Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, W.C., London, to Mary Wordsworth, Rydal Mount, 5 March [18]58]. 

30 Russell Square

5. Mar: 58. W.C.

My dear friend

     When there are no fixed times for writing even to a friend with whom one longs to enter into mental conversation, one can not do better than avail one’s self of a remarkable incident which may interest both correspondents and particularise the occasion of taking up the pen

     One of these occurred yesterday, when I called on your excellent friend Lady Cranworth – And her husband the Ex-Lord Chancellor who had only a few days before, surrenderd the Seals which were afterwards given to the newly created Lord Chelmsford – (To me what an ignoble title this appears) for the little Essex Town is about as ordinary a thorough fare as can be imagined – Kendal with its Green shifts  And double aisled Church is romantic in comparison –

     Lord & Lady C: were full of their enquiries for when your Son John lately called, no one was at home – My call was honestly one of congratulation tho’ hardly courteous to say as much – Since fitness for the high office is thought to be the all sufficient ingredient for content in it.

     They were, if not in high spirits, quite in good spirits – And yet do not seem bouyed up by the thought, that the new ministry are not destined to remain long in office – To the public it is of little moment, for where the ministry are forced to adopt popular opinions, there is scarely any room for the ancient division of parties – And as you know already too well – the demands on the great Churchs patron, that is, in it’s secular bearings, are so – disproportionate to its means, that the Chancellors friends have little cause to lament the change –

     I had lately a very pleasant letter from Mrs Dickinson – also full of enquiries, She and her hus’b[and] have found a temporary field for his pastoral duties near Norwich  She without being rich is not unprovided for And she has more comfort – and much more hope than others thought possible in her Son’s wife –

                                “All things are less dreadful than they seem”

And Tom’s character is certainly turning out very favorably The wife too, notwithstanding low birth & disreputable connections displays superior qualities And can do more for a husband not easy to manage than a gentlewoman could – He called on me lately when his manner & tone were very good[2]  From Mr John W: I heard accounts not entirely as one would wish but of his daurs husband only spec: in life he has reason to be grateful for all that is good in it – And that was the spirit of all he said – I did not hear from him that any decisive change for the better had taken place with Mrs William. She is a sweet creature And one cannot help lamenting what so frequently happens that the most elegant frequently is the most fragile flower. I hope this will never be applied to your grandson William the third  I hope to see him in London before this time He appears to have much pleased Lady Cranworth –

     I was glad of an opportunity of bringing together as perhaps he may have told you, your son J. W. with D. Coleridge & Strickland Cookson – And one morning when your Son had been breakfasting with us the Second Grandson of Lord Byron ^stepped in^ & he has a strange appearance. The only one of the last generation of poets’ Sons whom he resembles is Hartley Coleridge. Mr King I have no doubt occasions the like remark in his grandmother, which I have heard Mr W: repeatedly says his mother made concerning him – He will be no common boy – How it will turn out I dare not predict – If Ralph’s career be at all similar Lady B:s best affections will be gratified – I shall dine with her on Sunday And then for the first time see together her three grandchildren Lord Ockham, Ralph King & Lady Arabella She seems far superior to the other two grandchildren Lady Cranworth introduced her to court – She is a general favorite – Ld Ockham has got into scrapes – but there is ground for hope

8th  On Friday I was too late for the post. And on Saturday, having a blank page And nothing now to communicate I postponed putting this into the post – But I must delay no longer – I saw Mr Cookson yesterday – We frequently see each other – Being Having here many acquaintance in common – now that Mr Twining is gone and Moxon – very few remain. From Dr Boott I hear of the Children of Mrs Fletcher – And I catch a glimpse once in a Season of Matt: Arnold – But he is lofty – And requires more courting than I am supple enough to administer But he is very friendly when roused –

     I rejoice to hear of the accession to their fortune of the Miss Quillinans – This Mr Cookson tells me of – They will now fill their proper station in society – A suitable companion only is wanting to place them quite right – You care little for politics except in its bearing on your social relations – From what I hear, your new bishop will not improve your relations, tho this affects more your Son W: then any other of your connections. Villiers was a popular rector here – that is with a low set in the Church but the severer and quieter class will have been pleased with the change – I speak however from without – that is outside the fold – And might not to repeat what I cannot appreciate –

     I took a tea dinner yesterday with Lady Byron – She asked after you with her usual friendly feeling – Her second grandson had been sent for by his father – This severe weather seems to agree with her better than milder – She occupies herself in trying to do good –

     But paper fails me: Mr Carter will read you this probably And to him & all friends I beg my best regards  Ever affectionately yours

                                             H. C. Robinson

Mrs Wordsworth Rydal Mount

Text: WLL, Robinson, Henry Crabb/41, Wordsworth Trust and Museum, Grasmere. Robinson does not mention this letter on 5 March but on 8 March 1858 he writes: ‘In the forenoon I finished my letter to Mrs Wordsworth – containing little to give her pleasure or amuse her.’ He also commented on Dickinson: ‘I had an agreea[ble] task in writing to Mrs Dickinson near Norw: in ansr to a former letter giving me a favorable accot of Tom &c & hopes of his after all not beg unworthy his name.’