Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to the Rev. John Miller, Bockleton, 4 June [1853].

London

30 Russell Square

4th June

My dear Sir

     It is quite a matter of conscience with me, using that word I own, rather lightly but yet not with levity, to do ^two^ things towards you

                     First; To write

                    Secondly – To write very little

    To write – That I may tell you I have had a most agreeable intercourse with your brother And Mrs Miller, during which, not a word or an allusion was utterd or made which was not very pleasant – All topics eschewed which could interfere with a most agreeable recollection – What a frank kind manner has Mrs Miller –! And what a relish for all sorts of beauty have both of them! We saw together the British Museum And my Flaxman Gallery –

     They have promised, And I am sure they will keep their word – that when they come to London again, they will, unless hinderd by some inevitable accident, tho let me know of their being here And renew their morning visits –

     I am not sure that they made a formal promise to that effect – but I have a secret hope that they will do so without an express promise that I may ^thro a friendly word on my behalf from them^ have the pleasure of seeing you or any other of the Miller race who may come to town

     I have had a description of you which I wish to realise – I have not seen Mr Johnston since his return but he has communicated to me in writing your friendly message –

     Now having said this I will say no more It would be unwarrantable – As I know you are on the eve of your making an excursion – You set out on Tuesday I hear

     May your journey afford pleasure – And may you when you return find the country and all Europe at peace that is assuming that a European peace is for the present desirable tho’ it would be a curse if it supposed a cordial alliance among the three Emperors and the Pope of which I stand in dread as humanly speaking I consider this as the most deplorable of all contingencies –

     So no more – but friendly remembces to all who care to hear my name pronounced

                                            &c &c &c

                                                         H. C. Robinson

The Revd John Miller –

Bockleton

Text: WLL/2000.24.2.10, Wordsworth Trust and Museum, Grasmere. Robinson begins his diary entry on 4 June 1853 with the following: ‘A morning of letter writing. To my brother with the week’s history. To Miller (John) with an account of his brother’s visit to me. To Rogers informing him that he might see the statue of Wordsworth without going out of his carriage.’