GE Journal, Richmond, 2 January 1858
Title
GE Journal, Richmond, 2 January 1858
Title
GE Journal, Richmond, 2 January 1858
Sender
Ge Journal
Recipient
U
Date(s)
- 1858-01-02
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GE Journal, Richmond, 2 January 1858
MS: Yale. Published: Cross, II, 1-2.
Jan. 2.
George has returned this evening from a week's visit at Vernon Hill. On coming upstairs he said, "I have some very pretty news for you -- something in my pocket!" I was at a loss to conjecture, and thought confusedly of possible opinions from admiring readers, when he drew the "Times" from his pocket, -- today's number, containing a review of the "Scenes of Clerical Life." 1043 He had happened to ask a gentleman in the railway carriage coming up to London to allow him to look at the "Times," and felt quite agitated and tremulous when his eyes alighted on the review. Finding he had time to go into town before the train started, he bought a copy there. It is a highly favourable notice, and as far as it goes, appreciatory.
When G. went into town he called at Nutt's, 1044 and Mrs. Nutt said to him "I think you don't know our curate. He says the author of [Clerical Scenes] is a High Churchman; for though Mr. Tryan is said to be Low Church, his feelings and actions are those of a High Churchman." (The curate himself being, of course, High C.) There were some pleasant scraps of admiration also gathered for me at Vernon Hill. Doyle 1045 happening to mention the treatment of children in the stories, Helps said, "O, he is a great writer!"
I wonder how I shall feel about these little details ten years hence, if I am alive. At present I value them as grounds for hoping that my writing may succeed and so give value to my life -- as indications that I can touch the hearts of my fellow men, and so sprinkle some precious grain as the result of the long years in which I have been inert and suffering. But at present fear and trembling still predominate over hope.
MS: Yale. Published: Cross, II, 1-2.
Jan. 2.
George has returned this evening from a week's visit at Vernon Hill. On coming upstairs he said, "I have some very pretty news for you -- something in my pocket!" I was at a loss to conjecture, and thought confusedly of possible opinions from admiring readers, when he drew the "Times" from his pocket, -- today's number, containing a review of the "Scenes of Clerical Life." 1043 He had happened to ask a gentleman in the railway carriage coming up to London to allow him to look at the "Times," and felt quite agitated and tremulous when his eyes alighted on the review. Finding he had time to go into town before the train started, he bought a copy there. It is a highly favourable notice, and as far as it goes, appreciatory.
When G. went into town he called at Nutt's, 1044 and Mrs. Nutt said to him "I think you don't know our curate. He says the author of [Clerical Scenes] is a High Churchman; for though Mr. Tryan is said to be Low Church, his feelings and actions are those of a High Churchman." (The curate himself being, of course, High C.) There were some pleasant scraps of admiration also gathered for me at Vernon Hill. Doyle 1045 happening to mention the treatment of children in the stories, Helps said, "O, he is a great writer!"
I wonder how I shall feel about these little details ten years hence, if I am alive. At present I value them as grounds for hoping that my writing may succeed and so give value to my life -- as indications that I can touch the hearts of my fellow men, and so sprinkle some precious grain as the result of the long years in which I have been inert and suffering. But at present fear and trembling still predominate over hope.
Citation
Ge Journal, GE Journal, Richmond, 2 January 1858, 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/91940