Henry Crabb Robinson, Russell Square, London, to Mary Wordsworth, [Rydal Mount], 27 December [1851].

30 Russell Square

27th Dec:

My dear friend

     An invitation from you is so acceptable that I do not think any thing short of an absolute duty could have stood in the way effectually, of my being with you on the New Year’s Day –

     I like the setting apart of days – for tho’ this like all ordinances will of course become superstitious to minds predisposed to superstition, yet the aversion to them nourished by my forefathers the Puritans provoked more than any thing besides, Bacon’s well known saying – There be some, superstitiously afraid of superstition Therefore I should have been with you on the New Year’s Day – (which dear Charles Lamb called every man’s second birth day) – with especial pleasure, but for this circumstance

     That on that day the Trustees of Dr Williams Library hold their annual meeting – When all the Trustees present, of whom I am One, have the power of distributing some small Sums in charity to poor Dissenting Ministers, and Ministers Wives – That is, they can nominate such persons as recipients – And this can be done only by those who are actually present – And besides this – My presence is required in order that I should propose as a trustee an individual whose election will thereby be secured and the election I consider to be of great importance to the future well fare of the Trust –

     This is what W Wordsworth used to call a Social duty – And as I cannot be with you on the day, I will rather be with you, not in the company season, but in the early-spring when I hope Mr Carr will be happy to see me And not less than now –

     I think with you that the affected concealment in Chester Place is very unwise – But I think that Edith cannot possibly have known that Mrs W. W. was in her close neighbourhood, for so short a time without calling on her –

     I had heard of your Son W’s accident, but was informed at the same time that it had passed off without any serious consequences whatever.

     Your information that I had not sent you a blank letter only heightens my apprehension For I certainly put 4 letters into the post – And to whom then was the 4th letter? However it is useless enquiring I shall do the same thing to day probably

     And now with kindest remembces to all enquiring friends, as ever –

                     Affectionately your’s

                                    H. C. Robinson

Mrs Wordsworth

I know not how you are all affected by the late outrageous events in Paris – I should say, France: for France will accept the Tyrant –

Shame on you, Servile heads to Slavery prone!

Text: WLL, Robinson, Henry Crabb/24, Wordsworth Trust and Museum, Grasmere. Robinson writes in his diary on 27 December 1851: ‘I had also an agreeable letter from Mrs Wordsworth and I wrote to my brother who did not write this week. He is becoming more feeble in mind every day. I should say that Mrs W: having invited [me] to go to Rydal by New Year’s Day, I shortly excused myself on the ground of my having business at Dr Williams Library.’