Henry Crabb Robinson, [30] Russell Square, London, to Mary Wordsworth, [London], 22 December 1846.

Russell Square

22d Dec. 1846

My dear friend

     I am sadly vexed and put out by what I have just heard And am forced to communicate my vexation to you – The occasion concerns you in a far less degree than it does me – It is this –

     The business meeting which I informed you of postponed for a week that is, till Wednesday, the 6th of January – Now this change of time tho’ it does not take away the desire of attending the Meeting in some degree lessens the obligation And therefore at first it occurred to me that I might at once give it up And set off, giving notice to you, as if nothing had interfered with the original intention But then I recollected that I had engaged myself for Christmas day And for an indefinite day afterwards – I having undertaken to take Mr Donaldson the great philologer our Bury grammar School Master to breakfast with Mr Rogers one morning.

     What a pity that the electric telegraph is not already in play between Russell Square and Rydal Mount! How nicely I could hear & reply to all you have to remark on this – There is no other mode for the present than the vulgar one by post. Do tell me as soon as you can whether it would in any great degree disturb your Christmas Schemes & prospects were I to set out on Saturday Thursday the 7th of January? I pray you to tell me with perfect frankness how this suits.

     I should probably leave you even then before the bride & bridegroom return of come to see you But I have no very distinct knowledge of their plan.

     I expected that I should have some intimation of the silversmith of whom Mr —

     The name has unhappily gone from me – will purchase a tea pot – but I have not –

     Shall I bring you any of the paper which I brought you some years ago?

    I have had a note from Lady Rolfe who means to send by me a parcel for Mrs Quillinan  She gives a very good account of Miss Fenwick

     I have just called at Sam: Rogers’s – He is now on a visit at the Duke of Bedford’s

            With best remembces al solito

                                     Affy your’s

                                                       H. C. Robinson

Pray tell me something about Mr Cookson – How is he? Will he be in the North when I come Does his improvement go on? The last account I heard was a good one But that was before the late severe weather came in – That must have tried him.

Text: WLL, Robinson, Henry Crabb/4, Wordsworth Trust and Museum, Grasmere.

Robinson writes in his diary on 22 December 1846: ‘I then called at young Walter’s in his new house 68 Russell Square. Saw only Mrs Walter and Mrs Charlton. I engaged myself to dine with them and proceeded at once to Printinghouse Square. There I first learned from Mrs W: that Mr W: had been and was still suffering from an alarming knot in the throat, rather under the chin which there is a fear may be cancerous – and his appearance manifested disease – From himself in the presence of his son John and Mrs W: I heard an interesting and painful account which cannot be put down here, of circumstances which receded poor Alsager’s death – and which caused W: to feel no surprise at his death – so strange had been his conduct. This led to confidential communications connected with the management of the Times, in its financial, not political or literary department. Then at the Athenaeum from whence I wrote to Lady Rolfe informing her of the uncertainty of the time of my going to Rydal. Then to Mrs Wordsworth telling her of what Davison had told me in the morning, that the Williams’ Trustees Meeting is postponed till the 6th of January –’