GE to George Combe, London, 11 June 1852
Title
GE to George Combe, London, 11 June 1852
Title
GE to George Combe, London, 11 June 1852
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
George Combe
Date(s)
- 1852-06-11
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to George Combe, London, 11 June 1852
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: London 11 June 1852 | Miss Evans.
42 Strand | June 11. 1852.
My dear Sir
We are anxious to have plenty of time for deliberation as to the writer of the article on hereditary disease; hence we desire not to commit ourselves to any one at present, but simply to get as extensive a list as possible of eligible men. Thank you very much for the hints in your letter, and for your kind offer to make further inquiries. We shall be glad of any information you can obtain for us.
No one knows better than yourself what the article in question should be, and the most valuable aid you could give me would be, to sketch a plan which would convey your idea of the mode in which the subject should be treated.
I know that your interest in this matter rests on much higher ground than any personal considerations, and that it would be impertinent in me to apologize for asking you to take this trouble.
I think the objection to Dr. Coxe as a writer would be, not that his style wants clearness or point, but that he lacks the habit of thoroughly organizing his materials -- a habit which is the sine qua non of effective article writing, as you well know. 93
I hope you have taken no fresh cold in this cheerless weather and that Mrs. Combe is as well as ever. Pray give my kindest regards to her and believe me, my dear Sir,
Yours very truly
Marian Evans.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: London 11 June 1852 | Miss Evans.
42 Strand | June 11. 1852.
My dear Sir
We are anxious to have plenty of time for deliberation as to the writer of the article on hereditary disease; hence we desire not to commit ourselves to any one at present, but simply to get as extensive a list as possible of eligible men. Thank you very much for the hints in your letter, and for your kind offer to make further inquiries. We shall be glad of any information you can obtain for us.
No one knows better than yourself what the article in question should be, and the most valuable aid you could give me would be, to sketch a plan which would convey your idea of the mode in which the subject should be treated.
I know that your interest in this matter rests on much higher ground than any personal considerations, and that it would be impertinent in me to apologize for asking you to take this trouble.
I think the objection to Dr. Coxe as a writer would be, not that his style wants clearness or point, but that he lacks the habit of thoroughly organizing his materials -- a habit which is the sine qua non of effective article writing, as you well know. 93
I hope you have taken no fresh cold in this cheerless weather and that Mrs. Combe is as well as ever. Pray give my kindest regards to her and believe me, my dear Sir,
Yours very truly
Marian Evans.
Signature
Marian Evans.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to George Combe, London, 11 June 1852, 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/92460