Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to Lady Anne Isabella Byron, [no address], 23 December 1853.

[f. 22r]

London

30 Russell Square

23d Dec: 1853

Madam

       On receiving your obliging letter yesterday, I wished to answer it immediately but was luckily prevented, for my answer would have been even more unsatisfactorily then than now – I should have said, that I had not received your kind present, for tho’ it was in the house I did not know it – I am grateful for being thought worthy to possess a copy, but I shall think myself unworthy notwithstanding of your flattering attention, until I have read it – But when I can begin I do not [k]now. My shelf of unread Volumes either given or bought with the intention to read and which I ought to read contains Eleven! [f. 22v] And some two or three claim precedence over – “Juvenile Delinquency.”  I shall perhaps begin with the shorter from its felicitous expression – “The perishing classes”

      I have not seen Mr R. H. H. since his return and his friends in town, who are most intimate with him seldom see him – I had some hopes of seeing him to day, as he comes to London every Friday – in consequence of the interest he takes in the Inquirer – I expect that he will find an opportunity of seeing me before the year expires – And I shall not fail to give you early information of any thing that may pass between us worth your knowing – I fear he is doomed to a short life of disease leaving the world to lament hopes disappointed from the want of health without which even the rare union of strength and beauty is but of little value –

       What you relate of Mr T. is mortifying And the more because it is hard to censure [f. 23r] his conclusion, when you are not at liberty yet such a fact does not render him an object of reproach – nor casts into doubt either his sincerity or the powers of his mind – It is a fact I have but lately had a clear discernment of That it is easier for many earnest and upright men, heroically to sacrifice every worldly good to their own sense of duty than candidly and liberally to do justice to those of opposite opinions, who act precisely as they themselves do – This Gent: has been, I have no doubt the worthy object of your ladyship’s bounty – Many would be the livings which would lapse into the hands of less worthy to present, if their respective patrons waited till they could find a clerk in orders equally distinguished for the light of his understanding and the warmth of his piety. Such combinations are most rare – I wish I could with equal ease answer your question concerning the right to make use of notes taken by the hearers of a Sermon – It is my misfortune to think that the law respecting the right to letters as generally understood in favour of Executors has been carried or is supposed rather [f. 23v] to be carried much further than is reasonable Every thing that is enforced by the authority of the court and may is in fact law; And however unreasonable must be considerd as such – But I believe that in particular cases the disposition of the judges hereafter will be to set qualifications on doctrines too broadly stated And tho’ I own it seems impertinent in me to pretend to form an opinion opposed to that generally entertained yet I must say in answer to your question, That I am confident that any man holding notes & giving them to the world as not as a work coming directly from the preacher, but historically relating what the preacher had said, might safely be given to the world unless there were on the point part of the author a great want of judgement & skill –

       But care must be taken in such a case – There is no essential distinction between a report of conversation and a letter – And the sources of history would be dried up, were the rule I have animadverted on strictly carried out –

       Since I sat down I have been interrupted – And it is too late to go on with this letter – Will you permit me to write again in a few days? When I would remark on your use of the word egotism in your letter – That word is most inapplicable.

       I must break off expressing my sense of the honour done me in the permission to subscribe myself

                         Your ladyships obedt Servant

                                    H. C. Robinson 

Text:  MS-DEP Lovelace-Byron 109, fol. 22, Bodleian Library, Oxford.