Lady Anne Isabella Byron, Brighton, to Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, 12 February 1855.

[f. 124r]

Brighton

Feb. 12th 55.

Dear Mr Robinson

       I have at last earned the pleasure of writing to you by having settled troublesome matters of little moment except locally & I gladly take a wider range by sympathizing in your interests. There is besides, no responsibility, on me at least, in canvassing the merits of Russell or Palmerston, but much in deciding whether the “Village Politicians” Jackson or Thompson, shall be leaders in the School & Public House.

       Has not the Nation been brought to a conviction that the System should be broken up? –  & is Lord P— who has used it so long & so cleverly likely to promise that object? [f. 124v] But whatever obstacles there may be in State affairs, that general persuasion must modify other departments of action & knowledge. “Unroasted Coffee” will no longer be accepted under the official seal.  Another reason for a new Literary Combination for distinct objects, – a Review in which every separate Article should be convergent. If, instead of The Problem – to make a circle pass thro’ three given points it were required to find the Centre from which to describe a Circle thro’ any three Articles in the Edinburgh or Westminster Review, who could accomplish it? Much force is lost for want of this one-mindedness amongst the contributors. It would not exclude variety or freedom in the unlimited discussion of means towards the ends unequivocally recognized.

  [f. 125r] If St Paul had edited a Review he might have admitted Peter as well as Luke or Barnabas.

     I have found a treasure for my own instruction, perhaps not necessary for yours, in Palfrey’s “Connexion of the Jewish & Xtian Scriptures.” He grapples more fairly with sceptical reasonable objections than any Writer I know, & shows how one of the controversies which has shaken the Christian world, & is still influencing it, has arisen from a mistaken translation into Greek of a Hebrew word – The original having two significations & the wrong one having been adopted by the Translator! – He also carries on the good work of stripping the N. T. of its mythological garment.

       Ross gave us an excellent sermon yesterday on “Hallowing the Name.” Tho’ far from Common-place it might have been delivered in any Church, so free was it from partiality or oddity – An Artesian Well is wanted for his mind.

       We have had Fanny Kemble here last week – I only heard her Romeo & Juliet not less instructive, as her readings always are – than exciting, for in her glass, Shakespeare is a Philosopher – I know her & honor her for her truthfulness amidst all trials.

       So ends my Gossip in hopes of a return.

             Yours most truly

                         A I: Noel Bryon

Pray do you know who appoints the Inspectors of Schools?

Text:  MS-DEP Lovelace-Byron 109, fols. 124-25, Bodleian Library, Oxford.