Henry Crabb Robinson,30 Russell Square, London, to Mary Wordsworth, [Rydal Mount], 23 December 1851.

30 Russell Square

23d Dec: 51. 

My dear friend

     The other day, seeing Strickland Cookson, I made of course, the usual enquiries concerning you & yours: He said he had just heard from his Sister –, but that you now did not often write – It fatigued you, &c &c.

    I was sorry, not surprized at this – It is, it must be so with those of our generation, who retain the longest their old inclination’s & tastes – The activity, perhaps I should say, the alacrity of our habits abates – And we have every reason to rejoice when our progress downwards is as gentle and free from disturbance, as is the case with both of us – This recontre with S. C. reminded me that I had been remiss of late – I have told you of my interviews with your admirable friend Miss Fenwick – And nothing has since occurred either to me personally, or to any of my friends which required me to communicate the knowledge of it to you, in order to impart pleasure – And I write now really to tell you that I have nothing to say worth your hearing –

     Nothing upon that one subject which must occupy more of your mind at this time than any other, not involving any of your own kindred.

     I am just returned from a call at Mrs H. N. Coleridges I was told at the door, that she was as well as she has been for some time – But that she saw no one!!! no one

     It is now some weeks since her brother borrowed of me a Shakespear in large print – That her spirits, that is health of mind, was such as to enable her to desire to read Shakespear – was in itself a matter of <–> rejoicing. At the same time Mr Derwent Coleridge said, a hope had arisen, that the tremor might not be malignant – I have heard no confirmation or denial of this statement –

     In my own ^fathers^ family I have had a sad experience of this deplorable malady – And I can give this cold comfort, if it be any comfort, and not the reverse – That the disease is often slow in its progress – And that under the defense And during its violent state, there are intervals of enjoying – My bro mother & my brother’s wife sank under it, leaving several years during its continuance & progress –

24th Dec: 

     I meant to send off this letter yesterday, but I was interrupted in writing – Now I am reminded with sadness, that this is the day of the year when not long since, it was my privilege to reach your door – A distinction of which I was proud – I am so near the end of my career that it means nothing the saying that I can never forget it – and yet forgetfulness is the infirmity by which our declining years are mentally most distressed –

     It is usually taken for granted that in old age, our affections & our interests shrink into a narrow compress And are confined within the limits of kindred –

     That sign of old age is still wanting in me I never felt more solicitous or more troubled about the prospects of society in the whole civilised world than at this moment –

     I recollect no national event so thoroughly distressing and even disgusting – It has all the flagitiousness of crime with all the baseness of vice The facility of the execution And the acquiescence of the nation prove its degradation.

      It seems as if the liberties of mankind are doomed for generations.

     “Oh grief that Earths” sole hope rest on a stray bullet – If that properly called by ^can be^ called a hope! Can any people be so saved?

     I continue to hear a good account of the Rogers’s – And Moxon I believe is going on well – Mr Cookson and family are I believe also well

     You will not forget me altogether at your meetings this Season I hope.  Dear Quillinan used to say in his jocular mood – “No Crabb, no Xmas” The ill sounding alliteration provoked the saying. I am afraid that Christmas as well as other festivals is more to the young than the old. But at that time remember me to the inmates & visitors in your house There will be scarcely any strangers to me in it – And to the few out of it The Arnolds, Davys, Harrisons Cooksons – Mr Carr, the Miss Quillinans &c &c And forget me not when you write to either of your Sons – By the bye – say this – Miss Lee is arrived at Pau – Where is your son John? But I must close

             With affection and esteem as ever

                                        H. C. Robinson

Mrs Wordsworth

P. S. 25th Dec:

 Otherwise Christmas day –

     I have not been disturbed in this way, so much for a long time as just now by finding on my table the accompanying letter – I could, to use a common phrase have sworn that I had sent it to you yesterday, And I have now apparently a most clear & indubitable recollection of putting into the post at the same time 4 letters – One of which was directed to you – I can only guess therefore that I sent you a blank – or a letter meant for some one else As you know my hand writing, at all events even if a blank you will discover me –

     These lapses of memory are only significant as symptoms The material consequence is alone of no moment – And therefore when after an hour’s search one finds what has been looked for, the comfort is a <–> poor one – For to borrow a shrewd analogous remark by Lord Orford – There is no use in curing a man of his folly, if you cannot cure him of being foolish – But you my dear friend, I now experience a like inconvenience in mislaying things – Let us console ourselves –

     You are turned of 80 I believe – (Mrs Clarkson is) And I am not far off – And we must not be complain because we may not with the Pharisee with a spurious gratitude – The Thank God that we are not as other men are –

     And so no more – I make no apology beyond an explanation./–

Let me fill up one of my blanks – I have just heard from Mrs Clarkson – She writes rather better than she did, but still with difficulty – Her whole letter is filled with expressions of her regard for and solicitude about the Wordsworths & the Coleridge’s  You are aware she is now an Octogenarian.

Text: WLL, Robinson, Henry Crabb/23, Wordsworth Trust and Musuem, Grasmere. Robinson mentions this letter and his ‘lapse of memory’ in his diary on 24 December 1851: ‘I did not quit the home district till dinner time & I occupied myself writing to Galenga about his nomination as a candidate to the Athens under the name of [Mariotti?] – to Mrs Brown declining an invitation to Miss Cootts for this Christmas Day – to Mrs Clarkson and also to Mrs Wordsworth. The latter letter to my great annoyance I have found this morning – I suppose I sent off a blank.’