Henry Crabb Robinson, 30 Russell Square, London, to Elizabeth Reid, [no address], 25 May 1861.

25th May 1861

30 Russell Square W. C.

My dear friend,

       Yesterday, making the usual enquiry concerng your present state and that of Miss Sturch – I heard a more satisfactory account than I had had for some time – especially in this, that Miss Sturch herself had reported your slowly improvg state – There is always a comfort in the word convalescence – It is one of the most pleasing among the latin derivatives of our mixed language –

      I heard at the same time that enquiry was made concerning me And remarks on my absence in a kind and amiable tone – This led me on coming home last evening to look into my pocket book where I now register more of my neglects & omissions than of my performances – But I was shocked to find how long it was since I have seen any of my friends in your corner of the huge metropolis – The last month has brought with it a great change in my habits – enforced by necessity And I am now acting more in conformity with my friends kind recommends than I could bring myself to do hitherto –

       It has been but a sad time with me – marked by actual bereavements & disturbed by apprehensions.  On my own part too my loss of memory has been the occasion of omissions which it has required great exercise of forbearance to overlook These are vague statements – I hope soon to have an opportunity of making them more more [sic] intelligible

       The American Civil War has been the subject of my constant and painful enquiry And the misconduct of the Northern States has been, And is, so flagrant that if possible one would throw ones hopes and wishes into the Scale on the side of their adversaries – The learned author of the Hist: of Belgium has written an unanswerable legal argumt agt ^in support of^ the asserted claim of the United States governmt to preserve the Union in spite of the will of millions to secede – As law it is irresistible but the Times – more in the right than usual just now compares the case of the Americ: Govt with that of Geo: 3d agt the original seceders – And while it proclaims the immorality of slavery And the futility of the grounds actually brot forward to justify secession falls back on the simple fact – We chuse to separate Several weeks ago the Sat Rev: stated simply what ought to be And probably will be, unless the actual governt be base enough to make a compromise

         Let all the free states form one body )

         And the Slave states form another –)

       It is sad but too clear that the actual govt has not in its state papers utterd one generous sentimt in favour of the slaves – They are carryg on the war on the lowest principle unimaginable – merely desirous to punish rebels but otherwise indiffernt to the grossest offences of those rebels agt humanity!

       Italian affairs are a at a still stand – The silence & repose of Louis Nap: fill me with apprehension It is lasting too long I trust to allow of his declaring agt the K: of Sardinia – I believe he would if he dared – The real weakness of the Italian cause lies in the neapolitan character more than in the happily sunken spirit of the Popish party –

       L: N: is probably watching the course of events – he has no conscience or modesty to prevent his giving himself the lie by asserting whatever he fancies is for his interest at the moment – The Popes continued life has probably embarrassed him And the Italian  ^people^ have exhibited a providence indeed a wisdom for which no one gave them credit – and this has added to his embarrassmt

       Going under the protection and care of W & Miss Tayler I attended the Unit: Association at Brixton – I heard, or rather I saw Charles Beard while he delivered his much praised Sermon at B: And then attended the Collation at the Crystal Palace – And bore the fatigue manfully –

       It certainly will be my last attendance at any thing of the kind – I may be bodily alive but certainly I shall not have the inclination to appear at such a meeting –

       I am more than ever convinced of the necessity of changing my mode of life – And of my own incapacity to effect the required change

       During the last month my mind has been in an unsettled state – I am told that I am looking well How that should be I cannot conceive – I feel unwell – that is; This Giddyness is becoming chronic – And yet I am at times so inconsistently lively that I perceive I am suspected of exagerations [sic] in my declarations. This I know that I am unable to walk the smallest distance without two sticks out of doors – And One within

“By sudden blast or slow decline

Our Social comforts dye away”

  The Swanwicks have left their neighbourhood

  The Taylers are on the point of leaving:

  Jos: Hunter an unamiable, but a stimulatg and interesting man is lately [deceasd?] –

  Sam: Sharpe has lately announced to me the death of his only Son an amiable youth

  Bury St Edmunds has become a mere cemetery to me

  Mary Procter daur of dear Mrs Collier died last year

  Thomas Paynter one of the most esteeemed of my legal friends is in a very uncer[tain] state of health altogether <–> unable to allow of frequent intercourse –

  Mrs Robinson My nearest blood relations are so entirely opposed to myself in every parlar – that we have only a formal intercourse as unpleasant to them as it is to me – My nephews widow is the only person on whom I could shod be entitled to rely in a case of extremity or entire loss of intellect which I most fear – My memory is actually failing – She is really attached to me, but from her own illhealth is disqualified – In these cases some connection by birth is required – were her nieces my nieces – I should have enough in their superintendence –

       I hardly know how I come to enter on these personal topics – You will consider it as the consequence of my personal feeling of friendship towards you and your Sister that I have ventured to write it

       Including her in this expression of confidence

             I remain

                         Dear friends

                                     Affectionately Your’s

                                                H. C. Robinson

Mrs Reid

NB: I hope to call on York Place Terrace at all events on Sunday 

Text: BC/RF/103/4/23, Archives, Royal Holloway University of London.