Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to George Offor, [no address], 15 October 1852. 

30 Russell Square

15th Oct: 52.

Dear Sir

       I have not been able to read your learned & curious little book till this morning And now I have done so with pleasure. You have touched with ability one chapter perhaps I should say One Section, of a large chapter in the History of Civil Society – The conflict between the Arm of Flesh And the Spiritual Arm out of which have arisen the liberties of mankind – In an early age of Christendom the Popes were the Saviours of Humanity in their resistance to the Emperors – Then they became if possible worse foes to mankind – And the Emperors of Germany Fred II And Jos: II And others – And many Kings both of England & France may be enrolled among the benefactors of their Country without being entitled to their gratitude – I could have wished that you had put in a somewhat stronger protest against the personal atrocity of Hen: VIII – No one will suspect you of being insensible to the fact that after all he was worse than those he destroyed, that is personally – You intimate a disapprobation of something I said at the Library dinner about state interference in religion – I have forgotten what I said but I do not think I utterd a word which the author of that little book ought not to have heartily concurred in – I am sorry I have not a copy to send you of my Protest against the Unitarian Advocacy of no resistance to papal Aggression published last year in the Christ: Reformer And copied in the Inquirer In that tract I affirmed that there is more Priestcraft in the Anti-state church Assocn more dangerous to the liberties of mankind than the Supremacy impudently demanded by the King, by far, not ^now^ that in our republicanised monarchy the State means not the King but the intelligent laity of England – If you were to take away power or influence in matters of religion from what is now the State by name, substantially the Parliament of England; that would be fought for by Romish or Anglican Priests – Independent – Presbyterian & Methodist Preachers – Call them what you like – All priests more or less – It is mere delusion where it is not fraud, this attack on the Church –

       Pray think of this – I am an enemy to all imposture but that of pretended friends is more offensive than that of avowed enemies –

            I am your’s faithfully    

                        H. C. Robinson

Geo: Offor Esqr  

P:S:  It is my decided opinion that that Papal Aggression was an act of mere political aggression And that the liberties and Independ[en]ce of the United Kingdom are endangerd by the Judicial blindness of the nation I have no doubt But before two years (unless another revoln take place[)] there will be an invasion of England by the combined force of France Austria perhaps Naples And sanctioned by the Pope Every man who helped in concurred in the pusillanimous proceedings (in that affair) of our Government may ^should^ bear his own portion of the reproach.

Text:  Offor Papers, MS. ADD. 61, University College University of London.