Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to Lady Anne Isabella Noel Byron, [no address], 16 February 1854.

[f. 31r]

London

30 Russell Square

16th Feb: 1854.

Madam

       I have no fear lest you should suspect me of having forgotten a commission by which I felt honourd, because three days will have elapsed since I left Brighton before you hear from me. Mr Donne I have seen and had a conversation with him which does not promise any immediate results, tho’, at once, he fully, as if by intuition, knew the sort of person you are seeking – but does not know who he is or where he is to be found – Every requisite which you had spoken of, he was aware of, and one, he mentioned which tho’ not among the enumerated qualities, you will see the value of – “The governor should be a good rider, for he should be the companion of his charge on horseback.” Mr D. referred to the case of a friend of his who succeeded admirably in rescuing a young [f. 31v] nobleman from the double danger of being either a milk-sop, or riotously self-willed – He is now filling his station with dignity –

       Mr D: is going on Saturday to his friend Blakeley an accomplished scholar, the liberal clerical fellow of Trin: Camb. B. has large & good connections of the right sort – For, of course, B: himself is out of the question, belonging to an order, very justly concluded in Mr D’s opinion. He asked permission to speak of this to B— This I could not object to Indeed your wants are not to be proclaimed from the house-top, nor are they to be kept secret –

      I mentioned the matter to one of D’s younger friends – whom I became acquainted with at Sir James Stephens, And “who is of all men, the best I know,” said D:  But he fills the like office at St James’s, being the preceptor of the Prince of Wales – If a prince And the second son of a peer can be considered as under like government – This is Mr Gibbs –

       I enquired of Mr D. what he thought of Dr H.— of Liverpool. His answer was conclusive – “most unfit” – concurring in the minor objection  [f. 32r] that his manners are not sufficiently refined – “he suffers under a morbid habit of feeling. Is misanthropic – And will seclude himself from society by the days together –”

       As I have said before – Mr D. seems fully to know what you want

       This is a meagre report to find; But you will not measure by my degree success; my sense of the honour you confer on me by supposing me able to be of any use to you in a matter of this importance

             I am

                        &c &c &c

 faithfully your’s

H. C. Robinson

The Lady Noel Byron

Text:  MS-DEP Lovelace-Byron 109, fols. 31-32, Bodleian Library, Oxford.