Lady Anne Isabella Noel Byron, Brighton, to Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, 25 December [1854].

[f. 120r]

Brighton

Decr 25th

Dear Mr C. Robinson

       Lt Arnold has decided to give up his charge in June – I need not enter into his reasons further than to say that they are quite consistent with his regard to Public duty, & he does not consider himself as a loss to his pupil, over whom he frankly owns that he had not gained any influence. – It may be as well now to look at the less favorable side. I believe that Arnold was not quite equal to cope with so extraordinary a mind. I have again to search! I am reading Mackay & Maurice [f. 120v] (Eccles:l Lectures) together – mutually illustrative – I need not say whose spirit I like best – indeed I am pained by that of the Author of the “Rise & Progress” – but I think the one forces an hypothesis almost as much as the other.

       The “Theological Essays” with all their scattered beauties, made me impatient – so much of Penelope’s work in them.

       With J. J. Tayler, tho’ almost a stranger to him I have a peculiar reason for sympathizing. A book of his was a treasure to my daughter on her death-bed. I communicated that fact to him.

       I must confess Intolerance of opinion as to these two points.

       Eternal Evil in any form -- & (involved in it) Eternal Suffering [f. 121r] To believe in these would take away my God, who is All-loving. With a God in whom Omnipotence & Omniscience were All, Evil might be eternal – but why do I say to you what has been better said elsewhere? – thanks to you I often learn where.

       I must end rather hastily.

            Yours very truly

                         A . I. Noel Byron

Text:  MS-DEP Lovelace-Byron 109, fols. 120-21, Bodleian Library, Oxford.