Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to Lady Anne Isabella Noel Byron, [no address], 16 March [18]54.

[f. 38r]

London

30 Russell Square

16th Mar: 54

Madam

       The obliging tone in which you remark on my writing to you, notwithstanding the uncertain state of your health renders me very unwilling to forward the inclosed letter And I would not send it if I could not with strict propriety say, that you not only need not write to me again on the subject of your last, which was very clear and to me satisfactory, but if it fatigue you to do so, you need not even trouble yourself to read even what follows: your silence will be sufficiently explained by anticipation – The only part of this letter which might be useful is the suggestion it contains, which is of a general nature, & altogether independent of Mr Atkinson And every other individual who might be thought of for the office which you are anxious to know properly filled – It is this:

       After a desultory conversation occasioned by my [f. 38v] call on Sir James Stephen on receiving your note, Sir James quoted a mot of Martin Luther with reference to the life of a youth about the age of Mr King – “Solitude is dangerous at all times, but in youth it is a mortal person” And this was brought forward to support Sir James’s opinion & advice that your grandson would be best at Eaton – not alone, of course, but with a companion, call him tutor or governor, as you please, but who would not suffer him to be ever alone – It is not in the school room, or the play ground, but in the houses where the students are that the mischief is done – Mr Gibbs was with Sir John —? There’s my misfortune The name has fled – He is the rich owner & now the wise owner it is said of all Huddersfield  Gibbs is now his friend – When at Eaton they were never apart, except when — was fully occupied – All this passed ^between Sir James & myself^ after I had thought, Mr A. was no longer the subject of [f. 39r] our consideration.  Sir James did say, that waiving the objection taken, he knew no one whose manners altogether would render him so suitable, being so likely to render him “an object of attachment & becoming deference.[”]

       I found I was under this mistake – That Mr A. is not in orders. His father is the Vicar of Rugeley – But on my remarking that perhaps this might change the state of the question Stephen sd not so: [“]It makes very little difference for tho’ he is not yet in orders, he means to go into the Church – And he, I am sure, would not listen to a proposal that he should be considered as indifferent to the religious Sentiments of his pupil –”  Therefore it was that I own I was surprised when I received this inclosed letter, to which I have replied briefly – or shall have done, before this letter is put into the post – That I had sent you his letter – That your health renderd a written [f. 39v] answer perhaps impossible – And thanking him for his <–> friendly sentiments, begged him in case he heard no more from me &c &c

       You perceive there is a perhaps intended vagueness in the use of the word Churchman but here it is of no moment –

       Every earnest believer in the efficacy & even necessity of a creed – that is, metaphysical faith, ought to be anxiously a proselyte-maker – And in one sense, the more one may respect an individual the more one may like him better at a distance – I have since heard of one or two other seemingly well qualified, but always with some impediment – A friend – an Oxford Liberal in whom I have confidence, but now away, has intimated that he thinks he knows the man but too little has passed between us yet –

       Hoping your Ladyship will before long be entirely recoverd, And fearing to retard your recovery by occupying your mind disagreeably – I regret having written so much –

                                    As ever

                                                 &c &c &c

                                                           H. C. Robinson

The Lady Noel Byron

Text:  MS-DEP Lovelace-Byron 109, fols. 38-39, Bodleian Library, Oxford.