GE to Frau Karl von Siebold, Shottermill, [ June 1871]
Title
GE to Frau Karl von Siebold, Shottermill, [ June 1871]
Title
GE to Frau Karl von Siebold, Shottermill, [ June 1871]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Frau Karl von Siebold
Date(s)
- 1871-06
Place
Shottermill
Letter Content
GE to Frau Karl von Siebold, Shottermill, [ June 1871]
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
My dear Friend
I am very glad that you found an occasion for writing to me, and I assure you that the effort to help and comfort your wounded countrymen is one in which we gladly join now, as we did at the beginning of the War. As soon as I received your letter, Mr. Lewes wrote to Mr. Darwin 303 on your behalf, and I enclose two photographs of him together with his letter, which I think you will be glad to have because of the feeling which it expresses towards your husband. The two wives of illustrious men to whom he refers are yourself and the Freifrau v. Liebig.
I also enclose my husband's photograph, which I am sorry to say is a very unfavourable one. He has had much better likenesses of himself produced. But we are not now in town, and are obliged to send you what happens to be at hand. Since the beginning of May we have been residing in the country while our town house is being altered, and of course we have only necessary papers with us. Otherwise, Mr. Lewes would have been glad to send you a few more autographs of celebrated men. He has written a scrap from Hegel as a light and amusing extract.
Unhappily I can send you nothing on my own part, for I have resolutely declined to have my photograph taken.
We were delighted to have all the news of yourself and the Professor which you have kindly written in your letter, and the work on Parthenogenesis 304 will be very welcome when it comes. Another year we may perhaps have the pleasure of welcoming the writer in London, may we not? When we were at Munich, he held out the promise that he would come to England to see Richard Owen and Charles Darwin, and when he has gratified those chief desires, I hope he will not forget us.
We have very often spoken of the two days which you made happy for us at Munich last year, and of Prof. W'f6hler's agreeable conversation. 305 When we think of the melancholy account he gave us of Liebig's health, it is a pleasant wonder to us that his restoration is so complete.
Poor Heyse! 306 How much trouble he has had mingled with his gifts of genius and beauty! I think the boy whom he has lost must be the one I saw when I was first at Munich -- a tiny beautiful child then with a little sister.
I imagine you with a 'ablittle'bb young companion in your temporary separation from the Professor during his holiday rambles, the nice girl whom we saw come in from school being, I suppose, your constant inmate. But it is pleasant to think that you have a journey to Venice in prospect with your husband. I cannot imagine any more delightful plan for a holiday. -- We are enjoying quiet in the green country. Our retreat is in a very beautiful spot on the borders of Hampshire, and we find fresh long walks continually.
Do not be afraid of writing to me in German. I am as quick in reading foreign languages as I am slow to speak them, and every evening I read a German book of difficult science 307 to my husband, so that, you perceive, I am used to much less charming styles than yours in that venerable language.
The accounts we read of Paris are saddening for the whole world. The destruction there is the world's loss, 308 and the calamities of the unhappy French nation seem to be constantly opening fresh vistas.
I think you misconceive the state of English minds generally at the opening of the War. So far as our observation went, English sympathy was mainly on the German side. It was not till after the battle of Sedan, 309 that there was any widely-spread feeling on behalf of the French. Pray tell all those friends remaining at Munich who were kind to us when we made our long stay there, that not one of them is forgotten by us. Whenever we have been in Germany we have been treated with warm friendliness, and for this reason among many others we cherish a great love for Germany and the Germans, both North and South.
My husband unites with me in the best regards to your double self, and I am always
Yours affectionately
M. E. Lewes.
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
My dear Friend
I am very glad that you found an occasion for writing to me, and I assure you that the effort to help and comfort your wounded countrymen is one in which we gladly join now, as we did at the beginning of the War. As soon as I received your letter, Mr. Lewes wrote to Mr. Darwin 303 on your behalf, and I enclose two photographs of him together with his letter, which I think you will be glad to have because of the feeling which it expresses towards your husband. The two wives of illustrious men to whom he refers are yourself and the Freifrau v. Liebig.
I also enclose my husband's photograph, which I am sorry to say is a very unfavourable one. He has had much better likenesses of himself produced. But we are not now in town, and are obliged to send you what happens to be at hand. Since the beginning of May we have been residing in the country while our town house is being altered, and of course we have only necessary papers with us. Otherwise, Mr. Lewes would have been glad to send you a few more autographs of celebrated men. He has written a scrap from Hegel as a light and amusing extract.
Unhappily I can send you nothing on my own part, for I have resolutely declined to have my photograph taken.
We were delighted to have all the news of yourself and the Professor which you have kindly written in your letter, and the work on Parthenogenesis 304 will be very welcome when it comes. Another year we may perhaps have the pleasure of welcoming the writer in London, may we not? When we were at Munich, he held out the promise that he would come to England to see Richard Owen and Charles Darwin, and when he has gratified those chief desires, I hope he will not forget us.
We have very often spoken of the two days which you made happy for us at Munich last year, and of Prof. W'f6hler's agreeable conversation. 305 When we think of the melancholy account he gave us of Liebig's health, it is a pleasant wonder to us that his restoration is so complete.
Poor Heyse! 306 How much trouble he has had mingled with his gifts of genius and beauty! I think the boy whom he has lost must be the one I saw when I was first at Munich -- a tiny beautiful child then with a little sister.
I imagine you with a 'ablittle'bb young companion in your temporary separation from the Professor during his holiday rambles, the nice girl whom we saw come in from school being, I suppose, your constant inmate. But it is pleasant to think that you have a journey to Venice in prospect with your husband. I cannot imagine any more delightful plan for a holiday. -- We are enjoying quiet in the green country. Our retreat is in a very beautiful spot on the borders of Hampshire, and we find fresh long walks continually.
Do not be afraid of writing to me in German. I am as quick in reading foreign languages as I am slow to speak them, and every evening I read a German book of difficult science 307 to my husband, so that, you perceive, I am used to much less charming styles than yours in that venerable language.
The accounts we read of Paris are saddening for the whole world. The destruction there is the world's loss, 308 and the calamities of the unhappy French nation seem to be constantly opening fresh vistas.
I think you misconceive the state of English minds generally at the opening of the War. So far as our observation went, English sympathy was mainly on the German side. It was not till after the battle of Sedan, 309 that there was any widely-spread feeling on behalf of the French. Pray tell all those friends remaining at Munich who were kind to us when we made our long stay there, that not one of them is forgotten by us. Whenever we have been in Germany we have been treated with warm friendliness, and for this reason among many others we cherish a great love for Germany and the Germans, both North and South.
My husband unites with me in the best regards to your double self, and I am always
Yours affectionately
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Frau Karl von Siebold, Shottermill, [ June 1871], 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/92384