Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, at the Athenaeum, to Elizabeth Reid, 21 York Terrace, Regent’s Park, London, 19 December 1857.

Athenaeum

19th Dec: 1857

My dear friend

       I have been wishing to see you ever since I heard of what might have been to you, a real calamity – that I might assure of you of my sympathy, little as that can contribute to relieve you from the annoyance

       From Mr Darwin I heard of the interference of the Duke, your proud Landlord with the continuance of your college – I do not mean the Duke personally, but his law agents I fear the letter of the law is with them But it is flagrantly litigious & practically unjust We that is – the Council of the Univ: Hall had the same spirit to encounter when we set up our college – or rather, Hall but we could make our terms before the contract was complete – At first, in our <–> lease, there was introduced an actual forfeiture if any one of our pupils went within the gardens – One must in candour admit that the Duke was warranted in objecting to the students going within the garden, as it might alarm puritanical maidens – And we are prohibited having public worship in the Hall – But he ought to feel the diffce between a college for young men and women  

       We were also bound not to admit pupils under [   ] years of age – And this we did not object to but were rather glad that we had a valid & unanswerable objection to any unreasonable application that our college should be turned into a junior school – As to trades & occupations which make a shew, the tenacity of the Duke, [and] administration is also excusable

       I have no doubt that Mr Darwin or some of your professors have suggested all that can be done to work on the board, for so I believe the Duke’s agents are called –           

      I intended this morning to make arrangements for coming to you this Evening; but I feel already fatigued tho’ I have been in an <–> nearly the whole day – And after dinner I always feel tired – And lose my courage to come to you at an uncertainty –

       I was yesterday Eveng at Rich: Martineaus where were many of our common friends

     But I have been very seldom here of late tho’ this house used to my place of daily resort – I am reading Baden Powell’s Essays on Christianity without Episcopacy Judaism – its object is to destroy the ordinary observation of the Sabbath he has also written on other points of liberal Christianity – Reform – Geology has contributed to render the Dr famous for his [sic] Hymns Lectures on the all the topics to be safely brot forward

       I shall be very, very sorry indeed if it is not in my power to come to you tomorrow – So no more; but joining Miss Sturch in this expression – allow me to subscribe myself your & her

                         faithful friend

                                    H. C. Robinson

Mrs Reid

      York Terrace

          Reg[ent’s] Park

Text: BC/RF/103/4/20, Archives, Royal Holloway University of London.