ading which was not connected
with his school work:

'You ask me to tell you what books I have been reading. Among others,
Longfellow's "Hiawatha" and "Evangeline," both exquisite; continually
the "In Memoriam," "Idylls of the King"; some of Buchanan, which I
scarcely recommend; M. Arnold, which I do most heartily recommend; and
Walt Whitman, the {6} great poet of democracy; "Confessions of an
English Opium Eater," by De Quincey, good in its way; G. Eliot and Mrs.
Browning, &c., &c. Perhaps you would like some of those. I read Chas.
Kingsley's "Andromeda"--it is really a splendid rhythmical piece of
hexameter--and some of his Life. I rather like pieces of his poetry,
and the one you sent me I liked.

'My only birthday advice is: Read more Longfellow. If you have any
writers, send me word, though I am sorry to say I can appreciate but
few. . . .'

Another letter, written the same year, is entirely composed of
selections from Tennyson's 'Princess,' which, he says, 'I have just
read through.' He ends, 'Mind you send me gleanings of Milton if you
have time.' In another, 'I have been reading a fair amount of Carlyle
at present, as we had an essay on "The influence of individuals on
great movements of religion, politics, and thought," for which I read
especially Carlyle's "Heroes and Hero Worship," and Emerson's
"Representative Men," and for which, I am glad to say, I not only got
full marks, but the highest maximum possible. Have read Tennyson's
"Queen Mary." Am reading "Harold." I liked the first very much, but
the latter a great deal more. The scene where Harold debates about
telling a lie or the truth is very fine. . . .' The rest of the letter
is composed of quotations from 'Harold.' In other letters he says,
'Get Emerson's "Essays" for me.' 'I send you "Aurora Leigh." . . .'

He left Rossall in the summer of 1887, when he {7} was nearly twenty,
and entered Christ's College, Cambridge, in the following October. His
brother Armitage, now Dean of Westminster, was then fellow and dean of
Christ's College, and Forbes occupied the attic rooms over his.

The following notice by Dr. James, now headmaster of Rugby and formerly
headmaster of Rossall, appeared in 'The Rossallian' and is reprinted
here at his suggestion:

'Forbes Robinson came to Rossall in 1881. He was a member of a very
able family; an elder brother is Dean of Westminster; another is
Charles H. Robinson, Editorial Secretary of the S.P.G.