Page:Diary, reminiscences, and correspondence of Henry Crabb Robinson, Volume 1.djvu/9



materials placed in the hands of the Editor, from which to make selections for the following work, were:—1. Brief journals reaching as far as 1810, inclusive; 2. A regular and full home Diary, begun in 1811, and continued till within five days of Mr. Robinson's death, forming thirty-five closely-written volumes; 3. About thirty volumes of Journals of tours; 4. Reminiscences, reaching down to the year 1843, inclusive; 5. Miscellaneous papers; 6. A large number of letters. It was Mr. Robinson's intention to very materially reduce the number of letters, and to leave only those which were valuable. This sifting he regarded as a chief work of his later years, and he was fond of quoting respecting it the saying of Dr. Aikin when struck by paralysis:—"I must make the most of the salvage of life." But although he destroyed a vast number of letters, the work of selection and arrangement was very far from completed.

The part of his papers of which he himself contemplated the posthumous publication, was a selection from his Reminiscences, with some letters. Many friends repeatedly urged him to make the necessary preparation for such a publication. Among these were