Henry Crabb Robinson, [30 Russell Street, London], to Maria Denman, [no address], March 1854.

My dear friend

      Coming home last night, I found the enclosed letter which has given me pleasure. There is one word in it which makes me think he did not think of my sending it to you – nevertheless I send it you because I think if you act in a spirit comfortably with it, all may yet end well – and I am sure that if you do what he requests – it will in every way promote what you have most at heart – for every article put up and every hour usefully spent in this fine weather will improve your case with the committee.  There is nothing distresses me so much as witnessing even exagerated [sic] complaints – where there is reason to find fault – a habit of suspicion the wont of constructions to what is ambiguous – I can make allowances for even these when they are involuntary as they frequently are – I must say that A is habitually much  more respectful and candid toward you than you are towards him even when he thinks himself quite in the right on the main point – which he as all disputants think and tho’ his statements and yours are not alike always I am quite sure that both mean to be correct – and perhaps both are only with this difference that one dwells on one set of facts which the other passes over slightly reversing the facts respectively. This is the case universally – there is no help for it – The efficacy of mild and gentlemanly language is seen in the effect produced by the handsome tone of Mr Lloyds notice of your refusal to let him have the use of the casts of the Shield. My justification of you to those who shake their heads have been Miss D— has witnessed so much mean conduct on the part of others – that she may be excused –

       Mr L being a stranger how much better he was than others she could not know that he is a real scholar and that his work would be honored to Flaxman’s name. She was perfectly disinterested in her refusal – there is nothing to complain of I meant to buy his book but it is a equally heathen greek to you and me  &c &c

                                     H. C. R.

P.S. I do not wish you to do anything that looks like yielding – I think it would be the right thing without any reference to the past – as if nothing had happened say what you will do when you will be at the College – The truth is, all of except you and I included

Text: Add. MS. 39783, fols. 328-29; copy of the original letter], British Library.