GE to George Combe, London, 18 February 1853
Title
GE to George Combe, London, 18 February 1853
Title
GE to George Combe, London, 18 February 1853
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
George Combe
Date(s)
- 1853-02-18
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to George Combe, London, 18 February 1853
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: London 18 Feby 1853 | Miss Evans | 10 March ansd.
42 Strand February 18. 1853.
My dear Sir
Your letter of the 27th came to me when I was confined to my bed by a rheumatic attack. Since then I have been into the country to see my sister, and have taken large doses of romping and doll dressing -- the very best alteratives for me. I am come back quite well and hardy enough to enjoy the frost and snow. I fear, however, that they do not agree so well with your lungs and Mrs. Combe's as with mine.
Dr. Stamm 157 has been domesticated at Mr. Chapman's for some time. He has the most amiable social qualities, beautiful simplicity and purity of character and considerable attainments; but he is not, I think, destined to have much influence over other men. He would by no means concur in this negative clause; on the contrary he thinks himself a prophet. I ventured to tell him that a translation of a work beginning "V'f6lker der Erde, hier ist das Buch, nach dem ihr mit Verlangen eure Arme ausstrecht," 158 would be simply "nuts" to our reviewers, but he was evidently incredulous. You will perceive that he has no slight endowment of self-esteem, and this is unchecked by a fine sense of the ludicrous, without which even pure moral enthusiasm is apt to verge on the ridiculous in its manifestations. Still, Dr. Stamm is a charming being, and wins everyone's good will. Perhaps his droll English has something to do with this, and his handsome face still more. His resources are very narrow, and he is determined not to return to Germany until its political condition is more hopeful. Hence he is anxious to obtain some literary occupation in England or America and is working hard to get the mastery of our language. I have not at present access to a copy of Salvador's work, which I read eight years ago, but I will bear in mind your wish to see it.
I thought the last number of the Westminster rather below par, but the public seem to have judged otherwise. I must tell you that the '91Contemporary Literature'92 had not my supervision owing to my being called away to my sister, and I am sorry to see in it certain expressions which are, to say the least, in bad taste. Our programme for the April number is a very rich one. We are trying to get into the plan of having shorter articles and a greater variety of subjects. This was the plan of the Edinburgh in its palmy days, and is, I think, a good one, if exceptions to it are occasionally made in the case of highly important or comprehensive topics. Do you agree with me?
I am deeply interested in the prospect of seeing your work on Natural Religion. 159 You promised that I should be one of the few who are to see it before its ultimate publication -- a proof of regard which was very pleasant to me.
My umbrella is come, but I have not seen Mrs. Crowe. She was here one evening last week, during my absence.
When speaking of the Review I forgot to say that I should like to know your opinion of Dr. S. Brown's article on the Atomic Theory. 160 He was extremely irate at certain omissions which my editorial obtuseness or self-sufficiency took upon itself to make. He has a theory as to the influence of Christianity on the development of science which is hinted at throughout the article, but so vaguely, that the result is mere mystification of the reader. I am sorry, however, that he should have been annoyed and chafed. His exuberant faculties, which every one must admire, want the control of a sober, rigorous judgment, so that one is always frightened lest he should fly into an extravagance or even an absurdity.
Mr. Bray and I agree that you are a delightful correspondent. I reconcile myself to the great inequality between your letters and mine by reflecting that "it is more blessed to give than to receive," and that on this principle you certainly have the best of it. Am I not ingenious?
Yes, indeed -- I should like to renew our conversations by the fire-side at Edinburgh, but I must not so indulge myself this spring. I shall see you and Mrs. Combe in London, though, shall I not? And that will be a compensatory pleasure. Pray tell Mrs. Combe that I hope she is reading "Villette," and will tell me what she thinks of it. I mean to be really industrious now -- to write and get money -- not for myself. Do encourage me, if you can.
With kindest regards to Mrs. Combe, Ever, my dear Sir,
Yours truly
Marian Evans
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: London 18 Feby 1853 | Miss Evans | 10 March ansd.
42 Strand February 18. 1853.
My dear Sir
Your letter of the 27th came to me when I was confined to my bed by a rheumatic attack. Since then I have been into the country to see my sister, and have taken large doses of romping and doll dressing -- the very best alteratives for me. I am come back quite well and hardy enough to enjoy the frost and snow. I fear, however, that they do not agree so well with your lungs and Mrs. Combe's as with mine.
Dr. Stamm 157 has been domesticated at Mr. Chapman's for some time. He has the most amiable social qualities, beautiful simplicity and purity of character and considerable attainments; but he is not, I think, destined to have much influence over other men. He would by no means concur in this negative clause; on the contrary he thinks himself a prophet. I ventured to tell him that a translation of a work beginning "V'f6lker der Erde, hier ist das Buch, nach dem ihr mit Verlangen eure Arme ausstrecht," 158 would be simply "nuts" to our reviewers, but he was evidently incredulous. You will perceive that he has no slight endowment of self-esteem, and this is unchecked by a fine sense of the ludicrous, without which even pure moral enthusiasm is apt to verge on the ridiculous in its manifestations. Still, Dr. Stamm is a charming being, and wins everyone's good will. Perhaps his droll English has something to do with this, and his handsome face still more. His resources are very narrow, and he is determined not to return to Germany until its political condition is more hopeful. Hence he is anxious to obtain some literary occupation in England or America and is working hard to get the mastery of our language. I have not at present access to a copy of Salvador's work, which I read eight years ago, but I will bear in mind your wish to see it.
I thought the last number of the Westminster rather below par, but the public seem to have judged otherwise. I must tell you that the '91Contemporary Literature'92 had not my supervision owing to my being called away to my sister, and I am sorry to see in it certain expressions which are, to say the least, in bad taste. Our programme for the April number is a very rich one. We are trying to get into the plan of having shorter articles and a greater variety of subjects. This was the plan of the Edinburgh in its palmy days, and is, I think, a good one, if exceptions to it are occasionally made in the case of highly important or comprehensive topics. Do you agree with me?
I am deeply interested in the prospect of seeing your work on Natural Religion. 159 You promised that I should be one of the few who are to see it before its ultimate publication -- a proof of regard which was very pleasant to me.
My umbrella is come, but I have not seen Mrs. Crowe. She was here one evening last week, during my absence.
When speaking of the Review I forgot to say that I should like to know your opinion of Dr. S. Brown's article on the Atomic Theory. 160 He was extremely irate at certain omissions which my editorial obtuseness or self-sufficiency took upon itself to make. He has a theory as to the influence of Christianity on the development of science which is hinted at throughout the article, but so vaguely, that the result is mere mystification of the reader. I am sorry, however, that he should have been annoyed and chafed. His exuberant faculties, which every one must admire, want the control of a sober, rigorous judgment, so that one is always frightened lest he should fly into an extravagance or even an absurdity.
Mr. Bray and I agree that you are a delightful correspondent. I reconcile myself to the great inequality between your letters and mine by reflecting that "it is more blessed to give than to receive," and that on this principle you certainly have the best of it. Am I not ingenious?
Yes, indeed -- I should like to renew our conversations by the fire-side at Edinburgh, but I must not so indulge myself this spring. I shall see you and Mrs. Combe in London, though, shall I not? And that will be a compensatory pleasure. Pray tell Mrs. Combe that I hope she is reading "Villette," and will tell me what she thinks of it. I mean to be really industrious now -- to write and get money -- not for myself. Do encourage me, if you can.
With kindest regards to Mrs. Combe, Ever, my dear Sir,
Yours truly
Marian Evans
Signature
Marian Evans
Citation
George Eliot, GE to George Combe, London, 18 February 1853, 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/92466