Henry Crabb Robinson, Bury St Edmunds, to Elizabeth Reid and Miss Sturch, [no address], 7 October 1855. 

Bury St Edmunds

7th Oct 1855.

       On Thursday last my Peto not the Peto M.P and great contractor builder & Saint among the Non Cons was informed at No 21 that Madame & Mademoiselle were expected on the following day to reanimate York Terrace – And as I am really famishing for want of food – Knowledge – how it has been going on lately with diverse friends of mine of both Sexes – but concerning none with more earnestness than those into whose hands this piece of paper is likely to fall in a few hours – I write this begging letter

       To entitle myself to expect any notice may be taken of it – I will briefly what state what has happened to myself      

       It was this day Eight weeks – according to my, in this respect, creditable pocket book that I informed you of my impending journey And which commenced in fact the following Tuesday

       On that day I joined Brown – (Alcock being the substitute for the illustrious Jones) at Boulogne whence we proceeded on Friday Thursday to Amiens  At Paris the next day the world were all agag for royal visitors – So we hurried thro’ to Orleans and thence to Bordeaux where I wished to call on Edgar Taylor’s daughter, but I had forgotten her name – nor would the directory suggest it tho’ it has all the wine merchants of the city  –! Next at Bayonne – over the Landes – whence we made a trip to St Sebastian in Spain more interesting because Stansfeld painted then become [before?] Wellington < > & took it – Then we returned to Bayonne & Bordeaux – And here at the same time arrived Miss B. Cootts & Mrs Brown – Their course was to the Pyrenees – where they still are, but here I left them – I could not venture to travel alone – except on a Rail – And I must have done so had I ventured even to Pan – Now ever I had a companion to Paris in Serjt Dowling and family – which I reached on the 29th of Augt And where I spent a week at Maurice’s

       I had not forgotten Mad Mohl or her Residence, but it was of no use – En voyage was the abrupt answer – But in her absence I could not find – Woe is me! names fly from me The beautiful somewhat Ultra & therefore I fear mischievous friend of the Slaves – Here I was more gratified by the Rue due Rivoli than by the Chrystal Palace – I have used a wrong verb – nothing can gratify me in a country in which all love of liberty is dead As well as all sense of right & wrong – If it do not appear to be a case of Suspended Animation – During my passage thro France a week in Paris I never heard the expression of a single patriotic & philanthropic sentiment from a native –  At my advanced age I can expect no change in this respect – Yet I must own – L: N: deserves the character of a wise despot if any reckless usurper ever did – Here I had an appointmt with the Plumptres – They regretted not finding you where they sought you as you know nor Mr & Mrs J. J. Tayler at Avianches where they staid a week And where Mr J. J. T. meant to be – I shall be curious to know where the except ^excellent^ Article in No 2 of the National Rev: on St Paul was composed – I lef travelled from Paris to ^with^ John Taylor^ and reached Russ: Square on the 7th of Sept: But I saw no one there – On the morning of the 9th I came here – Summoned by my poor niece who would not leave my brother alone And who was impatient to leave

       She consulted physicians in Town, who dared not tell her [the] truth plainly & whom she has not the courage to understand – Her third [and] only child is wasting away with her & her bed-ridden Sister at Torquay And she writes in a tone of distraction – Why pursue this mournful topic? I have not a chearful one to turn to from it –

       I have been here ever since with my brother – You know his state One of its alleviating features I must describes – I leave the sad feature to be imagined – He has a sweet temper: And is not put out when informed of his mistake which is repeated at every meal I have not seen him out of temper since I have been here – I sit in my own room And try to forget for a moment A the present in looking over my written documents of the past: –

       On the 15th a gentlewoman who knows our family & connection is to come & sit at the head of his table And then I shall be at liberty to come up to London; but I cannot stay there – Sarah says she does not wish me to go down – <––––> This is a topic I will not enter on – So I strike it out [comments on his grand-nephew Henry] My home must be spent between the two places – until a change of some kind take place – But that change can be only a variety of trouble –

       If only a tolerable state of things arises I should like to combine with my Torquay visit other places in the West –

       Can you tell me anything about our pious friend Miss Lee?

       And at Torquay itself – We were once there together – Some years ago  Was it nigh not? Is the blind wife of the clever Italian still living there?

       Miss Bailey? – Do you see her now? Kenyon I hear is about to return from the Isle of Wight? And his Austrian Sister in law? Now She is a charming creature Has the naiveté of her race – Why should she be in fetters & put them on her most amiable husband too? – And Mrs Baine?

       My Mercury informs me that she is in the country And that her Children are better – Dieu merci! To you I may say what I would not why whisper that that boy like my poor dear great nephew has something preternatural in his delicacy that is uncomfortable to look on

       How much happier are we of coarser natures! – That is, We Robinsons --    

       J. J. Tayler – have you see him yet? Probably not – But in the course of the week you will I dare say  And then tell me all that is good & desirable to know of our common (not mutual) friends I hope Miss Martineau is better than she was – For I wish her well tho’ it would be impertinent in me to name her with those towards him [whom?] I may without offence use the language of cordiality –

       I seldom leave the house – And see scarcely any one – Yet I have dined with the Lord High Chanc: of England twice lately – his uncle here is among my few very few acquaintce

       I have some comfort now in public events – In spite of our gracious messenger of the War – There is a prospect of success A success that relieves Civilization from imminent peril. There is more national good sense prevalent now than I have often witnessed

       The Art in the National on the Statesman of the Day is admirable – I presume it is from Mr Grey – The Sebastopol paper also is very good but too short –

       If either of my friends feel disposed I shall rejoice to hear from them what may divert my mind from the monotony of this quiet dull town at this moment of sadness

            So with sincere regards

                         & esteem

                                     as ever

                                                 &c &c &c

                                                             H. C. Robinson

Mrs Reid

Miss Sturch

No Address, Postmark, or Endorsement. 

Text:  BC/RF/103/4/15, Archives, Royal Holloway University of London.