GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 1 December 1858
Title
GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 1 December 1858
Title
GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 1 December 1858
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1858-12-01
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 1 December 1858
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Richmond | December 1. 1858.
My dear Sir
Mr. Lewes thinks it better that he should not put his name as a witness to my signature. If a name be necessary, will you be kind enough to insert yours?
I am very nervous about the preservation of the incognito, for I have reason to believe that some rumour of the authorship of C.S. has escaped from a member of my own family, 1236 who, however, could only speak on suspicion.
This makes me anxious that the publication of [Adam] should not be delayed longer than is necessary after the Christmas Holidays, for I wish the book to be judged quite apart from its authorship.
Ever yours truly
George Eliot.
John Blackwood Esq.
P.S. The rumour to which I refer is slight and, I believe, confined to an unimportant quarter. 1237 If it reach us in the way of question, it will be met with direct contradiction, for I am of Scott's opinion 1238 on that point. An incognito can be maintained on no other condition, and in such a case one ought to say [No] to an impertinent querist as one would decline to open one's iron chest to a burglar.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Richmond | December 1. 1858.
My dear Sir
Mr. Lewes thinks it better that he should not put his name as a witness to my signature. If a name be necessary, will you be kind enough to insert yours?
I am very nervous about the preservation of the incognito, for I have reason to believe that some rumour of the authorship of C.S. has escaped from a member of my own family, 1236 who, however, could only speak on suspicion.
This makes me anxious that the publication of [Adam] should not be delayed longer than is necessary after the Christmas Holidays, for I wish the book to be judged quite apart from its authorship.
Ever yours truly
George Eliot.
John Blackwood Esq.
P.S. The rumour to which I refer is slight and, I believe, confined to an unimportant quarter. 1237 If it reach us in the way of question, it will be met with direct contradiction, for I am of Scott's opinion 1238 on that point. An incognito can be maintained on no other condition, and in such a case one ought to say [No] to an impertinent querist as one would decline to open one's iron chest to a burglar.
Signature
George Eliot.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 1 December 1858, 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/92702