GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 21 January 1858
Title
GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 21 January 1858
Title
GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 21 January 1858
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1858-01-21
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 21 January 1858
MS: National Library of Scotland. Published: Cross, II, 8-9.
Richmond | January 21. 58.
My dear Sir
I'm sure you will be interested in Dickens's letter which I enclose, begging you to return it as soon as you can, and not to allow any one besides yourself and Major Blackwood to share in the knowledge of its contents. There can be no harm, of course, in every one's knowing that Dickens admires the "Scenes," but I should not like any more specific allusion made to the words of a private letter.
There can hardly be any climax of approbation for me after this, and I am so deeply moved by the finely-felt and finely expressed sympathy of the letter, that the iron mask of my incognito seems quite painful in forbidding me to tell Dickens how thoroughly his generous impulse has been appreciated. If you should have an opportunity of conveying this feeling of mine to him in any way, you would oblige me by doing so.
By the bye, you probably remember sending me, some months ago, a letter from the Rev. Archer Gurney 1068 -- a very warm, simple-spoken letter, praising me for qualities which I most of all care to be praised for. I should like to send him a copy of the "Scenes," since I could make no acknowledgment of his letter in any other way. I don't know his address, but perhaps Mr. Langford would be good enough to look it out in the Clergy List. I remain, my dear Sir,
Yours very truly
George Eliot.
John Blackwood Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Published: Cross, II, 8-9.
Richmond | January 21. 58.
My dear Sir
I'm sure you will be interested in Dickens's letter which I enclose, begging you to return it as soon as you can, and not to allow any one besides yourself and Major Blackwood to share in the knowledge of its contents. There can be no harm, of course, in every one's knowing that Dickens admires the "Scenes," but I should not like any more specific allusion made to the words of a private letter.
There can hardly be any climax of approbation for me after this, and I am so deeply moved by the finely-felt and finely expressed sympathy of the letter, that the iron mask of my incognito seems quite painful in forbidding me to tell Dickens how thoroughly his generous impulse has been appreciated. If you should have an opportunity of conveying this feeling of mine to him in any way, you would oblige me by doing so.
By the bye, you probably remember sending me, some months ago, a letter from the Rev. Archer Gurney 1068 -- a very warm, simple-spoken letter, praising me for qualities which I most of all care to be praised for. I should like to send him a copy of the "Scenes," since I could make no acknowledgment of his letter in any other way. I don't know his address, but perhaps Mr. Langford would be good enough to look it out in the Clergy List. I remain, my dear Sir,
Yours very truly
George Eliot.
John Blackwood Esq.
Signature
George Eliot.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 21 January 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/92710