Henry Crabb Robinson, Bury St Edmunds, to Mary Wordsworth, [Rydal Mount], 12 July 1849.

Bury St Edmunds

12th July 1849.

My dear friend

     Mr Quillinan has kindly communicated to me the news of the last sad affliction which has befallen you – It was a consolation to me that you had borne with composure this new trial – I left Mathon with the impression that it was both a beautiful & a happy spot. And little thought that its head was so soon to be removed – I had told Mrs Clarkson that your brother was looking more fresh and lively than while I saw him in Hertfordshire – And the journey he took with us, tho’ short was evidence that he could enjoy much even mixed society – The suddenness of the removal I cannot lament – Indeed I cannot imagine a death with more consolatory circumstances – Without pain, except for a very short time, surrounded by the objects of his warmest attachment with all the consciousness of leaving behind him none but those who will honour & respect him – And with such convictions & such hopes as he possessed – Really under such circumstances the field of condolence is on the very frontier of that of congratulation I should have enumerated among the consoling topics, the attainment of a ripe old age, And the human objects of life ^all^ possessed –

     At the age at which we are now arrived, these occurrences are ever taking place – Death is never out of my mind – The expectation rather than the fear ever present – And what I daily see and hear tends to diminish its terms – I staid as you have heard but a couple of days in London And went forth to Playford – Mrs Clarkson has lost nothing of her old vivacity – She is lamed in her limbs but not in her mind – She is carried from room to room & put into a little cart in which she is dragged about, And enjoys looking at her new made hay stacks – She fancies she can inspect her farm and direct what is to be done no one drudges her the pleasure – She listened with interest to all the details of my late visit and will not forgo the pleasure of dreaming about one day seeing you –

     My arrival here was but the prelude to the departure of my niece with her mother sister & the precious child who is the centre of all their loves & all their hopes – But they are a melancholy party The only stout one of the party is old Mrs Hutchison aged 80 Mrs T Robinson & her Sister are both nearly exhausted by incessant watchings over the child. The change of air the sea breezes of Dover the novelty of the Scene the bouyancy of 12 years all have their salutary effect on him. It is to be expected that he will rapidly improve under all these favoring incidents But whether he has stamina for a long life or even to attain manhood I cannot say – I cannot even tell what the guesses of men of Science are And I distrust even their assurances – I can only leave it to a beneficient tho’ mysterious dispensation.

     My brother is & has been since my stay here in a very comfortable state – He desires to be rememberd to you, for he has been flatterd by hearing that you have not forgotten him –

     How long the party will stay at Dover I do not know nor what the future arrangements will be I wish his Henrys mother could bear the journey And that he were taken for a year or two to Madiera But I fear there are insuperable difficulties in the way of what might prove a renovation of his frame. I shall remain here at all events for a few weeks –

     Tell Mr Quillinan that I thank him for his references to the Morning Post I will search the file, for I believe it is kept here otherwise it is a paper I never look into –

     Thank him for his details of local intelligence And remember me not only to your own hearth & its inmates but to all my friendly acquaintance The bride & bridegroom will have departed – The Fletchers Davys Arnolds Roughsedges Harrison Carr Martineau &c &c the inhabits of Loughrig I include in your own family

                      I am affectionately your’s

                                             H. C. Robinson

Mrs Wordsworth

[affixed to the last page in another hand is the following: ‘send this to yr Aunt’]

Text: WLL, Robinson, Henry Crabb/17, Wordsworth Trust and Museum, Grasmere.  Robinson closes his diary entry on 12 July 1849 with this comment: ‘I also wrote a few lines of condolence to Mrs Wordsworth on the death of her brother Mr Hutchinson. Read late Edinb: Review.’