect she will not set out, before your return certainly not, unless you prolong your visit very considerably ... I was told that you meant to return in three or four weeks –

       Miss Clarke was a little perplexed by a journey abot to be undertaken to London by some Parisian friends of hers – Persons from whom she is in the habit of receiving attentions And she wanted to give them introductions to London – She frightened me with the account she gave of the family so that I protested agt receiving a letter thro’ their hands – For Monsieur was spoken of as a deputy – The ladies as elegant – The whole family distinguished – rich &c &c &c but altogether French, speaking no English  Miss C: asked me – What do you think? Would Mrs Reid be willing to see them? Shall I give them a letter to her?

       I had no difficulty in answering And I hope I made no mistake –

           “There is not a more hospitable person living than Mrs R: nor one who enjoys society more than she does – but then it is in her own way – If among your friends there are any who take an interest in the same kind of objects in which she takes an interest – either of humanity or freedom she would rejoice in their society – but if they are only highly respectable people rich, fashionable, genteel and all that I doubt whether she would have much pleasure in their company – Besides, I have an impression that she is not strong in French And if your friends know no English it would be an infliction on all parties to bring them together

       She said she should not send them to you – now if I have done wrong in this pardon me, I meant for the best –

       Certainly I was horrified at the thought of having to entertain any foreigner – for I grieve to say – I find my faculties both of comprehending & using foreign languages sensibly declining – I am forced (in spight of Sam Rogers’ exhortation,) to confess to myself whatever others may say to me – I am growing old

                         “Oh word of fear”!

Tomorrow I go to Bury –

       My brother has had another attack, from which however he seems to have perfectly recoverd – Indeed it was not of so serious a character as those which preceded

       I shall devote this Summer to him That is, I shall be backward & forward continually I shall not find it necessary to be always with him, but I shall never be long absent – And I shall therefore I believe not go northward this Summer

       I shall soon write an answer to Miss Martineau – And this is the only part of her letter to which I send an answer by way of anticipation –

       London you are aware is thinning fast – And when parliament rises, it will be thin indeed – That is, according to the aristocratic classification which considers a very very small class indeed as constituting society – The great mass of mankind as – non existent – When London is said to be empty there is no suitable diminution of it’s population to a vulgar eye –  

       But in another way I have found London empty – nearly all my particular friends are gone or going – But Kenyon’s brother Edward has brought his German wife She is a character – And that is an incident not fit for the tail of a letter –

       My address for a few weeks will be at Bury St Edmunds where my initials H. C. sufftly designate me – Tho’ as I have said I consider you as already in substance recovd from your shock, but yet I should be glad to have the fact stated tho’ in the fewest words

       So with my very best remembces to our excellent friend

                                     &c &c &c

                                               H. C. Robinson

Mrs Reid

No Address, Postmark, or Endorsement

Text:  BC/RF/103/4/3, Archives, Royal Holloway University of London.