Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to Mary Wordsworth, Rydal Mount, 16 December [18]48.

30 Russell Square

London

16th Dec: 48.

My dear friend –

     I hope you will not open this letter with the expectation of being amused or interested by it, for if you do, you will be sadly disappointed

     I really feel that I have in setting down, nothing to do but to tell you that as my brothers health continues as well as any mans health can, who is subject to humiliating visitations of disease, I have reason to hope that I shall be able to make another of my Christmas visits, tho’ I do not know that I shall be with you on the Christmas day.

     However, I have no engagement beyond the 22d when the Professors have a dinner which I am permitted to attend – And beyond that, no other engagement – I shall whether I hear from or [sic] you or not, written write to inform you of the precise day of my intended departure

     I have this morning received a note from your son William who is to bring his wife with him on Tuesday & take a bachelor-dinner with me before he sets out on his journey home – This happens very conveniently as I am engaged or rather expected without being wanted, to attend a dancing Soirée at Serjt Talfourds – It would be ^in^decorous to attend before 10 OClock – Such are our London ways.

     I had also the pleasure of seeing Mr Monkhouse here a short time since he promised to take a second breakfast with me And But I saw no more of him – he was looking the picture of health and seemed in capital spirits.

     This is all I have to tell you in the way of anecdote except that I may say that Sam Rogers is in very good plight – I breakfasted with him tete à tete two days ago – It was a visit of business – he has been all alive in the single matter of business which I have ever originated in the course of a very inactive life and that is the establishing a Flaxman Gallery within the walls of the University College – Miss Denman generously gives to the college all she possesses of Flaxmans works And the college Council have acted with a corresponding liberality in the fitting up an appropriate building for these works – I undertook to bring this to pass – And I am within sight of land for the fund necessary to defray the cost of the undertaking, that is, repairing the casts and fitting them in the prepared walls tho’ not raised is brought within such limits that I can confidently say the fund shall be raised.

     There is another business in which I have taken an active part, but merely as one of many which is also in a fair [way] of success, but not so triumphant And that is the erection of a hall in college in memory of our Dissenters’ Chapels Act This tho’ founded by Unitarians is not to be an exclusively Unitarian establishment And our conduct has been so unsectarian as not to be heartily acquiesced in by the most Sectarian among us.  And we shall elect in all probability a Principal who will be a Churchman And a pupil of Dr Arnolds This is not a thing actually done, but I am striving to do it – And my personal friends are the leaders – I have been in correspondence with Mrs Arnold on this subject And shall write to her either to day or Monday – And I have been in communication with Archdeacon Hare on the Subject.

  The ordinary business of our Univ: College in connection with these has occupied most of my attention lately having no concern of my own that calls for any close or anxious attention It is lucky when an idle man can find harmless expedients for his otherwise waste activity.

  But indeed without any personal business, or social occupations like those I have been mentioning, it would be disgraceful in any man to be unable to employ himself in the merely looking on & noticing the events of the day – Even the revolutions of our youth are exceeded in variety & complexity by those of the present age how events crowd & jostle each other!  And yet there is now a fair prospect of a subsidence of the storm without any great national or political disaster

   The news of the day is that Louis Napoleon has been elected President of the Republican [sic] by so vast a majority as to render all successful opposition vain – And why? Not because he is a wise or able man, but because he is the nephew of the Emperor And because the people of France will not have a Republic and know no other means than by electing a man of the most Anti-republican name imaginable – And the best feature in this business is that the French Stock has gradually risen and rises daily The unanimity hoped for thus exhibited promises peace & strength.

  In Austria too, the new Emperor holds the language of a mild sovereign desirous to govern not despotically but legally And tho’ such promises are very frequently disregarded when power is confirmed, yet they strengthen the popular power when disregarded.

  In Prussia too the King has acted prudently in not attempting to exercise any kind of violence. The only fear is that he has succeeded too much to the spirit of the Times.

  Italy is quiet And the Pope does not appear to have become an object of contempt because he has been the victim of democratic outrage. He will probably effect all the great objects which he announced at the commencement of his reign.

  But enough – You will be ready to answer me – I do not understand politics

  With my best regards to all your family – including Mr Quillinan

                     I am

                                 affectionately your’s

                                                 H. C. Robinson

Mrs Wordsworth

Rydal Mount

Text: WLL, Robinson, Henry Crabb/13, Wordsworth Trust and Museum, Grasmere. Robinson’s diary for 16 December 1848 records begins with the following: ‘I was occupied today in writing a few letters – I finished that to my brother and I wrote – this was at the Athenaeum – to Mrs Wordsworth announcing my forthcoming visit. Also to Will Wordsworth who is to come to me on Tuesday.’