GE to Charles Bray, [Wandsworth, 30 September 1859]
Title
GE to Charles Bray, [Wandsworth, 30 September 1859]
Title
GE to Charles Bray, [Wandsworth, 30 September 1859]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Charles Bray
Date(s)
- 1859-09-30
Place
[Wandsworth]
Letter Content
GE to Charles Bray, [Wandsworth, 30 September 1859]
MS: Yale. Envelope: Charles Bray Esq. | Ivy Cottage | Radford Road | Coventry. Postmarks: LONDON-S.W | 8 | SP 30 | 59; COVENTRY | OC 1 | 59. Extracts published: Cross, I, 11-12.
Friday.
Dear Friend
Amidst the prevaricating and low-minded imbecility of Mr. Bracebridge's letters, concerning which I do not intend to write another word, there is one phrase which I am prompted to notice by my feeling towards my Father's memory. He speaks of my Father as a "farmer." 327 Now my Father did not raise himself from being an artizan to be a farmer: he raised himself from being an artizan to be a man whose extensive knowledge in very varied practical departments made his services valued through several counties. He had large knowledge of building, of mines, of plantation, of various branches of valuation and measurement -- of all that is essential to the management of large estates. He was held by those competent to judge as unique amongst landagents for his manifold knowledge and experience, which enabled him to save the special fees usually paid by landowners for special opinions on the different questions incident to the proprietorship of land.
I mention this subject to you, because I have some reason to believe that in using the phrase "self-educated farmer's daughter" Mr. Bracebridge was borrowing from you. My reason is, that long ago George Combe told me you had spoken of my father to him as a "mere farmer," and I had to explain to George Combe what my father really was.
So far as I am personally concerned, I should not write a stroke to prevent any one, in the zeal of antithetic eloquence, from calling me a tinker's daughter; but if my Father is to be mentioned at all -- if he is to be identified with an imaginary character, my piety towards his memory calls on me to point out to those who are supposed to speak with information, what he really achieved in life.
Yours affectionately
Marian Evans Lewes.
Charles Bray Esq.
MS: Yale. Envelope: Charles Bray Esq. | Ivy Cottage | Radford Road | Coventry. Postmarks: LONDON-S.W | 8 | SP 30 | 59; COVENTRY | OC 1 | 59. Extracts published: Cross, I, 11-12.
Friday.
Dear Friend
Amidst the prevaricating and low-minded imbecility of Mr. Bracebridge's letters, concerning which I do not intend to write another word, there is one phrase which I am prompted to notice by my feeling towards my Father's memory. He speaks of my Father as a "farmer." 327 Now my Father did not raise himself from being an artizan to be a farmer: he raised himself from being an artizan to be a man whose extensive knowledge in very varied practical departments made his services valued through several counties. He had large knowledge of building, of mines, of plantation, of various branches of valuation and measurement -- of all that is essential to the management of large estates. He was held by those competent to judge as unique amongst landagents for his manifold knowledge and experience, which enabled him to save the special fees usually paid by landowners for special opinions on the different questions incident to the proprietorship of land.
I mention this subject to you, because I have some reason to believe that in using the phrase "self-educated farmer's daughter" Mr. Bracebridge was borrowing from you. My reason is, that long ago George Combe told me you had spoken of my father to him as a "mere farmer," and I had to explain to George Combe what my father really was.
So far as I am personally concerned, I should not write a stroke to prevent any one, in the zeal of antithetic eloquence, from calling me a tinker's daughter; but if my Father is to be mentioned at all -- if he is to be identified with an imaginary character, my piety towards his memory calls on me to point out to those who are supposed to speak with information, what he really achieved in life.
Yours affectionately
Marian Evans Lewes.
Charles Bray Esq.
Signature
Marian Evans Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Charles Bray, [Wandsworth, 30 September 1859], 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/92100