GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 30 January 1868
Title
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 30 January 1868
Title
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 30 January 1868
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Francois D'Albert-Durade
Date(s)
- 1868-01-30
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 30 January 1868
Text: Copy by D'Albert-Durade, Tinker Collection, Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory | 21 North Bank | January 30. 68.
My dear Friend
I was delighted to have your letter last night and to hear once more some tolerably good news about you and dear Madame D'Albert.
Of ourselves I have nothing but cheerful news to give, except that my health is just now troublesome. 723 Mr. Lewes has been better than usual for the last two or three months, which is a great happiness to me. He is intensely occupied with investigations into the nervous system and even made an expedition of a fortnight to Bonn and Heidelberg in the worst of our January weather for the sake of making researches with the professors of those Universities. In spite of my being rather ailing, I am much more cheerful than I used to be, and I enjoy the abundant blessings of my life in spite of the growing years. Mentally I feel even younger than I used to feel, with a keener interest in all subjects. I am writing a book quite different from anything I have done before. I hardly know whether it will please you at all, but I will send you a copy when it is published -- which may not be before next autumn.
Our family is very prosperous. Charles has just been promoted in his office and has double his former salary with a constant increase yearly, and the prospect of further promotion as the years go on. His married life is eminently happy, but there has not yet come another little one to replace the lost one. From Natal we have very gratifying letters. Our two boys there, in partnership of the farm they have bought, agree admirably and are very happy in their occupation.
We have braved the winter in London, where as you know from the newspapers the distress of people out of work is heart-rending.
Altogether, public affairs call on our sympathies very painfully. The position of our own count[r]y, as well as the hideous prospect of a European war, make life very grave to those who have any care beyond their domestic concerns. The want of public spirit is one of the crying defects in our countrymen, but we are all being urged into it now by painful pressure.
I enter deeply into dear Madame D'Albert's grief at the loss of Madame de Viny. I remember well the deep affection and esteem that bound them together, as it used to be expressed in Maman's words and tones when she spoke of her friend. Pray assure her of my constant love and beg her always to keep a little place for me in her kind thoughts. Mr. Lewes also begs to be remembered and sends, to her and you both, his kindest regards. Our frequent travels may perhaps take us through Geneva again, and then we shall have much to say to each other! Always, dear friend
Yours with grateful affection
M. E. Lewes.
Text: Copy by D'Albert-Durade, Tinker Collection, Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory | 21 North Bank | January 30. 68.
My dear Friend
I was delighted to have your letter last night and to hear once more some tolerably good news about you and dear Madame D'Albert.
Of ourselves I have nothing but cheerful news to give, except that my health is just now troublesome. 723 Mr. Lewes has been better than usual for the last two or three months, which is a great happiness to me. He is intensely occupied with investigations into the nervous system and even made an expedition of a fortnight to Bonn and Heidelberg in the worst of our January weather for the sake of making researches with the professors of those Universities. In spite of my being rather ailing, I am much more cheerful than I used to be, and I enjoy the abundant blessings of my life in spite of the growing years. Mentally I feel even younger than I used to feel, with a keener interest in all subjects. I am writing a book quite different from anything I have done before. I hardly know whether it will please you at all, but I will send you a copy when it is published -- which may not be before next autumn.
Our family is very prosperous. Charles has just been promoted in his office and has double his former salary with a constant increase yearly, and the prospect of further promotion as the years go on. His married life is eminently happy, but there has not yet come another little one to replace the lost one. From Natal we have very gratifying letters. Our two boys there, in partnership of the farm they have bought, agree admirably and are very happy in their occupation.
We have braved the winter in London, where as you know from the newspapers the distress of people out of work is heart-rending.
Altogether, public affairs call on our sympathies very painfully. The position of our own count[r]y, as well as the hideous prospect of a European war, make life very grave to those who have any care beyond their domestic concerns. The want of public spirit is one of the crying defects in our countrymen, but we are all being urged into it now by painful pressure.
I enter deeply into dear Madame D'Albert's grief at the loss of Madame de Viny. I remember well the deep affection and esteem that bound them together, as it used to be expressed in Maman's words and tones when she spoke of her friend. Pray assure her of my constant love and beg her always to keep a little place for me in her kind thoughts. Mr. Lewes also begs to be remembered and sends, to her and you both, his kindest regards. Our frequent travels may perhaps take us through Geneva again, and then we shall have much to say to each other! Always, dear friend
Yours with grateful affection
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 30 January 1868, 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/92366