He was a member of Leigh Hunt’s literary circle: Lamb, Dickens, Browning and Carlyle were among his friends, Carlyle praising his “innumerable secret good deeds.” Hazlitt also had uncharacteristically high regard for him. Collins dedicated ‘The Woman in White’ to him, mentioning “many happy hours spent in his house.” Mary Shelley is said to have had hopes of remarriage with him (she probably had warmer feelings for him than for most others still bandied about as prospective matches). He helped care for Mary Lamb, both as friend, and as a member of the Metropolitan Commission for Lunacy.