Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to Mary Wordsworth, [Rydal Mount], 9 February [18]52.  

30 Russell Square

9th Feb: 52

My dear friend

     Nothing can interest you so much in London at this moment, as dear Mrs H. N. Coler: And not the less on account of the painful character of the interest – You remark & naturally on what seems the absurd wish to keep her dreadful malady secret; And yet this feeling is closely allied to another which is not so unreasonable and which we all rejoice in because it proves her case to be for the moment not so very bad as one might think tho it is as to the future hapless & hopeless

    I have had from her lately several letters And written to her in answer And as she required, viz: as if I were ignorant of her being an Invalid  This she requests of her Correspondents generally – Now if you could write to her in the same way, you would give her pleasure – Particularly if you could say something to her about Miss Fenwick – I have had a note from her to day repeating her anxious enquiries about Miss F: And complaining of her ignorance abot the present condition of our excellent friend –

     You are of course aware that Mrs H N C: is bringing out a new edition of her fathers poems – it will be in two volumes This occupies her mind And it is well the like should have her attention withdrawn from her own sad state And her consciousness of ^this^ makes her wish that all her friends should make no allusion to her illness when they write – You need not fear being thot unfeeling if you write as others do – you will be understood. She has in two letters, the last received this morning put a question, which she says none but you could possibly answer – She has little hope that you can – But she begged me when I saw you to ask, And as I may not see you till it might be too late for her to profit by the Answer I will mention the subject She wants to know when and where that very remarkable & beautiful little poem entitled “Youth and Age” vol II, p 82 of the 8vo Edit of her father’s works was written And she especially asks whether any & what part was written in the north – Her own opinion is disturbed by having heard Miss Hutchison [sic] say that it was no late production – If you should chance to have any recollection on the subject, you would give her pleasure by the communication of it –

     Mrs Clarkson continues as she was And is gratified by all the information I send her about you – I do not ask you what you think or feel about foreign politics – The events are so unspeakably base as well as disastrous nothing can exceed the villainy of the Fren President except the submission of the people  The Sonnet on Fox & the others who bowed the knee “new born majesty” is far more true considered to be prophetical rather than historical

                           “Could ye not wait an hour?

                            “Shame on ye, Servile heads to Slavery prone!”

Yet many are willing to imagine apologies for the admirers and flatterers alike of the Uncle & Nephew.

    Moxon is I hope going on well – I am glad he has now Coleridges work & other <–> I wish that the works of the two great poets should march hand in hand to posterity together. <––––––> Mrs C: asks how Miss Martineau is now going on with her Ambleside neighbours. I had lately a note from Angus Fletcher requesting me to look at a bust he has prepared in clay of the great poet – It is not a striking nor a characteristic likeness, but still is a very respectable production – I do not think that he means to reproduce it in marble –

     I have not seen the West: Abbey statue yet  It is well spoken of – And I am quite in the dark as to all your northern goings on –

     My own health remains seemingly firm – I sometimes think too strong – My poor brother declining fast, not in body, but in mind – And yet – a great consolation – His mind does not go wrong – it only falls short – The differences very great Sam: Rogers and Miss Rogers are both far better than any one hoped they would ever be again – At least I may say so of him – Indeed when you ask how he is – The reply given by the Servants is – Oh! very well ! in a tone which implies – Why do you ask? His mind is as little changed as may be As to Miss R: she is so infirm that I shall not think her departure when it takes place, a subject of condolence – The Cooksons are an afflicted family – That is, Mrs C: is affected by her severe watching and anxiety about her Sister Miss Todhunter who has been lately worse –

     I have not been lately at Hampstead And therefore I have nothing to tell you about the Hoares – And now, dear friend, remember me to all my kind friends you see – ^Mr Carter^ Arnolds, Davys, Cooksons, Harrisons, Roughsedges &c &c And you will not forget me when you write to Carlyle or Bourdeaux – Your two grandsons called on me lately I doubt whether J. W. has done right in staying at Bourdeaux – I hear great praises of Pau – but it may be more genteel & therefore costly than Bourdeaux otherwise it would be for the best – And yet mercantile cities are naturally inhabited by richer people than water-drinkers

             And now farewell most affectionately your’s

                                                 H. C. Robinson

Mrs Wordsworth

Text: WLL, Robinson, Henry Crabb/25, Wordsworth Trust and Museum, Grasmere. Robinson begins his diary entry on 9 February 1852 as follows: ‘I spent the forenoon at home writing in Reminiscences and reading anti-slavery reporter etc. I took an early dinner and wrote to Mrs Wordsworth making an enquiry for Mrs Coleridge who had answered my letter and assented to my proposal to omit the heading “To an unfortunate Woman” –’