GE to John Blackwood, London, 18 October 1867
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 18 October 1867
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 18 October 1867
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1867-10-18
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, London, 18 October 1867
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
October 18. 67.
My dear Sir
I always hesitate to send you unnecessary letters, because I know you get a superfluity of such things from other quarters. But at last I indulge my inclination to tell you with how much interest I have read Prof. Aytoun's Life, 672 which Mr. Martin has sent me. If he had been of less value himself I should have liked to know about him because of his connection with you and venerable Maga. But I enjoy chiefly the impression which the book gives me of him as a good, loveable man, who must have been very precious to his friends. His unaffected tone about his own works is admirable, and I think that preface to the revised edition of "Bothwell" is a rare indication of candour and self-judgment. I entered keenly into all the details on this last subject, and wish there had been more of them given in the Life -- also more of such delicious bits as that of Col. Hamley's about the old white setter and the field-mouse with the poet's disposition to throw a "decent veil" over the mistakes of his beloved dog. And the fine old mother who lived to renew the present of the bible! Altogether the book seemed very cheering in spite of the sadness cast over the latter years, and the too early death. The breakdown into dyspepsia came home to me more than I like, through Mr. Lewes's experience.
I hope you know from Mr. William Blackwood, whose kind letter lay here so long unanswered, of our being urged to another flight. I am right glad to be at home again. Fidalma is among the gypsies now, 673 and I hope you will be, for some pleasant reason or other, obliged to come to London about Christmas, so that you may renew your acquaintance with her. I have dreadful misgivings lest some mistake not to be amended -- like that which Prof. Aytoun recognized in "Bothwell" -- should reveal itself further on. But Mr. Lewes says he likes what I have done better on hearing it the fifth time.
I suppose you have seen in the papers that our friend Mr. Trollope has resigned his place in the Post Office. 674 I cannot help being rather sorry, though one is in danger of being rash in such judgments. But it seems to me a thing greatly to be dreaded for a man that he should be in any way led to excessive writing.
Mr. Lewes is gone on a three days' walking excursion in Surrey, and I am rejoicing in the sunshine on his behalf. When we first came home the N. East wind and bitter cold laid hold of his throat and chest, but I hope he will overcome that drawback by help of this milder air.
Pray do not think it needful to write until you are quite at leisure to do so. When you are, I shall be very glad to have a word from you. Mr. Lewes enjoys the New Contributor greatly.
Always yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
October 18. 67.
My dear Sir
I always hesitate to send you unnecessary letters, because I know you get a superfluity of such things from other quarters. But at last I indulge my inclination to tell you with how much interest I have read Prof. Aytoun's Life, 672 which Mr. Martin has sent me. If he had been of less value himself I should have liked to know about him because of his connection with you and venerable Maga. But I enjoy chiefly the impression which the book gives me of him as a good, loveable man, who must have been very precious to his friends. His unaffected tone about his own works is admirable, and I think that preface to the revised edition of "Bothwell" is a rare indication of candour and self-judgment. I entered keenly into all the details on this last subject, and wish there had been more of them given in the Life -- also more of such delicious bits as that of Col. Hamley's about the old white setter and the field-mouse with the poet's disposition to throw a "decent veil" over the mistakes of his beloved dog. And the fine old mother who lived to renew the present of the bible! Altogether the book seemed very cheering in spite of the sadness cast over the latter years, and the too early death. The breakdown into dyspepsia came home to me more than I like, through Mr. Lewes's experience.
I hope you know from Mr. William Blackwood, whose kind letter lay here so long unanswered, of our being urged to another flight. I am right glad to be at home again. Fidalma is among the gypsies now, 673 and I hope you will be, for some pleasant reason or other, obliged to come to London about Christmas, so that you may renew your acquaintance with her. I have dreadful misgivings lest some mistake not to be amended -- like that which Prof. Aytoun recognized in "Bothwell" -- should reveal itself further on. But Mr. Lewes says he likes what I have done better on hearing it the fifth time.
I suppose you have seen in the papers that our friend Mr. Trollope has resigned his place in the Post Office. 674 I cannot help being rather sorry, though one is in danger of being rash in such judgments. But it seems to me a thing greatly to be dreaded for a man that he should be in any way led to excessive writing.
Mr. Lewes is gone on a three days' walking excursion in Surrey, and I am rejoicing in the sunshine on his behalf. When we first came home the N. East wind and bitter cold laid hold of his throat and chest, but I hope he will overcome that drawback by help of this milder air.
Pray do not think it needful to write until you are quite at leisure to do so. When you are, I shall be very glad to have a word from you. Mr. Lewes enjoys the New Contributor greatly.
Always yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, London, 18 October 1867, 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/92625