Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to Lady Anne Isabella Byron, [no address], 6 March 1854.

[f. 33r]

London

30 Russell Square

6th March 1854

Madam

        I must not delay writing any longer – It is better at once to make the mortifying confession that I have no prospect of rendering you any service in that important matter, on which you honourd me by a confidential communication what you especially require in a governor for your grandson is not to be proclaimed from the house-tops And yet it is only by communication that the fit person can be found  

     There can be no doubt that the very man is somewhere in existence, to whom the office of governor to a young nobleman would be as great a boon, as he would be to you – But how shall we find him out?

       I have yet spoken but to three person’s on the subject In addition to the two already named – Sir James Stephen. They have all said – They will bear the subject in their minds – but this gives little hope –       

       Donne put a letter into my hands from Mr Blakeley which shews that he fully comprehends your requirements He said he knew no one who came near the mark – I will copy a sentence or two, not however intended for your eye – And more to shew you how Mr D— understood your wishes than with any thought of the individual being the qualified person – [f. 33v] “I do not know any man whom I could recommend unless it were my late curate Mr Gilbert – he has a great taste for dealing with erratic tempers, which he much prefers to the strictly virtuous  And I do not think the gallop with the hounds would be at all an obstacle, provided Lady — would mount him decently: for he measures 6 ft by 4 inches & consequently rides a pretty weight But he is not a man of science, nor more than an ordinary scholar, & would be more fitted to indoctrinate the youthful remarks on Tennison & Carlyle than in Thucydides or Euclid – he has however a great deal of practical knowledge of the world human nature & a genial temper & would be an extremely inmate of any family

       Donne I have no doubt had in his talk with Blakeley mixed up his own friend Gibbs – the Receptor at St James’s And his own notions about noting – B would not have written in such a tone, had he thought the note would have been seen by any one besides his friend –

       You will give me credit for being sincere in my regret that I know at present no one to whom I can apply – But I shall not suffer the subject to go out of my mind –

       There is in the last No – (March) of the Christ: Reformer – An article of six or eight pages well [f. 34r] worth your procuring – The inaugural lecture of Martineau on Moral Philosophy – It has profound thought, And has expressions which are very suggestive

       I had some intention of writing a few remarks on the single sentiment which I ever heard fall from your lips with which I could not sympathise – and that was the Sentiment which led you to decline countenancing our University Hall, which stands on the front rank of those who are now fighting the battle of free enquiry – I might say are the forlorn hope, to those who like myself have little faith in the future triumph – I believe it is that same sentiment, modified variously in other minds as enlightend And in other hearts as generous as your own which has been of great aid to the champions of intolerance and bigotry – tho’ of course these allies have been unaware of the cause they served – But I will not on any account occasion your turning over another leaf which I must in that case do –

       What a marvellous book is that Autobiography of DeQuincy –! But I have written this before, I fear!

                        I have the honour to be

                                     &c &c &c

                                                 H. C. Robinson

The Lady Noel Byron

Text: MS-DEP Lovelace-Byron 109, fols. 33-34, Bodleian Library, Oxford.