Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, to Angelina Georgina Burdett-Cootts, Torquay, Devon, 15 December 1859. 

Dear Miss Cootts,

       The kindness of your manner when you half whisperd “You will let us hear from you some times” sensibly affected me tho’ I was not in spirits to give a suitable answer. At the same time I accorded to your proposal of taking the opinion of Mr Bowman, taking care not to forget your message. His advice was pretty much what I had received before – It was – To give a filip to my stomach – he ascribed the irregularities which I pointed out to him to a want of tone in my digestive organs & refusing to prescribe any thing merely directed a somewhat more generous living  & more frequent eating – The same had been said before, but not with so much authority & therefore has not been attended to as it will be hereafter –

       I have undergone two abnormal actions ascribed to the same cause – Gay Spectra occasionally fill the air and a swimming in the head now & then threatens me with a fall, And which has once been nearly attended with serious consequences – These affections are of constant & occasional occurrence And both W. B: and a personal friend an (M D) assure me that there is no cause for alarm – nevertheless, to confess my weakness [f. 28v] this attention to myself has made me feel an unusual degree of solicitude And indisposes me to any act that requires great spirits for its performance and pleasure for its object –

       You have more than once invited me to your beautiful residence, And I declined for sufficient but unwelcome causes – Had another come lately I should have been distressed; ashamed to decline again, as it might look insensibility to your kindness But I am grown timid And hope it will not come till milder weather makes me feel less apprehensive My habits are rapidly changing and not for the better, that is, because more suitable tho’ less agreeable.

       I heard yesterday from W. Toynbee that Dr Skey is at Torquay – my kind salutations therefore will not fail to reach him.

       I have now to apologise for the seeming impertinence of inclosing  a printed paper with a request that you will cast your eye on it  I do at the urgent request of an esteemed friend, the first on the left of the Committee – no! the second – The widow of Dr B: who was the intimate friend, of the Bishop of St Davids – who is equally her friend And the godfather to her children

       [f. 29r] I objected at first – That you have perhaps done more than any other person for the very object for which this Society was formed And cannot possibly need any information on the subject – All that is true, I was answerd, but perhaps this branch of the one great tree may not be known to Miss B. B: And her fame would add to our hopes of ultimate success.  In all these cases, the value of every institution lies in the character of its managers – You will probably know the reputation of the members of a Commee of which I know but one – At all events you will forgive my forwarding the papers – Acting under a sort of pressure – a pane – tho’ forte not dure

       I have heard from the philosopher at the Athenaeum that dear Mrs Brown has not got rid of her deafness – This is a trial to you both, I hope that mild weather will remove that and all other ailments from you both

                         I am with sincere regard

                                    &c &c &c

                                                H. C. Robinson

Miss B: Cootts

Torquay

Among my infirmities is the inability to return an address – However I have no fear that your’s will not be known at Torquay –

Postmark: Torquay DE 15 59; London DE 1?] 59  

Text: Add. MS. 85291, ff. 28-29, British Library.