Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to Mary Wordsworth, [Rydal Mount], 17 November 1855.

London

30 Russell Square

17th Nov. 1855

Dear Friend!

     Since I last wrote to you – tho’ so infirm is my memory that I am in doubt when that was – but whether or not I wrote the letter about which I am in doubt, at all events, one incident has ^since^ taken place which is of more interest to you probably than any other that could well have happened which a This is, an interview I have had with your excellent friend Miss Fenwick But not to be too irregular as to time: Let me first mention that on returning from my this interview succeeded a melancholy journey would have been interested in all the enquiries I had to make abot ^to^ Torquay in Devonshire is a beautiful watering place famous for its numerous patients in certain Seasons of the Year –

    There is now my great nephew, his mother Aunt & Cousins – And in a state of great debility Scarcely able to go out & enjoy the benefit of the very fine climate – Thither I went on the 27th of last month  And I left it on the 6th of the present.  I will not trouble you with details of a place in which there is probably no one you know And which is a place of painful reminisces [sic] to most – And I fear I shall be no exception to most ^those^ who have reason to speak of this place  On my return I staid for a few days at a place in which we all must take great interest both as respects the past & the future

     On the 9th I was able to proceed to Kelston Knoll – On my announcing myself I was told it was One of Miss Fenwick’s bad days – And from her self I reced an affectionate message – a pious farewell She was unable to see any one – She had declined a visit from Lady Cranworth who would otherwise ^have^ come to her the preceding Monday – Miss Tudor however informed me that her Aunt’s impression that she was in the act of dyeing, was a sort of delusion – She had this fixed idea And was even displeased with her friends who did not acquiesce in her impression – The family however considered her as sinking, if not already sunk. I was pressed to stay to an early dinner in an hour, which I did anticipating the actual ^actual^ result – For deriving actual ^some^ strength from the nourishment she was able to take, and informed that I was still there asking only for a grasp of her hand And a single word to you whom I would write to soon I was admitted – It was a mere word on her part – “She was quitting this world in humble hope of acceptance &c” And then a pious wish that I might one day partake of this hope “Say this to dear Mrs Wordsworth And tell her I shall think of her to the last.”  Her voice was clear; There was even a sort of colour reflected from the curtains of the bed which gave her a look less ghastly than I should otherwise have felt it to be. She had sent for a Cousin, Archdeacon Fenwick who dined with us a man of mild aspect, partaking of the courtly air of Anglican ^Episcopal^ Aristocracy – but a very agreeable man – The Tudors seem an amiable family. And Mrs Tudor the step Mother of Miss F highly praised by her – A wish was expressed that my acquaintce with them might not cease –

     I did not leave Bath for London directly I had to visit my friends at Holyport near Maidenhead the Procters & Colliers. And this note has been delayed in the hope that I might give you some account of your other friend Lady Cranworth – But tho’ I have attempted it I have been unable to see her or any one in whom you take an especial interest – I found your Son William had called ^before my return^ with a message that he was going to Brighton but shod see me on his return – Where he was not the I had no intimation I found myself troubled by the afflictions of my brother’s family My niece is in a straight being urged by conflictg advice as to the course she ought to pursue tows her only child, in imminent danger – It was not till Wedny that I learned Will & his wife were still in town – And when I was able to call they were just gone – But I have no doubt I shall see them on their return – The Account of you personally from all is good.  I have had great variety of melancholy incidents to encounter – The friend with whom I went to the South of France by rail did not live to return. Mr Brown was found by his wife & Miss Cootts at Bordeaux. I left the party then And came back to Paris with Mr Sergt Dowling who very kindly indeed took charge of me It is very singular that we should have met by chance twice – Once at Bayonne & the other time at Bordeaux. He recognised me, to my surprise, when I accosted him, hearing him named – in a great measure because his Sister Miss Dowling had written to him informing him of my being on the same line of journey with himself – This is singular as well as agreeable The whole family were very obliging – Mrs D— returned from Pau because she found the place unpleasant – They orderd beds for me at Tours & Paris. My journey was confined to the R R Line to Bayonne – And then to St Sebastian, the Sebastapol of Spain – I spent a week at Paris – And it was after my return from this short trip that I spent five melancholy weeks hardly recognised by my poor brother – You see therefore these have not been joyous days But I dined here at Bury with the Lord Chanc: & Lady C: who spoke much of you – It was after that I made my still more melancholy visit to Torquay – here in London I have yet seen scarcely any one – Business has engaged me. Now my friend receive the assurance of my unchanging affection towards yo and impart my remembces to the few friends who occasionally come to you

    I perceive the marriage has taken place of which we spoke And the younger Moxon spoke of some appointmt one other of your grandsons had reced a Commission

    I dare not enter on public matters Time & Space in a limitted [sic] sense are both wanting never was there a time so sad in melancholy events as the present

     Mr Carter who will most likely read this to you, will consider himself as included in these general notices of those who are not forgotten

    I mean to call soon on Mr Twining

             Ever affectionately your’s

                                   H. C. Robinson

Mrs Wordsworth

P.S. Let me explain a passage with much obligation obliteration in the first page – I began this letter in a state of mental fatigue unwillg that Sunday shod pass before I had so written so that I wrote what really was not intelligible to myself – I had not time to reconcile that discovery how I had written till the ^whole^ letter was written. A nap had refreshed me

Text: WLL, Robinson, Henry Crabb/35, Wordsworth Trust and Museum, Grasmere.  Robinson writes in his diary on 17 November 1855: ‘... I wrote a short letter to Mrs Wordsworth – telling her my history And including mention of William Wordsworth whose lodgings I had been at after his departure for Brighton ...’