Henry Crabb Robinson, Bury St. Edmunds, to Edward Quillinan, [near Rydal Mount], 10 August [18]48.

Bury St Edmunds

10th Augt 48

My dear Sir.

     It was not forgetfulness of your letter so much as of my not having replied to [you that] I am to be reproached with: There was time for a rejoinder had the time ^occasion^ been given.

     I have now a cluster of letters to be thankful for – But it <–> suits the scantiness of my materials to jumble together some notice of all – Tho’ indeed the greater portion of what you & Mrs W: have written calls only for & sometimes admits only of an acknowledgement.

     As I was driving in an Omnibus to Hampstead on Saturday I fell in with young Wigon – he told me he was on his road to the north. There was a time when he had wished to have another sitting from Mr W: in order to complete his exercise on the <  > physioginomy. There is no form of plastic work that I like so much as the bas-relief Medallion (Italici [Medalone?]) The small medal certainly fails as a likeness is a failure But the expression is pure And the sadness will be understood. The next generation will be delighted with it.

     You speaking more slightingly than I should have expected of Blake. Recollect they are not to be considerd as works of art but as fragments of a shatterd intellect. Lamb used to call him a “mad Wordsworth” Enquire of Mrs W: whether she has not a copy of his Catalogue – If she has not, enquire of me hereafter.  Many years ago Mr W: read some poems which I had copied And made a remark on them which I would not repeat to every one. “There is no doubt this man is mad, but there is something in this madness which I enjoy more than the sense of W: Sc: or Lord B:–[”] I had lent him when he died the 8vo Edit in 2 Vols: of W. Ws poems – They were sent me by his widow with pencil marginalia which I inked over. He admired W: W: “tho’ an atheist” And when I professed against this sentence it was thus supported – “Who ever worships nature denies God, for Nature is the Devils work –” I succumbed, for he always beat me in argument – he almost went into a fit of rapture at the platonic ode.

     I enjoyed our Lincoln trip: It was a mere social enjoyment. I shall continue to accompany the learned body, until I am become quite intolerable And considerd as a burthen – I cannot now even learn on such an excursion – Teaching was never my forte – My simple contribution consisted in repeatedly reciting

                    “How profitless the relics that they ^we^ cull.”

                    &c &c &c

We made among others, a wild trip to Tattershall Castle And Boston Stump – The R: R: Comp: treated us with the journey over an unfinished road in vion sand trucks – And gave us a luncheon to boot – We had bishops deans lords & barronets And I enjoyed the excursion mightily.  I shall stay here about a month – And how [I] spend the other idle months will depend on accidents – I had meant to go to Germany, but really the uncertain, perhaps perillous state of the country is a sufficient reason for abandoning the scheme: As to France; I have really no inclination whatever to go thither again – I mean in a few days to go to Playford – And that journey will I trust supply materials for a short letter to Mrs Wordsworth – you will have seen Mrs Reid by this time – her great worth lies in her perfect disinterestedness & great benevolence rather than in the judgement which directs that benevolence – When you fall in with her, just say I am here – She may favor me with a line – Indeed I am looking for one – To my dear friends at Rydal Mount The Miss Qu:s Miss M: Mrs D& Mrs F & lady R. The Doctor &c &c &c   say kind regards

                 Most truly yours

                                 H. C. Robinson

E. Quillinan Esqr

P. S. 10th Augt

     Strange! That I should have been on the point of sending off the letter, without any mention of the Final Memorials – That would have been great injustice to the Serjeant, for it would have been naturally inferred that I disapproved of the work. That is not the work case.

     One thing is quite certain – It will raise dear Charles Lamb higher in every man’s affections whose love is worth any thing – This I have learned from the testimony of persons of opposite character.  They who have ever loved & admired him will admire & love him more intensely The execution of the work evinces the kindest of dispositions And there is more than usual sagacity in the Serjeant characteristic of Godwin & Dyer – I say nothing of the style throughout And I abominate & detest that disgusting narrative of Wainwright. The Serjt has forgotten that there is not only a time for all things but a place for all things

     As far as it goes, this tale detracts from Lambs capacity of appreciation And those who like me may look for a prolonged existence as Initials in Lambs works And as objects of his attachment will feel themselves deteriorated And they willing experience the twisting of the Philistines – Were you a friend of the light hearted Janus? they will enquire with malicious curiosity. The faults of Lamb are so inextricably mingled with his virtues that one cannot fancy them away.

     I hope our friends will not disapprove of the insertion of any of their letters --  

     My brother I am happy to say is in very comfortable health – But he cannot bear any exercise of mind, And that of the body is dangerous.

     Things seem to be slowly righting & settling in France But in Italy & Germany one can calculate on nothing.

                                 &c &c &c

                                                 H. C. R.

I mean to stay here a month at least –

Text: WLL, Robinson, Henry Crabb/12, Wordsworth Trust and Museum, Grasmere.