Henry Crabb Robinson, Kendal, to Mary Wordsworth, [Rydal Mount], 31 January 1847.

Kendal 31st Jan 47

My dear friend

            The accompanying letter was put into my hands by Mrs Nicholson – unless, which is most improbable you answer in the negative, you will yourself find the answer to Mrs Coleridge.

            The names of Wordsworth & Coleridge will be inseparable as long as they live in History And therefore MrsColeridges wish on the present ^occasion^ seems very natural – It makes one grave, the being thus forced to think of that period when we the many shall be utterly forgotten, And only a very few remain floating on the memories of men, but I rejoice in having known & in still knowing the few.

            My address at Liverpool will be No 7 Brunswick St Castle Street – But I shall be the first to write I have no doubt.

            I found the Cake very delicious – The taste was hardly out of my mouth the whole journey.

            A cordial greeting to your whole circle, in its widest extent 

                                    Affy your’s 

                                                H. C. Robinson

Mrs Wordsworth

Text: WLL, Robinson, Henry Crabb/7, Wordsworth Trust and Museum, Grasmere.  This letter occurs during Robinson’s travels to the Lake District and beyond in January 1847. He writes of his travels in his diary prior to his entry for 9 February: ‘My annual visit was unusually curtailed this year. I went late and instead of 4 weeks, staid little more than two. The only occurrence of note was that William Wordsworth brought his bride to his father’s on the 30th of January. On the following day I left Rydal, having to join Edwin Field on a Mission in favour of a projected Unitarian College. This took place the Monday at Liverpool and a whole week was spent between Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham of which I have written a short account.’