GE to John Blackwood, Malvern, 12 September 1861
Title
GE to John Blackwood, Malvern, 12 September 1861
Title
GE to John Blackwood, Malvern, 12 September 1861
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1861-09-12
Place
Malvern
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, Malvern, 12 September 1861
MS: National Library of Scotland. Published: TLS, 10 March 1972, p. 281.
Malvern 558 | September 12. 1861.
My dear Sir
Your letter enclosing the cheque for £600 reached me here this morning. You will have heard from Mr. William Blackwood that there were reasons for not sending me the order for £1000, as you proposed. 559 Many thanks for your promptness, and a sincere Amen to your wishes for our mutual future. I can desire nothing more satisfactory to myself than that our relations should continue as long as my writing life.
And now, for the new edition of my books. Mr. Lewes's suggestion is, that a 6/. edition might be published in moderate numbers, which, if stereotyped, might be reproduced on thinner paper as the 2/6 edition -- one set of types thus serving for two editions. You, of course, will weigh the merits of this suggestion against those of any other plan you may have in your mind.
Meanwhile, reconsideration has changed my views as to the retention of copyrights, and made me wish to consult you on a question which has arisen. As we have no young children and as our responsibilities for others lie in the present rather than in the distant future, I feel that the profits &unknown;of my works&unknown; henceforth to be gained on my four published books will be less valuable to me spread over the long term of copyright, than in the form of an immediate sum calculated in due proportion to the probable amount of those profits. And I should like to know from you whether you consider that it would be for the advantage of your firm to give me such a sum for my copyrights as it would be for my advantage to receive at this early stage of their existence.
We came here about a week ago to initiate a trial of the water-cure for Mr. Lewes, and it is a comfort to be able to say that he is already considerably strengthened, if not by hydropathy, at least by the bracing air and abundant exercise we get on the hills. We shall return to town by the middle or end of next week, so that all letters had better be addressed to us at Blandford Square. I am to tell you that Mr. Lewes has an article already written for you, but it requires some modification, which he will give it as soon as we get home again. We mean to carry on Dr. Gully's 560 processes of packing, sitz bath etc. in London, for after all, they are extremely simple, and might be attained without paying so many guineas for them as Malvern systems demand. Thornton is coming from Switzerland in another week or ten days, so that we must be at home to receive him and be with him till he starts for Edinburgh again.
You can't possibly think more of the "great work" 561 than I do, or than Mr. Lewes does. He thinks hopefully; I think doubtfully. On the whole I should recommend to your attention the supplementary beatitude "Blessed is he that expecteth nothing" etc -- if it were not that I never expect anything, but don't find myself beatified in consequence. All work will go on better when I can once be easier about Mr. Lewes's health. I congratulate you on being obliged to stay in the country.
I may venture to send through you, or through this letter, my kind regards to Mr. William Blackwood and thanks for his explanation about the order.
Mr. Lewes unites with me in all kind remembrances.
Ever yours truly
Marian Evans Lewes.
John Blackwood Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Published: TLS, 10 March 1972, p. 281.
Malvern 558 | September 12. 1861.
My dear Sir
Your letter enclosing the cheque for £600 reached me here this morning. You will have heard from Mr. William Blackwood that there were reasons for not sending me the order for £1000, as you proposed. 559 Many thanks for your promptness, and a sincere Amen to your wishes for our mutual future. I can desire nothing more satisfactory to myself than that our relations should continue as long as my writing life.
And now, for the new edition of my books. Mr. Lewes's suggestion is, that a 6/. edition might be published in moderate numbers, which, if stereotyped, might be reproduced on thinner paper as the 2/6 edition -- one set of types thus serving for two editions. You, of course, will weigh the merits of this suggestion against those of any other plan you may have in your mind.
Meanwhile, reconsideration has changed my views as to the retention of copyrights, and made me wish to consult you on a question which has arisen. As we have no young children and as our responsibilities for others lie in the present rather than in the distant future, I feel that the profits &unknown;of my works&unknown; henceforth to be gained on my four published books will be less valuable to me spread over the long term of copyright, than in the form of an immediate sum calculated in due proportion to the probable amount of those profits. And I should like to know from you whether you consider that it would be for the advantage of your firm to give me such a sum for my copyrights as it would be for my advantage to receive at this early stage of their existence.
We came here about a week ago to initiate a trial of the water-cure for Mr. Lewes, and it is a comfort to be able to say that he is already considerably strengthened, if not by hydropathy, at least by the bracing air and abundant exercise we get on the hills. We shall return to town by the middle or end of next week, so that all letters had better be addressed to us at Blandford Square. I am to tell you that Mr. Lewes has an article already written for you, but it requires some modification, which he will give it as soon as we get home again. We mean to carry on Dr. Gully's 560 processes of packing, sitz bath etc. in London, for after all, they are extremely simple, and might be attained without paying so many guineas for them as Malvern systems demand. Thornton is coming from Switzerland in another week or ten days, so that we must be at home to receive him and be with him till he starts for Edinburgh again.
You can't possibly think more of the "great work" 561 than I do, or than Mr. Lewes does. He thinks hopefully; I think doubtfully. On the whole I should recommend to your attention the supplementary beatitude "Blessed is he that expecteth nothing" etc -- if it were not that I never expect anything, but don't find myself beatified in consequence. All work will go on better when I can once be easier about Mr. Lewes's health. I congratulate you on being obliged to stay in the country.
I may venture to send through you, or through this letter, my kind regards to Mr. William Blackwood and thanks for his explanation about the order.
Mr. Lewes unites with me in all kind remembrances.
Ever yours truly
Marian Evans Lewes.
John Blackwood Esq.
Signature
Marian Evans Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, Malvern, 12 September 1861, 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/92698