Frederic Harrison to GE, London, 1 June [1866]
Title
Frederic Harrison to GE, London, 1 June [1866]
Title
Frederic Harrison to GE, London, 1 June [1866]
Sender
Frederic Harrison
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1866-06-01
Place
London
Letter Content
Frederic Harrison to GE, London, 1 June [1866]
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
New Sq: | June 1.
My dear Mrs. Lewes,
I send the last proof. I think the witnesses all right except that the Trial really is for [Manslaughter] and it might be shown that the last witnesses gave evidence on that. Esther's evidence is I think all right.
The verdict must be for [Manslaughter] only. 469 As I said you cannot mix up assault, riot, etc. in this indictment. I mentioned that the killing of a constable in the lawful execution of his duty is not Manslaughter but Murder. So far as I now remember the riot and scuffle Tucker was unlawfully attacking Felix -- not trying to arrest him in due course. This would be Manslaughter but the distinctions in such a case as this would be fine.
The [sentence] which I thought wrong (it is now 2 years only of imprisonment and was 3) is I find after some searching right. How did you light right on the VII Georg: IV which made manslaughter 4 years imprisonment? I think the words hard labour would stand but they are not usual. 470
How did you get the Trial scene so accurate? It is a perfect labyrinth to find out the course of criminal procedure 34 years ago. There have been almost yearly strata of legislation since then.
I feel it very presumptuous but as you have so kindly asked me to be quite candid I ought to say that some few words in Harold's interview with his mother end of c. lxviii 471 gave me a shock. I marked in pencil some words which seemed to me at the first moment too dreadful and cruel to be spoken. They seemed to me too intensely painful. But thinking over them I see that they do belong to Harold -- but I could conceive another man looking not uttering that question.
As this drama culminates I feel acutely stirred by it. It is purely tragic. The effect of it is quite overwhelming. I can think of nothing else, and I long for the rest to follow. Pray do not let them stop. I am
Very sincerely yours
Frederic Harrison.
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
New Sq: | June 1.
My dear Mrs. Lewes,
I send the last proof. I think the witnesses all right except that the Trial really is for [Manslaughter] and it might be shown that the last witnesses gave evidence on that. Esther's evidence is I think all right.
The verdict must be for [Manslaughter] only. 469 As I said you cannot mix up assault, riot, etc. in this indictment. I mentioned that the killing of a constable in the lawful execution of his duty is not Manslaughter but Murder. So far as I now remember the riot and scuffle Tucker was unlawfully attacking Felix -- not trying to arrest him in due course. This would be Manslaughter but the distinctions in such a case as this would be fine.
The [sentence] which I thought wrong (it is now 2 years only of imprisonment and was 3) is I find after some searching right. How did you light right on the VII Georg: IV which made manslaughter 4 years imprisonment? I think the words hard labour would stand but they are not usual. 470
How did you get the Trial scene so accurate? It is a perfect labyrinth to find out the course of criminal procedure 34 years ago. There have been almost yearly strata of legislation since then.
I feel it very presumptuous but as you have so kindly asked me to be quite candid I ought to say that some few words in Harold's interview with his mother end of c. lxviii 471 gave me a shock. I marked in pencil some words which seemed to me at the first moment too dreadful and cruel to be spoken. They seemed to me too intensely painful. But thinking over them I see that they do belong to Harold -- but I could conceive another man looking not uttering that question.
As this drama culminates I feel acutely stirred by it. It is purely tragic. The effect of it is quite overwhelming. I can think of nothing else, and I long for the rest to follow. Pray do not let them stop. I am
Very sincerely yours
Frederic Harrison.
Signature
Frederic Harrison.
Citation
Frederic Harrison, Frederic Harrison to GE, London, 1 June [1866], Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/91836