GE to John Blackwood, London, 27 April 1866
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 27 April 1866
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 27 April 1866
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1866-04-27
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, London, 27 April 1866
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: Cross, II, 427-428.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
April 27. 66.
My dear Sir
The slip, I think, is perfect, and pray tell the provident Mr. Simpson that I admire his choice of colour.
How very good it was of you to write me a letter which is a guarantee to me of the pleasantest kind that I have made myself understood. The tone of the prevalent literature just now is not encouraging to a writer who at least wishes to be serious and sincere, and, owing to my want of health, a great deal of this book has been written under so much depression as to its practical effectiveness, that I have sometimes been ready to give it up.
Your letter has made me feel, more strongly than any other testimony, that it would have been a pity if I had listened to the temper Despondency. -- I took a great deal of pains to get a true idea of the period. My own recollections of it are childish, and of course disjointed, but they help to illuminate my reading. I went through the Times of 1832-33 at the British Museum, to be sure of as many details as I could. It is amazing what strong language was used in those days, especially about the Church. The Times is full of turgid denunciation; "bloated pluralists," "stall-fed dignitaries" etc. are the sort of phrases conspicuous in the leaders. There is one passage of prophecy which I longed to quote, but I thought it wiser to abstain. "Now the beauty of the Reform Bill is, that under its mature operation the people must and will become free agents" 445 -- a prophecy which I hope is true, only the maturity of the operation has not arrived yet.
Mr. Lewes is well satisfied with the portion of the 3d volume already written, 446 and as I am better in health just now I hope to go on with spirit, especially with the help of your cordial sympathy. I trust you will see, when it comes, that the 3d volume is the natural issue prepared for by the 1st and 2d.
Mr. Lewes is in a sadly delicate state. There is nothing organically wrong, but he has been continually suffering, as I have, from the malaise of indigestion, and has gone on getting thin. I rely on a holiday for him in June -- a holiday of cheerful idleness and chalybeate waters.
Always yours truly
M. E. Lewes.
J. Blackwood Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: Cross, II, 427-428.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
April 27. 66.
My dear Sir
The slip, I think, is perfect, and pray tell the provident Mr. Simpson that I admire his choice of colour.
How very good it was of you to write me a letter which is a guarantee to me of the pleasantest kind that I have made myself understood. The tone of the prevalent literature just now is not encouraging to a writer who at least wishes to be serious and sincere, and, owing to my want of health, a great deal of this book has been written under so much depression as to its practical effectiveness, that I have sometimes been ready to give it up.
Your letter has made me feel, more strongly than any other testimony, that it would have been a pity if I had listened to the temper Despondency. -- I took a great deal of pains to get a true idea of the period. My own recollections of it are childish, and of course disjointed, but they help to illuminate my reading. I went through the Times of 1832-33 at the British Museum, to be sure of as many details as I could. It is amazing what strong language was used in those days, especially about the Church. The Times is full of turgid denunciation; "bloated pluralists," "stall-fed dignitaries" etc. are the sort of phrases conspicuous in the leaders. There is one passage of prophecy which I longed to quote, but I thought it wiser to abstain. "Now the beauty of the Reform Bill is, that under its mature operation the people must and will become free agents" 445 -- a prophecy which I hope is true, only the maturity of the operation has not arrived yet.
Mr. Lewes is well satisfied with the portion of the 3d volume already written, 446 and as I am better in health just now I hope to go on with spirit, especially with the help of your cordial sympathy. I trust you will see, when it comes, that the 3d volume is the natural issue prepared for by the 1st and 2d.
Mr. Lewes is in a sadly delicate state. There is nothing organically wrong, but he has been continually suffering, as I have, from the malaise of indigestion, and has gone on getting thin. I rely on a holiday for him in June -- a holiday of cheerful idleness and chalybeate waters.
Always yours truly
M. E. Lewes.
J. Blackwood Esq.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, London, 27 April 1866, 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/92661