Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to Elizabeth Reid, 4 Belgrave Terrace, Durdham Down, near Bristol, 4 August 1856.

30 Russell Square

4 Augt 1856./.

My dear friends

       I have at length succeeded in relieving my pocket and my conscience of the weight of the two Sovereigns you deposited with me; having delivered them to Profr de Morgan – I learned at the Literary Fund that he was supposed to know more of Geo: Dyer’s widows affairs than any one – And from him I learned on enquiry that Miss Travers is Miss Morgans Extrix – Probably succeeding to the Adminn of her benevolence as well as to that of her goods & chattels, of which alone, (minus the charity,) the Church takes charge

       I found too that my letter to Miss D was sent in 1851 – So that she ought to have dunned me last year – I have therefore again had to pay up an arrear De Morgan says that the widow tho nearly a nenogenarian is “up to every thing”  She always signs the receipt for the weekly sum of 7/ granted her by ^out of^ the Lit. Fund

       I hope she bears the intense heat well And I may extend the wish to you also I feel the effect only in a sense of weakness & dislike of work or thought which is very oppressive –

       Kenyon has invited me to pay him a visit the latter end of the week and that I may be there with the Booths I wish rather to be there alone ^And^ when there will be no regatta ^or water spectacle^ – I have long hated all water-parties – those of pleasure are the most unpleasant – I find that no reading now suits me but what is very light indeed –At the late prize distribution at the College we had as distributor the Hero of Kars.  He had the good sense to keep to his last – but he was no cobbler at it – he is a fine manly fellow[.]

       I took Mrs E. Kenyon & Miss Maria Allen there

       The applause of the Students was deliciously indecorous – The public news is as bad as one could imagine At least according to my interpretation of events – This applies more manifestly to America than Spain – I see no chance why of the success of Fremont But have some hope that Odonnell may be forced for his own sake to join the less illiberal party

       By the bye – I had nearly forgotten what is properly the only business of this letter It is that you will let me know when you expect to be here that I may put in your hand a small note for the Anti-Slavery bazaar as I cannot send a thing to be bought – I must buy – you will put me in the way of this

      I called yesterday at the York Terrace And had there your present address given me – I doubt as to the exact meaning of the address, but I suppose that I shall be sufficiently intelligent ^intelligible^  Your splendour might rectify my illuminate my obscurity

      I must close, for the Post hour is arrived And I would not lose a post –

     My intention is to go to Heidelberg – but I do not like travelling alone – However Rail-road travellg is very easy And I would not leave the rail by any means –

      I wish you a <–> bracing Air – pure water – chearful friends good news spirits & appetites which with good temper (that you always have) are the travellers prime blessings

             &c &c &c

                        H. C. Robinson

Mrs Reid &c &c &c 

Text: BC/RF/103/4/16, Archives, Royal Holloway University of London.