Henry Crabb Robinson, 10 Western Cottages, Brighton, to the Rev. John Miller, Bockleton, 24 November 1852.

10 Western Cottages

Brighton

24th Nov: 1852. 

My dear Sir,

     Our poor old friend and your Cousin Elton Hamond used to say that if any one accepted every invitation to a dinner party, he would soon receive no more – So if a correspondent were to answer every letter as soon as it was received, the correspondence would soon stop – I was delighted with your letter of — a date I dont chuse to set down so that I was tempted to write an immediate answer And keep it by me – like certain dishes which must be presented when they [are] not fresh – Your letter has been lyeing too long in my desk, among the unanswerd – And tho’ on perusing it now, all the agreeable impressions are reviewed – Yet I seem to myself even less competent than usual to do justice to you me or it in sending the answer –

      In one respect only – that is – the order of writing, our epistory [sic] intercourse is taking its character from a triangular – duello – an Irishman would say in spite of the numerical solecism

                                      A – fires his shot against B

             And he replies to A who dashes at C 

But there is no other similarity than this –

     But no wonder – under no circumstances could a three legged stool stand on all fours – But this simile is illogical – a confusion of form and matter As I heard Lord Ellenborough say of a very dull man  It is not everyone who should indulge in metaphors – So I will descend to matters of fact –

     I perceive that the several branches of the Miller race residing at a distance, make known to each other even the insignificant occurrences that befall them – And that you were informed of my having presented your very amiable niece (the only one of the generation below us that I have ever seen) with a copy of Charles Lambs works – On which you have made a remark which is both a consolation to me And an evidence of your sagacity – I could apply the term prophetic to your anticipation of your brothers reception of Lambs reception of Writings And misgivings to my feelings on the same occasion – J. M. doubts whether J. K. M. will leniently receive C. Ls levities and pardon his blemishes – And in fact  S A M* in terms declares that her feelings towards Lamb “are much more nearly allied to compassion than admiration” And that she read the Works more in order to with the view of gaining as just a view an idea of his character as they would give rather than with the intention of deriving entertainment from his literary productions considered in themselves” – This amazes me especially from the daughter of J. K. M. and niece of T. E. M. And J. M – To lay out of the account her female educators

     But I ought not thus to quote the only ^exceptionable^ Sentence in her letter of 16 pages which ^otherwise^ left only a very agreeable impression on my mind – She is not less estimable in my eyes – because she has not wandered beyond into the “untrodden ways” of speculation – There is another part of your letter which were you and I – North British by birth could not fail to make me suspect that you had the gift of second-sight if that more rare than precious endowment ever extended its visions beyond the world of space into that of thought – You say –

“It is not always, either all our predetermination to keep the Queen’s peace, nor our retrospective sorrow for any fracture thereof that will prevent mischief, if under whatever erroneous influence A or B will look into the blue chamber or be only inadvertently surprised into a peep”

I have pleasure in copying this wise sentence, tho’ it is after all a text which makes me long for a commentary from the same pen – I can hardly suppose you need to be informed of my application of it –

     It happened unluckily that on preparing the parcel for Walkeringham I inadvertently read Lambs letter to Southey painfully complaining of his ^S’s^ accusing him L: of infidelity in print – (that is Elia) And was so delighted with some things in it, that I made remarks which your brother interpreted in a way I never intended or thought of And ^he^ (having before declined to notice the letter written 40 years before And my answer to it –) went over the old ground And amplifying what he said before did it in a way I could not possibly directly notice, comp in a way at once compatible with self respect And the deferential esteem I entertain for him And therefore I followed his own example in begging him (thro’ his daughter) not to draw erroneous inferences from my silence – intimating that that might be safely discussed in a partial by parol which could not be trusted to the pen – I am quite incapable of using this instrument as it ought to be used – witness this letter, And its numerous corrections –

     I have your brother’s promise to bring his daughter to Russell Square – And I feel too strong a regard towards ^him,^ not to be assured that I can remove every erroneous construction he has put on my words And to dispose him to withdraw expressions which admit not explanation, only of removal – But why trouble you with this? I have no other apology or excuse than that same triangular procedure already adverted to – And yet that does not avail me, because that would imply that I expected the [firing?] to go on, which is by no means my wish – I protest against your so interpreting what I have written – Indeed I could wish you contented yourself with the intimation that I have expressed the assurance that I shall see both your brother & niece in London next summer –

     Having perused what I wrote yesterday – for I am continuing this letter on the 17th – I ought to add that so little confidence have I in my own power of justly expressing my own justest convictions, And I have so high an opinion of your brother’s superior accuracy, that I have no doubt I wrote what I ought to have written tho’ I am unable to imagine that I wrote what could justify his inferences –

     It is one of the many sad consequences of being engaged in discussing a subject which one feels painfully, that one is thereby disinclind and also disqualified for turning one’s mind to any other

     You wont expect or wish me to write to you about the festive-funeral – Or the Convocation or the free-trade question—Or the trick by which the protectionists so capitally took in the whigs – nor dare I enter on the aweful state of the world at this moment – Slavery being the law of the Anglo Americans Civil liberty nearly extinct on the continent of Europe – Popery advancing with rapid strides every where – And distinct threats being thrown out that protestantism will soon be prohibited in the greater part of Europe –

     An invasion threatned – two thirds of the population of Ireland being ready to join the Invaders And the English being visited by an insensibility to danger which looks like a judicial blindness – All these are deplorable topics – And on each of these I believe you and I would feel alike as to their moral character – I hope you take a more chearful view of the degree of danger, that they may become realities to their utmost extent as possibilities –

     I have understood that Miss Miller your Sister is living at Bockleton with others of the Miller family. I beg my respectful remembces to all of that family wherever they may be who are condescending enough to reciprocate a friendly feeling

     That a personal knowledge is not necessary for the indulgence of a kind Sentiment, is shewn by the kindness with which you have introduced yourself to me

     I should rejoice were a journey to London to enable you still further to call into play your more benignant feelings

                             I am dear Sir

                                     Most respectfully yours

                                                             H. C. Robinson

Revd John Miller

Bockleton

*What does J. M. mean by calling this a bad combination of initials? This is a riddle – I give it up –  

Text: WLL/2000.24.2.3, Wordsworth Trust and Museum, Grasmere. A short reference to this letter begins Robinson’s diary entry on 24 November 1852: ‘I began a letter to John Miller, but the Times & part of vol II of Campbell’s Life kept me so long employed that I made little progress.’ He adds this on the 25th: ‘I thus filled up the day, including a letter I finished to Jno Miller – I am not sure – the right thing.’  Apparently Robinson experiences a slight mishap with this letter, for he writes on 27 November: ‘I was worried this morning by an unlucky circumstance. Going on with my letter to my brother I sought in vain for the first sheet and could come to no other conclusion than that I had inclosed it in the letter to Miller which I sent off without the proper address, that is, adding the post town (Tenbury) but I dare say it will reach its destination. This I had to remedy by rewriting the substance.’