GE to John Blackwood, Torquay, 31 March 1868
Title
GE to John Blackwood, Torquay, 31 March 1868
Title
GE to John Blackwood, Torquay, 31 March 1868
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1868-03-31
Place
Torquay
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, Torquay, 31 March 1868
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Carclew | Hesketh Road | Torquay
March 31. 68.
My dear Sir
You see I take it for granted that you are at Edinburgh again, enjoying peace and golf under these fine March skies. I send by book post all the printed sheets of the poem, and shall be much obliged if you will order that the revise be put into pages and sent to me for a second revisal at 21. North Bank, where we hope to be again by the 16th.
I think there can be no hesitation as to the size of the page, which looks its best with the present number of lines; and the poem will probably not much exceed 350 pages, 734 as Mr. Lewes has induced me to omit some motives which prolonged the action. If there were space both of time and paper, I might perhaps put an illustrative note or two at the end of the volume.
When we return to town I hope to send you the remainder (or nearly that) of the manuscript. We came here because we wanted to have no trouble and delay in our journey or in obtaining accommodations, and are not discontented with the result, though the place is getting too large and fashionable for our taste. Mr. Lewes is happy in dissecting all sorts of molluscs, about whom he has the agreeable theory that they don't object to a little rough handling for the benefit of science; and the weather is glorious. I am afraid -- to use the elegant style of the journalist -- that the political sky is less clear.
I am in good [hope] that if I keep well the poem may be ready for the indifferent or eager public before the end of May.
Always yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
John Blackwood Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Carclew | Hesketh Road | Torquay
March 31. 68.
My dear Sir
You see I take it for granted that you are at Edinburgh again, enjoying peace and golf under these fine March skies. I send by book post all the printed sheets of the poem, and shall be much obliged if you will order that the revise be put into pages and sent to me for a second revisal at 21. North Bank, where we hope to be again by the 16th.
I think there can be no hesitation as to the size of the page, which looks its best with the present number of lines; and the poem will probably not much exceed 350 pages, 734 as Mr. Lewes has induced me to omit some motives which prolonged the action. If there were space both of time and paper, I might perhaps put an illustrative note or two at the end of the volume.
When we return to town I hope to send you the remainder (or nearly that) of the manuscript. We came here because we wanted to have no trouble and delay in our journey or in obtaining accommodations, and are not discontented with the result, though the place is getting too large and fashionable for our taste. Mr. Lewes is happy in dissecting all sorts of molluscs, about whom he has the agreeable theory that they don't object to a little rough handling for the benefit of science; and the weather is glorious. I am afraid -- to use the elegant style of the journalist -- that the political sky is less clear.
I am in good [hope] that if I keep well the poem may be ready for the indifferent or eager public before the end of May.
Always yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
John Blackwood Esq.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, Torquay, 31 March 1868, 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/92731