GE to John Sibree, Jr., Foleshill, [14? May 1848]
Title
GE to John Sibree, Jr., Foleshill, [14? May 1848]
Title
GE to John Sibree, Jr., Foleshill, [14? May 1848]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Sibree, Jr.
Date(s)
- 1848-05-14
Place
FOLESHILL
Letter Content
GE to John Sibree, Jr., Foleshill, [14? May 1848]
Text: Copy (by Mary Sibree Cash?), Yale. All but one sentence published: Cross, I, 183-184.
Foleshill, | Sunday Evening.
My dear Mr. Sibree,
I might make a very plausible excuse for not acknowledging your kind note earlier by telling you that I have been both a nurse and invalid, but to be thoroughly ingenuous, I must confess that all this would not have been enough to prevent my writing, but for my chronic disease of utter idleness. I have heard and thought of you with great interest however, for Mary has not failed to make me a sharer in all her joys and anxieties on your account. You have my hearty and not inexperienced sympathy, for, to speak in the style of Jonathan Oldbuck, I am haud ignara mali. 732 I have gone through a trial of the same genus as yours, though rather differing in species. I sincerely rejoice in the step you have taken 733 -- it is an absolutely necessary condition for any true development of your nature. It was impossible to think of your career with hope while you tacitly subscribed to the miserable etiquette (it deserves no better or more spiritual name) of sectarianism. Only persevere -- be true, firm and loving -- not too anxious about immediate usefulness to others -- that can only be a result of justice to yourself. Study mental hygi'e8ne -- take long doses of [dolce far niente,] and be in no great hurry about anything in this [varsal world! 734 Do we not commit ourselves to sleep, and so resign all care for ourselves every night? lay ourselves gently on the bosom of nature or God? A beautiful reproach to the spirit of some religionists and ultra-good people.
I like the notion of your going to Germany as good in every way, for yourself, body and mind, and for all others. O the bliss of having a very high attic in a romantic continental town, such as Geneva -- far away from morning callers dinners and decencies; and then to pause for a year and think [de omnibus rebus et quibusdam aliis,] and then to return to life, and work for poor stricken humanity and never think of self again.
I am writing nearly in the dark, with the post-bag waiting. I fear I shall not be at home when you come home, but surely I shall see you before you leave England. However that may be I shall utter a genuine Lebewohl.
Yours truly
Mary Ann Evans.
Text: Copy (by Mary Sibree Cash?), Yale. All but one sentence published: Cross, I, 183-184.
Foleshill, | Sunday Evening.
My dear Mr. Sibree,
I might make a very plausible excuse for not acknowledging your kind note earlier by telling you that I have been both a nurse and invalid, but to be thoroughly ingenuous, I must confess that all this would not have been enough to prevent my writing, but for my chronic disease of utter idleness. I have heard and thought of you with great interest however, for Mary has not failed to make me a sharer in all her joys and anxieties on your account. You have my hearty and not inexperienced sympathy, for, to speak in the style of Jonathan Oldbuck, I am haud ignara mali. 732 I have gone through a trial of the same genus as yours, though rather differing in species. I sincerely rejoice in the step you have taken 733 -- it is an absolutely necessary condition for any true development of your nature. It was impossible to think of your career with hope while you tacitly subscribed to the miserable etiquette (it deserves no better or more spiritual name) of sectarianism. Only persevere -- be true, firm and loving -- not too anxious about immediate usefulness to others -- that can only be a result of justice to yourself. Study mental hygi'e8ne -- take long doses of [dolce far niente,] and be in no great hurry about anything in this [varsal world! 734 Do we not commit ourselves to sleep, and so resign all care for ourselves every night? lay ourselves gently on the bosom of nature or God? A beautiful reproach to the spirit of some religionists and ultra-good people.
I like the notion of your going to Germany as good in every way, for yourself, body and mind, and for all others. O the bliss of having a very high attic in a romantic continental town, such as Geneva -- far away from morning callers dinners and decencies; and then to pause for a year and think [de omnibus rebus et quibusdam aliis,] and then to return to life, and work for poor stricken humanity and never think of self again.
I am writing nearly in the dark, with the post-bag waiting. I fear I shall not be at home when you come home, but surely I shall see you before you leave England. However that may be I shall utter a genuine Lebewohl.
Yours truly
Mary Ann Evans.
Signature
Mary Ann Evans.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Sibree, Jr., Foleshill, [14? May 1848], 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/92817