HCR, 30 Russell Square, London, to Mary Wordsworth, Rydal Mount, 26 February [1854].

London

30 Russell Square

26th Feb: [1854]

My dear friend,

     A few weeks since your grandaughter Jane called, and afterwards kindly wrote saying she was not sorry that I was at Brighton, as she thought I should profit by the change of Air She said she was then going to Hampstead And I would gladly have gone there, when I had reason to think she would be at Mrs Hoares could I have managed it – It was not in my power. She had in a former note given an account of your being well And dear Mrs Clarkson wrote with delight of the letter she had received from you – So that I have indirectly known of your being well.

    My present object is to give you notice of a melancholy event that has occurred of which you might not otherwise hear so soon, tho I do not know how it has affected or will affect the spirits – And so the health of her on whose account directly we shall feel it. Mrs Corsbie – the Nancy Buck of Seventy years ago is suddenly dead – So that of a family of Six only the eldest and youngest now survive.  Mrs Clarkson was nearly 10 years older than her Sister – And more than forty years ago when Clarkson settled in Westmoreland was thought to be suffering under a mortal disease which threatned an early death And she is now with her faculties of mind, as you can testify, slightly impaired –

    Perhaps this blow may affect her less than might have been expected – It is a fact, physical & so physiological, that our sensibilities became less acute in old age – Late events which have occurred since the death of Sam: Buck the second brother, tend rather to embitter than sharpen the sorrow – You will feel the distinction I have no wish to explain it distinctly

     At present I see no grounds for fearing that this death will materially affect the intention of Jane to go round by way of Ipswich & Bury & Cambridge, I being her guide –

     When at Brighton I saw repeatedly Lady Byron – I could not but be gratified by hearing her say – And I repeated it to you tho’ all human judgements are worthless, at least insignificant in your eyes – That she considered as a great misfortune that she had never seen Mr Wordsworth And she said emphatically, that Lord B. notwithstg his invincible recklessness, and in spite of what he had written, spoke of Mr W. with great respect, even reverence towards his person praising his dignified manners after their meeting at the same table – And I am sure that were she ever in the north, she would not fail to call at Rydal – or on you wherever you might be –

     I on no occasion introduced Lord Bs name But when she introduced it I spoke freely I was somewhat reserved in referring to such poems as “She was a Phantom of delight[”] And the other poems on the same person, lest she should feel too acutely and tho’ not whisper the words, yet betray by her looks the Sentiment

                     “What a happy lot has been her’s compared with Mine!”

She was ardently desirous as much as possible to consider the aberations of her husband, rather as incurable disease than wilful vice – She is anxiously looking out for a Governor for her Second Grandson One who can combine Authority with Attraction And be the friend preceptor & guide – The eldest is out of her reach – Where is he to be found? I have made enquiries wherever there has been a chance of success –

     She is a noble woman – generous and decidedly firm – This of course renders her often an object of blame – Tho’ she is of the broad Church, she lately gave a living to a clergyman of the high church in whom she could have no pleasure as a teacher because she said he is the only preacher whose teaching can benefit a rural congregation One of the low church could not satisfy the wants of such a people. I look for the man who can do good in his place not for one whose opinions I adopt.

27th

     I have been out to day, engaged in calls discharging “Social debts” as Mr Wordsworth used to call them And as they properly are

     I have just seen Moxon he had had a letter from Mr Carter whose silence about your health confirms our impression that it is what it ought to be

     I enquired at the Haldenes – The burial of Mrs Corsbie takes place tomorrow

     There had been received no news of Mrs Clarkson –

    I understand that you do not expect your grandaughter before April  

     I trust nothing will arise to interfere with my being her escort to Westmoreland which ever route she takes –

    The longer the day, And the more genial the air, the more agreeable will be the accompaniments of my journey but not with more readiness shall I undertake it

     We are in a strange state of imperfect warfare I do not believe in any long war like those of the olden time – All the kings have a common interest, as well as each of them a special need of peace to preserve themselves against personified radicalism in Ledru Rollen [Kiparth?] &c &c &c

     Parties seem united in favour of the present measures of government You can count the opposition on your fingers, on this point viz

                                         Cobden

                                        Bright 

  My best regards to dear Miss Wordsworth &c & Drummond & your Son &c and the Arnolds Mrs Fletcher  Lord Grey   Mrs Hutchison &c &c &c

                        Ever affectionately yours

                                         H. C. Robinson

Mrs Wordsworth

Rydal Mount

Text: WLL, Robinson, Henry Crabb/29, Wordsworth Trust and Museum, Grasmere.  Robinson writes in his diary on 26 February 1854: ‘After they [Drs Boott and Sieveking] left me I staid within till dinner time reading the Autobiographia And writing to Mr W: with an accot of Mrs Corsbies death – now to be sent off I called on Miss Denman –’ He then adds on the 27th that he has finished the letter to Mrs Wordsworth.