Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, W.C., London, to Mary Wordsworth, Rydal Mount, 3 August [1858]. 

London

30 Russell Square W. C.

Tuesday 3d August –

My very dear friend,

     As you are aware that it was not my intention to go immediately home, you will have kindly interpreted the delay in my announcing my return – During this my last visit I was so impressed by your personal kindness to me, as well as by your calm equanimity and endurance under your trials that the writing to you in acknowledgement of the enjoyment that visit has afforded, has never been at a distance from my mind, even when present objects required my present attention—

     My history as I am accustomed in self derision to call those notes of external incident, has been without any eventful occurrence since I left the Mount – Nor have I seen as many persons as I expected to see before I could hope to render a letter interesting. The time is past since a journey from or to the Metropolis was considerd so dangerous an achievement that it required a special acknowledgment on the part of him who had unscathed arrived at the end of his days journey. I can now see the eyes of my mother bright with joy and gladness as they shone to me more than seventy years ago because she could see an H: R. marked in a safe spot of our Bury stage coach – Safe I mean from the Ostlers broom – in my brother’s hand writing to announce his safe arrival at the Bull Inn Bishopsgate the Evening before – Now the Iron-path has had no effect on a Mother’s anxious fondness – But has directed her anxiety to other occasions of alarm: Had I not written for a week you could not have thought me devoured by this smoke belching monster the steam engine; but ^would have inferred that I^ had been prevented by some accident to be explained

     This is my history – as I said before – Mr Wordsworth may have told you that I recounted the box, without a rival to dispute the Coachman’s favors – I enjoyed once more your fine scenery tho’ my view was to the foot not the head of the several lakes – On the Rail we found the several carriages but indifferently filled

     The first class I remark seldom contains more than ladies or old gentlemen with lady like feelings that is, a livelier sense of perils which makes the landing, ^or descending^ a peculiar gratification to travellers of ^that class^

     Before arriving at Lancaster we took in an elderly gent: who being booked for this famous city I knew must know my old fellow student ^pupil^ at Littledales – His name being Jno <–> Addison And a robed barrister, being ^now^ a judge (like the younger Harder) of one of the small debt courts I thought he might be a kinsman of the Addison of whom Mr Monkhouse used to enquire – but it was not so – He told me however of my old fellow pupil Bradley who lives in retirement with a young wife at Slyne 3 m. from the City – So after fixing myself in a comfortable room at the King’s Arms I sallied out to see a recent Church built on a hill out of the town to which was attached a Grammar School that has already acquired celebrity from distinguished scholars – This I saw with more satisfaction than I did, the erection near of a still larger Church by the Romanists – Which reminded me of Defoes rude lines, applied to a different class of buildings

  Wherever God erects a house of prayer:

  The Devil is sure to have a chapel near

 And I have found upon Examination

 The Devil latter has the larger congregation

But that stout Non-Con- honest Daniel meant merely a play-house of the two I cannot but think eventually the less alarming to the liberties & rights of men

     After my dinner I walked 3 M: to Slyne – My old companion was startled at seeing me but the cordiality of his reception assured me that I had done rightly in going to see him – And  his young wife – great niece of Barnes once Principal or Master of Peter House Camb. I have no doubt has confirmed his hopes of enjoying a green old age – She seems amiable & attached – She was the companion & almost daughter as it were of his first wife I could with difficulty decline his pressing invitation to remove to his house And take a trip over the Morebay Sands on a rail And go to Ulverstone on a pleasure trip returning the same day – I have promised to do it on my next visit to Rydal Mount Bradley drove me back to Lancaster shewg me the fine spots of the vicinity by taking a circuit –

     I reached home early enough ^on Saturday^ after dining to call on my friend Long a police magistrate thro’ whom my acquaintce with Bradley had been preserved

     Next day I attended Madge’s Presbyterian Chapel where I hoped to see Strickland Cookson – He was but one among many absentees – The day was fine & attractive out of doors – The Athenaeum was equally empty – I dined there And called on the widow of Ed: Kenyon – on the Miss Allens And on Mrs Bogue successively And so passed the afternoon in social enjoyment – I meant to write yesterday to you, but letters ^business^ less agreeable but more pressing required immediate attention  I called in the forenoon at Strickland Cookson’s – but there was an ^were others in^ attendance in waiting, besides men of business who had his ear – So I left a verbal message with his Clerk – I have called at the Twinings – They too are in the country – Indeed there is no one whom you know who are is here I am so sure it is the case that I have not even thot it worth while to enquire – Had I been whether Lord Cranworth was at his country seat Had I known that he would deliver the prizes at the Un: Coll: on Saturday I wod have taken care to be here in time – I shall not forget your message when I see Lady C: what a heap of negative rubbish I have brought together – I shod be ashamed to let Mr Carter open more than one piece of paper to read this to you – To Mr J. W. if still with you And to Mr Carter And the few friends still remaining, let me not be forgotten – To yourself the assurance that bad as my memory is, I cannot ever forget your hospitable & generous attentions to me – I hope you will go on reading Robertson –

                 Ever you affectionate ^dear^ friend

                                     H. C. Robinson

The piece of news I thought too good to be true, is however I find true Our poverty struck Hospital which I read in a weekly paper when with you has had a legacy of £500 And anor legacy of £500 is given to found three scholarships for three years

Mrs Wordsworth Rydal Mount

Text: WLL, Robinson, Henry Crabb/42, Wordsworth Trust and Museum, Grasmere. He writes in his diary on 3 August 1858: ‘I had before written to Mrs Wordsworth.’ The next day he orders a pair of Pannus Corium shoes for Mrs Wordsworth (see below, letter 66).