GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, Witley, 1 August 1878
Title
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, Witley, 1 August 1878
Title
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, Witley, 1 August 1878
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Francois D'Albert-Durade
Date(s)
- 1878-08-01
Place
Witley
Letter Content
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, Witley, 1 August 1878
Text: Copy by D'Albert-Durade at Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
The Heights, Witley | Nr. Godalming | August 1. 78.
My dear Friend
I think that I have not yet answered your kind letter of inquiry, which brought me welcome news of your well-being -- for so we mortals must call the exception from severe pain or the pressure of the myriad calamities which are wandering through the earth. Our lot is one of rare privileges, for, except the growing sense of age and consequent liability to ailment, we count for our private share nothing but joys. This spring we were much occupied in furnishing this country house, to which, however, we only came on the 20th of June. We return to town for the winter. And since then I have found the days full, if not of occupations then of malaise from headache. Our health has certainly not corresponded with our external ease. Mr. Lewes has been much troubled with gouty symptoms (!) which you may think an anomaly in one so temperate -- but we carry the penitential load of our forefathers.
I am surprised to hear that a Geneva publisher has the courage to print your translation of Romola. 105 I should have thought the few French speaking people who would care to read it would certainly be able to read it in English. But I hope the publication will have success enough to save you from the tacit reproach of a publisher who finds himself "out of pocket."
It is a comfort to think that Madame D'Albert has no increase of suffering as the months go by. Tell her that if my loving remembrance of her had wings, it would often be hovering round her and giving her caresses.
We are rejoicing in the prospect of European peace and of an abundant wheat harvest which will make a great difference to our artisans and labourers. I wonder whether you read our papers and notice the bad figure our liber[al] party has made of late on the Eastern Question. 106 You remember me as much less of a conservative than I have now become. I care as much or more for the interests of the people, but I believe less in the help they will get from democrats.
Yours always faithfully
M. E. Lewes.
Pardon me for my bad economy of space, which thrusts into the margin what is really the gist of my letter -- that with all my slowness to write notes with or [without] a reply, I am unchangedly full of affectionate memories.
Text: Copy by D'Albert-Durade at Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
The Heights, Witley | Nr. Godalming | August 1. 78.
My dear Friend
I think that I have not yet answered your kind letter of inquiry, which brought me welcome news of your well-being -- for so we mortals must call the exception from severe pain or the pressure of the myriad calamities which are wandering through the earth. Our lot is one of rare privileges, for, except the growing sense of age and consequent liability to ailment, we count for our private share nothing but joys. This spring we were much occupied in furnishing this country house, to which, however, we only came on the 20th of June. We return to town for the winter. And since then I have found the days full, if not of occupations then of malaise from headache. Our health has certainly not corresponded with our external ease. Mr. Lewes has been much troubled with gouty symptoms (!) which you may think an anomaly in one so temperate -- but we carry the penitential load of our forefathers.
I am surprised to hear that a Geneva publisher has the courage to print your translation of Romola. 105 I should have thought the few French speaking people who would care to read it would certainly be able to read it in English. But I hope the publication will have success enough to save you from the tacit reproach of a publisher who finds himself "out of pocket."
It is a comfort to think that Madame D'Albert has no increase of suffering as the months go by. Tell her that if my loving remembrance of her had wings, it would often be hovering round her and giving her caresses.
We are rejoicing in the prospect of European peace and of an abundant wheat harvest which will make a great difference to our artisans and labourers. I wonder whether you read our papers and notice the bad figure our liber[al] party has made of late on the Eastern Question. 106 You remember me as much less of a conservative than I have now become. I care as much or more for the interests of the people, but I believe less in the help they will get from democrats.
Yours always faithfully
M. E. Lewes.
Pardon me for my bad economy of space, which thrusts into the margin what is really the gist of my letter -- that with all my slowness to write notes with or [without] a reply, I am unchangedly full of affectionate memories.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, Witley, 1 August 1878, 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/92380