Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to Elizabeth Reid, [no address], 3 July 1848. 

30 Russell Square

3d July 48

My dear Mrs Reid

      I write principally to account for not having for so long a time called, & for my not calling also for some time

  I have had a fall which has occasioned a sprain & my Doctor prescribes rest – But this is merely an inconvenience nothing more

       I send you the Epigram’s as I promised – You need not trouble yourself to send them back nor will you think it worth while to preserve them – One wonders how such levities should have survived nearly half a century While so many measures have in the meanwhile perished

       Yesterday I drank tea with my old friend Mylne [Milne] who was Executor to Miss Reid & Miss Achison [Atchison]– He is a clear headed right minded man – he was made Executor to both ladies without his knowledge And only consented to prove the will in order to save the Survivors from a Chancery Suit – he & you are unacquainted nearly – Yet it may be agreeable to you to know that from what he read in the papers which came necessarily into his possession as Executor & which he was forced to look over, he found that in the family differences that had arisen it was you that were in the right & appeared to advantage – What he related to me of his Senior Testatrix confirmed a sagacious remark of Rousseau’s “On ne connait pas les sens en devant avec eux” he was acquainted also with the Grahams The old Gent is now in London at his Son’s house, but his memory is entirely gone So you will hardly wish to attempt to renew your acquaintce with him

                         &c &c &c

                                     H. C. Robinson

No Address, Postmark, or Endorsement.

Text: BC/RF/103/4/8, Archives, Royal Holloway College, London.