"Victoria"—Mary Victoria Novello, afterwards Mrs. Charles Cowden
Clarke.
"At Shacklewell"—the Novellos' old home. They now lived in Bedford
Street, Covent Garden.
"Whose sister married Thurtell." Thurtell, the murderer of Mr. Weare, I suppose.
In the Boston Bibliophile edition there is also a brief note to Clarke.]
LETTER 450
CHARLES LAMB TO HENRY CRABB ROBINSON
[P.M. Feb. 26, 1828.]
My dear Robinson, It will be a very painful thing to us indeed, if you give up coming to see us, as we fear, on account of the nearness of the poor Lady you inquire after. It is true that on the occasion she mentions, which was on her return from last seeing her daughter, she was very heated and feverish, but there seems to be a great amendment in her since, and she has within a day or two passed a quiet evening with us. At the same time I dare not advise any thing one way or another respecting her daughter coming to live with her. I entirely disclaim the least opinion about it. If we named any thing before her, it was erroneously, on the notion that she was the obstacle to the plan which had been suggested of placing her daughter in a Private Family, which seem'd your wish. But I have quite done with the subject. If we can be of any amusement to the poor Lady, without self disturbance, we will. But come and see us after Circuit, as if she were not. You have no more affect'te friends than C. AND M. LAMB.
["The poor Lady" was, I imagine, the widow of Antony Robinson.]