pg 5801243. W. W. to H. C. R.

• Address: H. C. Robinson Esq^re, 2 Plowdens Build^s, Temple.
• Postmark: 9 May 1838.
• Stamp: Old Broad St.
• Endorsed: May 1838: Wordsworth, opinion of Clarkson and Wilberforce. Copyright Bill.
• MS. Dr. Williams's Library.
• Morley, i. 360.

[In M. W.'s hand]

[c. 5 May 1838]

My dear Friend

I should have written to you some time since, but I expected a few words from you on the prospects of the Copy-right bill, about which I have taken much pains, having written (which perhaps I told you before) scarcely less than 50 letters and notes in aid of it. It gives me pleasure that you approve of my letter to Sergeant Talfourd. From modesty I sent it to him with little hope that he would think it worth while to publish it, which I gave him leave to do. He tells me, as you do, that it was of great service. If I had been assured that he would have given it to the world, that letter would have been written with more care, and with the addition of a very few words upon the policy of the bill as a measure for raising the character of our literature,—a benefit which, heaven knows, it stands much in need of. I should also have declared my firm belief that the apprehensions of its injurious effect in checking the circulation of books, have been entertained without due knowledge of the subject. The gentlemen of your quondam Profession, with their fictitious rights, their public rights, their sneers at sentiment and so forth, and the Sugdenian¹ allowance of 7 years, after the death of the Authors, (p. 581) pg 581have indelibly disgraced themselves, and confirmed my belief that in many matters of prime interest, whether with reference to justice or expediency, laws would be better made by any bodies of Men than by Lawyers.

But enough of this. My mind is full of the subject in all its bearings and if I had had any practice in public speaking, I would have grasped at the first good opportunity that offered, to put down one and all its opponents—not that I think any thing can come up to the judgment and the eloquence with which the Sergeant has treated it.

What you say of the Wilberforces and M^r C.¹ I thoroughly sympathize with—there is nothing in my judgment in the slightest degree discreditable to M^r C. in what you report. We all know how his health was shattered by his labours—his private fortune, I heard either from himself or M^rs C. long ago never exceeded £8000, of which full one half was spent in the service. He gave all his time to it, thro the course of many years—till he came into West^d a complete wreck of what had been a most robust Man. Whether religious scruples prevented him from taking duty in the Church to which he was ordained Deacon, I do not know for a certainty, but I rather think so, at all events, had the state of his health allowed him to follow any other profession or calling—his previous ordination was an insuperable bar. If ever any man was entitled to a subscription for public services that man was M^r Clarkson. Then as to his Brother,² if he were really a Man of desert, as I never heard (p. 582) pg 582anything to the contrary, What harm was there in his applying to M^r W. to have his Brother's claims attended to in high quarters—Could it have been proved, that he made any sacrifice of truth or principle with these views? Or that he laid claim to more credit than he was fairly entitled to in respect to his motives; even then the publication of such letters could have answered no good purpose but as the matter stands, the conduct of the Wilberforces admits of no palliation, and M^r C. either by himself or others will be vindicated at their cost. We have neither seen the review,¹ nor the books nor any extracts from them that at all interested us—except a droll story told to W. by M^r Pitt, of a Frenchman's ever ready cure for his distress, in his dancing Dog.

Now may I presume upon your friendship so far as to beg you to serve me if possible in a little matter of business—M^r Courtney writes me word, that there are a few hundred pounds of mine lying dead in his hands—and asks to know what he is to do with it. I have not answered his letter which came some time since—Will you be so good as to see him and consult with him what is best and safest to do with it. M^r Strickland Cookson (6 Lincoln's Inn) has lodged some money for me which pays 5 per C. with what he believes to be good security—but I am not so anxious for high interest, as for reasonable interest—say not under 4 p^r C^t with entire safety. He M^r Cookson might be of use in the matter and would be so I know cheerfully if it be in his power.

If the Railway from London to Preston only had been complete I would have set off before this to see you and my other friends in Town for a fortnight.

We have received volumes of Poems etc from M^r Milnes, M^r Kenyon and M^r Trench—the² other day only—all of them if we may judge from what we have read, of great merit—but my head has been so full of this C. R^t3 and other matters, that I have only thought myself authorized to write to M^r Milnes to thank him for his attention—hereafter I shall write again—the others are unacknowledged—If you see K. pray report what I have written.

(p. 583) pg 583My poor Sister is much the same—of Dora the acc^ts are pretty good, tho' she has had a severe cold—We expect her at home the beginning of next Month—Dear M^rs Clarkson's letter, tho' written last Aug. was gratefully received—and it was a satisfaction to think that good M^r C. is now so much better in health than when that letter was written.

We expect a call from the Ticknors¹ next Wednesday—they have written from Dumfries to that effect—they are steering their course homeward. Next week I mean to go over to see Lord Lonsdale for a few days at Lowther near Penrith where if you should be disposed to favor me with a [letter yo]u² might write under cover to his Lordship:

• faithfully yours,    
• with M^rs W^s and my sister's affectionate regards.    
• [signed] W^m Wordsworth