GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Witley, [2 July 1879]
Title
GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Witley, [2 July 1879]
Title
GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Witley, [2 July 1879]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Charles Lee Lewes
Date(s)
- 1879-07-02
Place
Witley
Letter Content
GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Witley, [2 July 1879]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: 2 July 1879. 2 letters done 4 July. Published: Paterson, pp. 191-193.
The Heights, Witley, | Nr. Godalming.
Wednesday.
Dearest Boy
In obedience to your affectionate admonition I send you two letters which happen to have come this morning and may fairly be answered by deputy.
That from the Scotch young lady at Barcelona touches me because her expectations are only unreasonable from ignorance. I shall be thankful if you will write to her with tender consideration and explain my inability to undertake the reading of MSS. owing to my thorough occupation and now more than usually uncertain health. Tell her that I should advise her sister to carry on her novel some little way further and then to send it straight to the editor -- say of Macmillan's Magazine, or perhaps some more copious fiction-giving magazine such as Tinsley's or Temple Bar or I know not what other of the uncountable publications of that order. Explain that in these quarters there are people whose proper occupation it is to read MSS. and that any fiction found suitable will be gladly received. These are the only real doors to publication and they are not to be opened by recommendations. At the same time indicate that there is little hope for her sister of a remuneration which would dispense with her continuing other forms of work,* and that, in my opinion, at the age of twenty only a rare genius could produce anything really valuable in the form of fiction. The work (that rare genius apart) would necessarily be a reproduction of other books. (I should hope, poor thing, that the authoress has conquered the use of the auxiliary verbs better than the letter-writer). You may omit this last from* if you think fit, for I have not time to form a safe judgment as to how much should be said. Only don't keep the girl too long without an answer.
The German who wants to translate Theophrastus please answer civilly to the effect that Messrs. Blackwood whom I had commissioned to arrange about the translation, some time ago 'absold'bb disposed of the right to another person.
I slipped back a little yesterday but last night and this morning I am again going on well, and my country doctor (Mr. Parson) takes most intelligent care of me. I have good hope of being well enough to have all the olive branches on the 12th.
This morning Mr. Warren has sent me the Deed of Trust for the Studentship and Sir Charles (or Mr. Justice) Bowen has a copy in his hands for comment.
I seem to have written you a long letter to save writing two which you will perhaps think might be shorter ones -- but I have really eased myself by shifting the direct trouble on to your shoulders.
Your loving
Mutter.
I enclose two foreign stamps.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: 2 July 1879. 2 letters done 4 July. Published: Paterson, pp. 191-193.
The Heights, Witley, | Nr. Godalming.
Wednesday.
Dearest Boy
In obedience to your affectionate admonition I send you two letters which happen to have come this morning and may fairly be answered by deputy.
That from the Scotch young lady at Barcelona touches me because her expectations are only unreasonable from ignorance. I shall be thankful if you will write to her with tender consideration and explain my inability to undertake the reading of MSS. owing to my thorough occupation and now more than usually uncertain health. Tell her that I should advise her sister to carry on her novel some little way further and then to send it straight to the editor -- say of Macmillan's Magazine, or perhaps some more copious fiction-giving magazine such as Tinsley's or Temple Bar or I know not what other of the uncountable publications of that order. Explain that in these quarters there are people whose proper occupation it is to read MSS. and that any fiction found suitable will be gladly received. These are the only real doors to publication and they are not to be opened by recommendations. At the same time indicate that there is little hope for her sister of a remuneration which would dispense with her continuing other forms of work,* and that, in my opinion, at the age of twenty only a rare genius could produce anything really valuable in the form of fiction. The work (that rare genius apart) would necessarily be a reproduction of other books. (I should hope, poor thing, that the authoress has conquered the use of the auxiliary verbs better than the letter-writer). You may omit this last from* if you think fit, for I have not time to form a safe judgment as to how much should be said. Only don't keep the girl too long without an answer.
The German who wants to translate Theophrastus please answer civilly to the effect that Messrs. Blackwood whom I had commissioned to arrange about the translation, some time ago 'absold'bb disposed of the right to another person.
I slipped back a little yesterday but last night and this morning I am again going on well, and my country doctor (Mr. Parson) takes most intelligent care of me. I have good hope of being well enough to have all the olive branches on the 12th.
This morning Mr. Warren has sent me the Deed of Trust for the Studentship and Sir Charles (or Mr. Justice) Bowen has a copy in his hands for comment.
I seem to have written you a long letter to save writing two which you will perhaps think might be shorter ones -- but I have really eased myself by shifting the direct trouble on to your shoulders.
Your loving
Mutter.
I enclose two foreign stamps.
Signature
Mutter.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Witley, [2 July 1879], 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/92231