GE to Charles Bray, London, [22 January 1852]
Title
GE to Charles Bray, London, [22 January 1852]
Title
GE to Charles Bray, London, [22 January 1852]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Charles Bray
Date(s)
- 1852-01-22
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Charles Bray, London, [22 January 1852]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: Jan. 22. Extracts published: George Eliot and John Chapman, pp. 45, 66.
Strand.
Dear Friend
On opening the mysterious-looking letter you have sent me I find it addressed to "Dear Matilda." I have not read farther than the first sentence, and return it to you that you may enclose the cards you speak of with it and send it to the P.O. again.
I had headache yesterday. I have burnt my hand so that I am not in the best condition imaginable, especially for writing. Mr. Chapman's hearing is not worse than usual, but he looks horribly ghastly and wants change, of which he has had none at all for months. I have declared my resolution to leave at the end of this quarter -- but say nothing about it. Mrs. Chapman is increasingly polite and attentive, and I have many comforts here that I could hardly expect elsewhere, but --
There is an article in the last Quarterly on [Physiognomy] which you should read. It is by Lady Eastlake -- Miss Rigby that was. 13 On the whole our number is very superior even in attractiveness to either the Edinburgh or the Quarterly. In the Edinburgh there is a famous shewing up of Bishop Philpotts. The sketch of his history begins thus: "Bp P. is probably descended from the celebrated Archdeacon Philpotts who in the reign of Ed[ward] VI published his [Reasons for spitting upon an Arian.]" There is also an article on Parliamentary Reform, which I have not yet read. It is better written than ours, they say, but not so practical.
Please to thank your Mr. Spencer 15 for his letter to me in answer to a question I put to him. God bless you, make you happy, and keep you thin. I wish you the utmost thinness compatible with your happiness. I have several other letters to write so good bye.
Marian.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: Jan. 22. Extracts published: George Eliot and John Chapman, pp. 45, 66.
Strand.
Dear Friend
On opening the mysterious-looking letter you have sent me I find it addressed to "Dear Matilda." I have not read farther than the first sentence, and return it to you that you may enclose the cards you speak of with it and send it to the P.O. again.
I had headache yesterday. I have burnt my hand so that I am not in the best condition imaginable, especially for writing. Mr. Chapman's hearing is not worse than usual, but he looks horribly ghastly and wants change, of which he has had none at all for months. I have declared my resolution to leave at the end of this quarter -- but say nothing about it. Mrs. Chapman is increasingly polite and attentive, and I have many comforts here that I could hardly expect elsewhere, but --
There is an article in the last Quarterly on [Physiognomy] which you should read. It is by Lady Eastlake -- Miss Rigby that was. 13 On the whole our number is very superior even in attractiveness to either the Edinburgh or the Quarterly. In the Edinburgh there is a famous shewing up of Bishop Philpotts. The sketch of his history begins thus: "Bp P. is probably descended from the celebrated Archdeacon Philpotts who in the reign of Ed[ward] VI published his [Reasons for spitting upon an Arian.]" There is also an article on Parliamentary Reform, which I have not yet read. It is better written than ours, they say, but not so practical.
Please to thank your Mr. Spencer 15 for his letter to me in answer to a question I put to him. God bless you, make you happy, and keep you thin. I wish you the utmost thinness compatible with your happiness. I have several other letters to write so good bye.
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Charles Bray, London, [22 January 1852], 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/92122