Henry Crabb Robinson's remarks in response to an inscription most likely written by Lady Byron for the deceased Rev. Robertson.

Remarks &c

       Wordsworth on my too emphatically (perhaps) objecting to an awkward expression in a Sonnet said – Do you suppose I did not see that objection from the first? You render me no service unless you can give me a better word, or shew me how I can without that, preserve – which is so material –”  If there be any one of the following remarks with any thing in it, I am sure it will have occurred to the writer of the inscription.

 l.2 expresses a thought, to be omitted on no account, And I perceive the strict propriety of the allusion to Acts X, 34. The cases are analogous yet I dislike the expression much – The word respecter of persons could never have obtained currency but for its Scriptural Origin – But the effect of that origin is in a great degree lost by the change of the Sentence – the abstract noun respect has not the effect of the personal noun respecter I tried but in vain to substitute

                          “Distressed over all within its influence”

But I put this down as an instance of failure only.

[f. 105v] L. 3 – Eloquence and Genius seem to be not of the same kind And therefore not to be thus brought together – Eloquence is a special gift (peculiarly Rs own) Genius intimates the highest degree of productive power – It may be exhibited in eloquence or in poetry or in inventive sagacity &c &c –.  “Eloquence” alone would be bald could that baldness be removed by introducing the epithet sacred – or any other?

L. 4.  I am ashamed to go on thus objecting – But I would avoid the word “tempted” if I could Unluckily our language has not a participle which bears to tribulation the relation which tempted bears to those under temptation You may be able to do what I have not been successful in doing – find a well sounding word as a balance or counterpoise to sorrows & afflicted.

       I by no means object to comfort – And merely ask whether solace or consolation might not be still better – Perhaps my residence in Germany has tended to degrade the word comfort in my imagination.

L. 9. I at first thought mourned objectionable but Johnson’s Dictionary shews I was quite wrong. [f. 106r] It has several examples from Milton –

L. 10.  Called – Both the Bible and Shakesp: contain memorable evidences that call does not imply success – tho’ indeed in this connection that is implied or R: would not have been lamented by them – Therefore I withdraw my intended proposal of withdraw as a substitute for call which is more scriptural. –

L. 11 “To be partakers of” is more biblical than “to partake in” – And perhaps more sonorous.

L. 12-13  As the inscription begins by stating that R’s office was the Ministry of Love so it very properly concludes by stating what may be considerd as the consummation of his success – viz: that he renderd his hearers, the worshippers with him, more fully sensible of the presence of God – This is the naked thought – As to the expression – Is it the best form of words to say that this was thro’ [“]his filial spirit” – The filial spirit – is not the spirit of the [f. 106v] preacher or prophet as such – Therefore I submit to the author a revision of the lines – I would ask also – Is living an appropriate epithet? When an attribute of the supreme being is announced – it implies that there may be moments when that attribute is as it were set apart, for the exercise or more immediate exercise of other attributes of the love, the justice the holyness of God are not incompatible attributes, but they are each occasionally placed more prominently – Does this apply to living? Yet I am aware of the necessity of an epithet to close an inscription

   Finally: I doubt whether we can say memory to — especially placed in apposition with Glory to — It is in the nature of observations of this character to be objections or tending to objections – Approving remarks would be superfluous – And unsuited to the occasion

   I have taken the liberty to keep back the Inscription – presuming you have more than one copy –

Text:  MS-DEP Lovelace-Byron 109, fols. 105-06, Bodleian Library, Oxford.