Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to Elizabeth Reid, [no address], 25 January 1848. 

30 Russell Square

25 Jan 48

My dear Mrs Reid

       You kind note just received reminds me that I had forgotten to answer your admonitory note received several days ago –

       I was surprised to find that the expression to you &c of my apprehensions concerning the forthcoming book of our excellent friend had been so communicated to her as to frighten her – I shall not be sorry that the communication was made to her, if it make her consider a little seriously than she seemed willing to do my suggestion that the inference which may be drawn from the comparison of the four schools of philosophy or religion should be left unstated – Let the reader find it out for himself – but dont force him to confess that he sees it – People are willing to share blindness or ignorance And it is good to let them sometimes –

      It is a very groundless fear on our ^the^ part of our friend lest any thing I could say should prevent the book making its own way –

       Depend on it – no whisper from me will be carried by any electric or other process to Albemarle Stt  But it is equally certain that if friends do not, as I trust none will make a premature disclosure – Those who are not friends will be sure to do so make known as early as possible all that one would wish not to have known at once

      I should not wonder if the book were reviewed in the Quarterly before it comes out And containing all I should wish not to have said

       By the bye; I understood expressly from Miss M: that she had not seen Dupuis tho’ she had seen Voluez – However she is a heroine willing to be a martyr – for truth or real or imagined –

       As to your invitation for to night I had before invited myself as I did to you & your Sister, to the Miss Allens – It may be that I may step in late – but that I leave uncertain

             Best regards to Miss Sturch

                        &c &c &c

                                    H. C. Robinson 

Mrs Reid

You will understand that I shall not again mention the book in any way to any one but I do not think that in what I said of your house I had forgotten the spirit of what Miss M And I had agreed on in this matter

No Address, Postmark, or Endorsement.

Text: BC/RF/103/4/6, Archives, Royal Holloway University of London.