GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 26 August 1861
Title
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 26 August 1861
Title
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 26 August 1861
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Francois D'Albert-Durade
Date(s)
- 1861-08-26
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 26 August 1861
Text: Copy by D'Albert-Durade, in the Tinker Collection. Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Blandford Square | August 26. 61.
Dear Friend
I really have nothing particular to say to you, but I cannot rest without telling you and Maman how sincerely I rejoice in the prospect of the very best sort of happiness for your son Alphonse. 833 Surely nothing could have comforted Maman's heart more than this! I should have written sooner to say these few words, since I cannot give that pressure of the hand which would serve instead of them, but that I have been under the pressure of more thoughts and external solicitations than usual. Our boy Thornton, who is just now gone to spend a few weeks at his dear old Hofwyl, was with us at home for more than a fortnight and made me feel more maternally preoccupied than usual, and in addition to this there are so many things I want to do that every day is too short for me. So never be surprised if I am silent unless you have sent me some question which demands an immediate answer.
I wish I could send you better news of my dear husband. He is still in the same feeble fluctuating state as when I last wrote to you. One day he seems bright and well and the next he is oppressed by headache and unable to enjoy anything. In other respects all things go well with us, and our dear boy Charles is increasingly satisfactory to us, improving constantly and applying himself with admirable resolution and good sense to the everyday work of life. I suffer greatly from despondency and distrust of myself, 834 and I have need continually to summon to my aid all the deepest motives that can serve to make life seem worthy of the day's weariness -- a proof, if any were needed, that in the complex mystery of our organisation the influence of delicate invisible threads may serve to mar the effect of the richest blessings. For after some hours of despondency there will come hours of strength in which life seems glorious and the very pain I have had welcome as the means by which some special work is to be wrought out. My dear husband is so differently constituted, so constantly cheerful even in ill health, so perfect in temper and in the external estimate of facts, without any perceptible influence of changing moods! 835
Do not suppose that I expect you to write in notice of this letter. I only wanted to say my word of sympathy on this deeply affecting epoch in your life.
Mr. Lewes sends his kind regards, and I am ever with affectionate remembrances to Maman,
Your sincere friend
M. E. Lewes.
M. D'Albert-Durade.
Text: Copy by D'Albert-Durade, in the Tinker Collection. Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Blandford Square | August 26. 61.
Dear Friend
I really have nothing particular to say to you, but I cannot rest without telling you and Maman how sincerely I rejoice in the prospect of the very best sort of happiness for your son Alphonse. 833 Surely nothing could have comforted Maman's heart more than this! I should have written sooner to say these few words, since I cannot give that pressure of the hand which would serve instead of them, but that I have been under the pressure of more thoughts and external solicitations than usual. Our boy Thornton, who is just now gone to spend a few weeks at his dear old Hofwyl, was with us at home for more than a fortnight and made me feel more maternally preoccupied than usual, and in addition to this there are so many things I want to do that every day is too short for me. So never be surprised if I am silent unless you have sent me some question which demands an immediate answer.
I wish I could send you better news of my dear husband. He is still in the same feeble fluctuating state as when I last wrote to you. One day he seems bright and well and the next he is oppressed by headache and unable to enjoy anything. In other respects all things go well with us, and our dear boy Charles is increasingly satisfactory to us, improving constantly and applying himself with admirable resolution and good sense to the everyday work of life. I suffer greatly from despondency and distrust of myself, 834 and I have need continually to summon to my aid all the deepest motives that can serve to make life seem worthy of the day's weariness -- a proof, if any were needed, that in the complex mystery of our organisation the influence of delicate invisible threads may serve to mar the effect of the richest blessings. For after some hours of despondency there will come hours of strength in which life seems glorious and the very pain I have had welcome as the means by which some special work is to be wrought out. My dear husband is so differently constituted, so constantly cheerful even in ill health, so perfect in temper and in the external estimate of facts, without any perceptible influence of changing moods! 835
Do not suppose that I expect you to write in notice of this letter. I only wanted to say my word of sympathy on this deeply affecting epoch in your life.
Mr. Lewes sends his kind regards, and I am ever with affectionate remembrances to Maman,
Your sincere friend
M. E. Lewes.
M. D'Albert-Durade.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 26 August 1861, 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/92358