GE to George Combe, London, 9 March 1854
Title
GE to George Combe, London, 9 March 1854
Title
GE to George Combe, London, 9 March 1854
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
George Combe
Date(s)
- 1854-03-09
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to George Combe, London, 9 March 1854
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: London 9 March | 1854 | Miss Evans.
1 Cambridge Street | March 9. 1854.
My dear Sir
I have seen a revise of the pamphlet and have inserted both Mr. Perry's corrections and your own alterations at pp. 62 and 92. One of your verbal alterations I was obliged to cancel as you did not appear to have completed it and I was uncertain about your meaning. It is on p. 33 where you say -- "the only way in which the question of sanity or insanity can be decided, is to call in physicians and cerebral physiologists, whose professional duty it has been" etc. You had supplied "Cerebral physiology" instead of physiologists, and this would not tally with the continuation of the sentence. I hope there will be no vexatious mistake revealing itself in the pamphlet when it is too late; but the fallibility of human brains is in nothing more obvious than in proof reading. Should you like to see a proof of the article?
I am going to Sir James Clark's this evening, and I hope to hear something propitious to the cause you have at heart. Mr. Perry seems to have some good reasons to urge against one or two of your opinions on points of detail, but the main principles of the pamphlet are independent of these.
I like to think of your making a period of life which with most people -- even the most distinguished -- is one of mere retrospect, fruitful in active service to the interests of humanity. A beautiful decline of life is to me as full of cheering promise as a beautiful opening -- of promise that with future generations age in general will be lovely and harmonious.
Alas! I am reminded by contrast of poor Mrs. Crowe's sad story. 203 I can imagine how closely it must affect you and Mrs. Combe who have been her friends so long. With kindest regards to Mrs. Combe, I am my dear Sir,
Ever yours truly
Marian Evans.
George Combe Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: London 9 March | 1854 | Miss Evans.
1 Cambridge Street | March 9. 1854.
My dear Sir
I have seen a revise of the pamphlet and have inserted both Mr. Perry's corrections and your own alterations at pp. 62 and 92. One of your verbal alterations I was obliged to cancel as you did not appear to have completed it and I was uncertain about your meaning. It is on p. 33 where you say -- "the only way in which the question of sanity or insanity can be decided, is to call in physicians and cerebral physiologists, whose professional duty it has been" etc. You had supplied "Cerebral physiology" instead of physiologists, and this would not tally with the continuation of the sentence. I hope there will be no vexatious mistake revealing itself in the pamphlet when it is too late; but the fallibility of human brains is in nothing more obvious than in proof reading. Should you like to see a proof of the article?
I am going to Sir James Clark's this evening, and I hope to hear something propitious to the cause you have at heart. Mr. Perry seems to have some good reasons to urge against one or two of your opinions on points of detail, but the main principles of the pamphlet are independent of these.
I like to think of your making a period of life which with most people -- even the most distinguished -- is one of mere retrospect, fruitful in active service to the interests of humanity. A beautiful decline of life is to me as full of cheering promise as a beautiful opening -- of promise that with future generations age in general will be lovely and harmonious.
Alas! I am reminded by contrast of poor Mrs. Crowe's sad story. 203 I can imagine how closely it must affect you and Mrs. Combe who have been her friends so long. With kindest regards to Mrs. Combe, I am my dear Sir,
Ever yours truly
Marian Evans.
George Combe Esq.
Signature
Marian Evans.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to George Combe, London, 9 March 1854, 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/92488