Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to Mary Wordsworth, Rydal Mount, 7 May 1850.

30 Russell Square

7th May 1850

My very dear friend

     The sight of your hand writing was a great relief to me And your short letter confirmed the solitary consolatory feelings which every communication from Ambleside since the afflicting event has excited.

     I have done all you wished. I have given dear Mrs Clarkson to understand that you have not written knowing that she has received from me all the intelligence as it has arrived She wrote to me a most thankful letter in return for the information that Mrs Hutchison [sic] as well as your Sons &c &c were with you. She knew that you had all the external sources of comfort that your situation afforded: And she was fully aware that the most efficient of all those that are within were granted to you in full measure.

     I am most certain: They will not be witheld from you.

    I have just heard of a most lamentable contrast to the example you have set us all –

     An old friend of mine died lately – an amiable man I heard that his wife a middle aged lady remained after three months unconsolable, but she was at length forced to visit her sister in town – On my return from Bury I called And was relieved from a painful interview – She had returned from ^to^ the country I was told that had she seen me, she would probably have met me laughing & dancing the Polka!!!

     Yet a very pious woman & full of Christian assurance This is no imputation on her sincerity or on the strength of the conviction that she & her husband, are, as it were instantly to meet again –

    It is not she, who is to be blamed for her weakness, but you who are to be congratulated for the power which you have possessed to endure your heavy trial heroically –

     It is also some slight comfort to know, that with scarcely a single exception the public voice has been loudly expressed in due honour of the great & good man who has been removed – The world can know him only in the one character – The kindred & the friends know him in both:

     In due time I shall be most willing to be with you. I shall await an intimation from you And I shall be influenced of necessity by the state of the family health at Bury – During my more than a month at Bury my brother was well – He had been before I went alarmingly ill – It is now several years since I have feared that the necessity of being in Suffolk would render my annual visit at Rydal impossible Now that visit can never be what it has been but still I shall be most willing to renew it

     I can give you no late news of the Arnolds To day is wet or I would call before I forward this I was told a few days since by Mr Penrose that Mrs A. could not see me

     Pray thank Mr Quillinan for his most friendly communications – I will write to him soon To your Sons & him my kindest remembrances And to all friends my regards –

                         Most affectionately your’s

                                               H. C. Robinson

Mrs Wordsworth

Rydal

I sealed my letter without adverting to the kind intimation that I shall be expected in a few weeks – There is but imaginable impediment, my brothers health that would stand in the way – He is remarkably well just now – Mr Cookson must have misunderstood me – I certainly did not tell him that my brother had been ill –

Text: WLL, Robinson, Henry Crabb/20, Wordsworth Trust and Museum, Grasmere.  Robinson’s diary entry on 7 May 1850 begins as follows: ‘The bad weather did not permit my going as far as I wished. I went to the Ath: and paid my tailor’s bill by the way. At the Athen: I wrote letters to Mrs Clarkson informing her of Mrs Wordsworth’s situation – To Mrs Walter declining a very friendly invitation and to Mrs Wordsworth passing over in silence her letter but alluding to it. These and the papers filled up the forenoon.’