Henry Crabb Robinson, Archaeological Institute, Lincoln, to Elizabeth Reid, [no address], [26 July 1848]. 

Archaeological Institute

Lincoln

My dear Mrs Reid

      It was flattering to my vanity but at the same time vexatious to me to be told that Miss Sturch sent to enquire how I was –

      To be the subject of enquiry by a lady was quite a novelty in my life – I felt quite proud but then by Miss Sturch alone and not Mrs Reid! – And the vexation was doubled when I learned that you were gone to the North – I should have liked so to talk to you about those you were going to see – I have been in the habit of saying that Ambleside would be a delightful place of residence, even if an act of parliament had banished all males from the vicinity – Aye! There would be no want of sufficient society, were all the Spinsters sent to follow those exiled males – Voila – Mrs Wordsworth

Arnold

Fletcher

Davy  &

Lady Richardson

       There was Mrs Quillinan – However I can not write enough And therefore I will say nothing But I shall be curious to hear your report – And I hope from a letter received this morning from Mr Quillinan that you will have seen the poet able to partake with some comfort of social intercourse

       My date will tell you sufficiently my history Here I remain till the end of the week And then I shall return to London on my way to Suffolk – I take for granted that the Inquirer has been sent you this last week – And if so, you have, I have no doubt, mused over Principal Newman’s address on laying the first stone of University Hall – I compared it (to the Principals own private ear) to the egg-dance in Wilhelm Meister of Mignon

                        never by dancer midst the [e]ggs was shewn

                        Such skill in passing all & breaking none 

       The prayer of Madge was also excellent – And the perfect success of the days proceedings has given me hopes. I wish you had been there – I am willing to indulge in superstition that nourishes hopes –

       You will I expect soon see a person to whom I wish to direct your particular attention as a very remarkable man – A Mr Robertson a clergyman now officiating at Brighton I have given him an introduction to Mr Quillinan with a request that he will introduce him to Miss Martineau as my friend he has read Life in the East wishes much to know the Author – I am uncertain whether or not I ever told you of this same Mr Robertson of whom you may have heard from others – He was at Heidelberg for his health two years ago when I was there – He became intimate with Mrs William Roscoe And the young Huttons with whom he now corresponds – He is a most remarkable preacher He combines the greatest power as a preacher that I ever witnessed, with the minutest quantity of creed that one can imagine sufficient to satisfy church exigencies – He warmly praises James Martineau’s Sermons And is shocked at no amount of speculative freedom which he does not find inconsistent with spiritual & devotional warmth – There is one thing about him which enhances & saddens the interest wit he excites – I fear his constitution is diseased – And that an entire at time abstinence from official duty And a residence in a warm climate can avert or procrastinate the blow –

       I have been here since Monday – Yesterday our public proceedings began – The charm of the meetings yesterday, indeed the redemption from the otherwise overwhelming dullness was the infinite amiability & indomitable buoyancy of spirits of Bishop Stanley – Such youthfulness! I had almost called him the boy-bishop – If little children are fit for the Kingdom of heaven, surely they will have the front seats who retain in old age all the graces of childhood, warmheartedness & naiveté

       My kindest remembces to my five named female friends their associates And your hostess

                         &c &c &c

                                    Most truly your’s

                                                 H. C. Robinson

Mrs Reid

P.S. Just as I was going to put this letter into the post I reced a comfortable one from Mrs W: sent to London – One from Mr Qu: sent here directly had reached me before./–

No Address, Postmark, or Endorsement. 

Text: BC/RF/103/4/9, Royal Holloway University of  London.