Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to Lady Anne Isabella Noel Byron, [no address], 17 November [18]53.

[f. 17r]

30 Russell Square

17th Nov: 53

Madam

       I am anxious to exonerate Dr King from any indiscretion. It was he who informed me that you had procured an Editor And that he was a friend of Thom’s – he neither named the Editor, nor led me to suspect he was Richd Hutton – This proves my dullness more than any thing else, I fear. For now that you have informed me, I seem to think I must have inferred the fact from what I knew of R: H: more perhaps than your Ladyship knows yet. He wrote the excellent paper on our friend in the Inquirer And also wrote the article on Maurice in the last Prosp: Rev:  I consider him as the fittest man, of all the men I know, to write about Mr Robertson and edit his writings. At the same time, I fully agree with your ladyship that it ought to be concealed if [f. 17v] possible, because his family are known Unitarians – And in this as in numerous other cases the prejudice is against the name much more than the thing. Dr King took care to state that the name should not be made public – Had I known that he was likely to be the editor – (I mean R: H.) I should have spared you the last letter as I know him sufficiently to communicate with him freely – You ask my opinion whether the Editors remuneration should not be chiefly the profits of the work This in many cases is the most advisable course And on works of pure literature the most just as it gives a motive for care & industry

       But the success of the work in prospect depends little on the editors care, but on circumstances over which he has no command tho’ he may some have some involuntary influence

       [f. 18r] The result is very uncertain; And I fear Mr Huttons condition would render it inconvenient for him to be exposed to such uncertainty

         By the bye, you said only Mr Hutton – I infer that it must be Richard the second son of Dr Hutton – Joseph the elder brother has been settled at Norwich And has been invited to succeed J. J. Tayler at Manchester. Richard was educated partly at our Un: Coll: School and Man: New Coll: And to us distinguished as one of the ablest of our young men – He was intended to be a barrister but took a disgust to the profession – He preferred the Ministry, but there are many impediments in his way.  His greatest fault in his misfortune, a very bad constitution He married a Miss Roscoe, a cousin of the lady whom I have already mentioned; And certainly could procure the letter, if any one could, of which I wrote before he went to the West Indies for his health, where his wife died – He has no other resource than literary ^employment:^ without being in a state of destitution & his means are [f. 18v] not sufficient for the elegances of life

       I have only to add that R H:s merits are solid and sterling And that his appearance & manners are the least favorable part of him –     

       You will be able to judge in a short time, how far R: H: is the fit man. What I have said before about his circumstances is but a hint & without authority

      I perceive with sorrow that you write in low spirits And are apprehensive that not being well when you wrote your former letter, you may have written what otherwise you would not, in better health, of our friend I have therefore sent you back your letter to relieve your apprehensions on that head Tho’ I am honourd by every communication you make to me I should be unwilling to continue a correspondence which gives you trouble & uneasiness

              I am madam

                         faithfully yours

                                       H. C. Robinson

The Lady Noel Byron. 

Text:  MS-DEP Lovelace-Byron 109, fols. 17-18, Bodleian Library, Oxford.