GE to Maria Lewis, Griff, [18 August 1838]
Title
GE to Maria Lewis, Griff, [18 August 1838]
Title
GE to Maria Lewis, Griff, [18 August 1838]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Maria Lewis
Date(s)
- 1838-08-18
Place
GRIFF
Letter Content
GE to Maria Lewis, Griff, [18 August 1838]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: Aug. 18. 1838. Address: Miss Lewis | Revd L. Harper's | Burton Latimer | Northamptonshire. Postmark: COVENTRY | AU 18 | 1838. Extracts published: Cross, 1, 39-42.
Griff | Saturday Night.
My dear Friend /
My night thoughts are generally even more misty than my day thoughts; I would not therefore have inflicted them on you without good reason, especially as my letter writing is, like my chess playing, unpremeditated and quite at random, and so dependent on the immediate circumstances in which I write; but when I tell you that I have been to London, that neither my ménage nor my head is quite restored to order and quietude, that I have two correspondents besides yourself to whom I am anxious soon to reply, and a dozen other things of various kinds that must be done and that all require time, you will forgive me if of two evils I have chosen to write now at the risk of appearing extraordinarily stupid, rather than by delay to appear ungrateful for your kind remembrance of me.
I really feel for you, sacrificing as you are your own tastes and comforts to the pleasure of others, and that in a manner the most trying to rebellious flesh and blood, for I verily believe that in most cases it requires more of a martyr's spirit to endure with patience and cheerfulness daily crossings and interruptions of our petty desires and pursuits, and to rejoice in them if they can be made to conduce to God's glory and our own sanctification, than even to lay down our lives for the truth.
I trust that the expected union may ultimately issue in the spiritual benefit of both parties; for my part when I hear of the marrying and giving in marriage that is constantly being transacted I can only sigh for those who are multiplying earthly ties which though powerful enough to detach their heart and thoughts from heaven, are so brittle as to be liable to be snapped asunder at every breeze. You will think I need nothing but a tub for my habitation to make me a perfect female Diogenes, and I plead guilty to occasional misanthropical thoughts, but not to the indulgence of them; still I must believe that those are happiest who are not fermenting themselves by engaging in projects for earthly bliss, who are considering this life merely a pilgrimage, a scene calling for diligence and watchfulness, not for repose and amusement. I do not deny that there may be many who can partake with a high degree of zest of all the lawful enjoyments the world can offer and yet live in near communion with their God; who can warmly love the creature, and yet be careful that the Creator maintains His supremity in their hearts; but I confess that in my short experience and narrow sphere of action I have never been able to attain this; I find, as Dr. Johnson said respecting his wine, total abstinence much easier than moderation. 66 But I am as usual becoming egotistical, and you by the bye have naughtily encouraged the habit. I am in danger of imitating the frog in the fable vainly imagining herself a rival for the ox, and such pride generally has a similar catastrophe to hers.
You must let me tell you though that I was not at all delighted with "the stir of the great Babel," 67 and the less so probably owing to the circumstances attending my visit thither. Isaac and I went alone (that seems rather Irish) and staid only a week, every day of which we worked hard at seeing sights. I think Greenwich Hospital interested me more than anything else. We heard on Sunday morning a very animated and experimental sermon from the Revd T. Dale 68 of whom you may have heard. In the afternoon we went to St. Paul's where I grieve to say my strongest feeling was that of indignation (I mean during the sermon) towards the surpliced personages, chapters I think they are, who performed the chanting, for it appears with them a mere performance, their behaviour being that of schoolboys, glad of an opportunity to titter unreproved. If I am not mistaken we did not hear Mr. Craig 69 to advantage -- it was the common swing of Goliah's arm, and I have no doubt would only enable us to guess the real force of the giant. I do not wonder you are pleased with Pascal; his thoughts may be returned to the palate again and again with increasing rather than diminished relish. I have highly enjoyed Hannah More's letters; the contemplation of so blessed a character as hers is very salutary. 70 "That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises," 71 is a valuable admonition. I was once told that there was nothing out of myself to prevent my becoming as eminently holy as St. Paul, and though I think that is too sweeping an assertion, yet it is very certain we are generally too low in our aims, more anxious for safety than sanctity, for place than purity, forgetting that each involves the other, and that as Doddridge tells us to rest satisfied with any attainments in religion is a fearful proof that we are ignorant of the very first principles of it. O that we could live only for Eternity, that we could realize its nearness! I know you do not love quotations so I will not give you one but if you do not distinctly remember it, do turn to the passage in Young's "Infidel reclaimed" beginning O vain vain vain all else, Eternity! 72 and do love the lines for my sake.
I heard a few days ago from dear Miss Rebecca Franklin who is now in her turn indisposed. Miss Franklin 73 is in her old station again but not with equal strength for its duties; so that these dear friends as well as others are for a time "in heaviness." 74 My dear Sister is tolerably well and our dear baby still fatter than when you saw him. Isaac presumes to say that I must send his love to you. And now, last not least, for we save, you know, the choicest morsel till last, you tell me nothing about your own health which I fear is suffering from the confusion you describe. I beg you will not forget this when you write again, if I can hope that you will be magnanimous enough to forgive the trouble I fear my almost undecipherable letter will give you. Do not, pray write neatly to me, for I cannot undertake to correspond with any one who will not allow me to scribble, though this precious sheet has I think an extra portion of untidiness owing to my being from a cause I need not mention in a degree of perturbation that prevents my either thinking or writing as I should like. Men speak of the inequalities of this world, but I confess I think happiness very equally distributed. I speak of course of happiness as connected with externals, for those who have the Lord for their portion enjoy satisfaction utterly unknown to those without hope and without God in the world. 75 I feel unable to write more, and can only beg you to believe me
Your truly obliged and affectionate
Polly.
I beg you to believe that I know which way a letter should be directed, but that as in many more important cases I have failed to put my theory in practice. 76
MS: Yale. Endorsed: Aug. 18. 1838. Address: Miss Lewis | Revd L. Harper's | Burton Latimer | Northamptonshire. Postmark: COVENTRY | AU 18 | 1838. Extracts published: Cross, 1, 39-42.
Griff | Saturday Night.
My dear Friend /
My night thoughts are generally even more misty than my day thoughts; I would not therefore have inflicted them on you without good reason, especially as my letter writing is, like my chess playing, unpremeditated and quite at random, and so dependent on the immediate circumstances in which I write; but when I tell you that I have been to London, that neither my ménage nor my head is quite restored to order and quietude, that I have two correspondents besides yourself to whom I am anxious soon to reply, and a dozen other things of various kinds that must be done and that all require time, you will forgive me if of two evils I have chosen to write now at the risk of appearing extraordinarily stupid, rather than by delay to appear ungrateful for your kind remembrance of me.
I really feel for you, sacrificing as you are your own tastes and comforts to the pleasure of others, and that in a manner the most trying to rebellious flesh and blood, for I verily believe that in most cases it requires more of a martyr's spirit to endure with patience and cheerfulness daily crossings and interruptions of our petty desires and pursuits, and to rejoice in them if they can be made to conduce to God's glory and our own sanctification, than even to lay down our lives for the truth.
I trust that the expected union may ultimately issue in the spiritual benefit of both parties; for my part when I hear of the marrying and giving in marriage that is constantly being transacted I can only sigh for those who are multiplying earthly ties which though powerful enough to detach their heart and thoughts from heaven, are so brittle as to be liable to be snapped asunder at every breeze. You will think I need nothing but a tub for my habitation to make me a perfect female Diogenes, and I plead guilty to occasional misanthropical thoughts, but not to the indulgence of them; still I must believe that those are happiest who are not fermenting themselves by engaging in projects for earthly bliss, who are considering this life merely a pilgrimage, a scene calling for diligence and watchfulness, not for repose and amusement. I do not deny that there may be many who can partake with a high degree of zest of all the lawful enjoyments the world can offer and yet live in near communion with their God; who can warmly love the creature, and yet be careful that the Creator maintains His supremity in their hearts; but I confess that in my short experience and narrow sphere of action I have never been able to attain this; I find, as Dr. Johnson said respecting his wine, total abstinence much easier than moderation. 66 But I am as usual becoming egotistical, and you by the bye have naughtily encouraged the habit. I am in danger of imitating the frog in the fable vainly imagining herself a rival for the ox, and such pride generally has a similar catastrophe to hers.
You must let me tell you though that I was not at all delighted with "the stir of the great Babel," 67 and the less so probably owing to the circumstances attending my visit thither. Isaac and I went alone (that seems rather Irish) and staid only a week, every day of which we worked hard at seeing sights. I think Greenwich Hospital interested me more than anything else. We heard on Sunday morning a very animated and experimental sermon from the Revd T. Dale 68 of whom you may have heard. In the afternoon we went to St. Paul's where I grieve to say my strongest feeling was that of indignation (I mean during the sermon) towards the surpliced personages, chapters I think they are, who performed the chanting, for it appears with them a mere performance, their behaviour being that of schoolboys, glad of an opportunity to titter unreproved. If I am not mistaken we did not hear Mr. Craig 69 to advantage -- it was the common swing of Goliah's arm, and I have no doubt would only enable us to guess the real force of the giant. I do not wonder you are pleased with Pascal; his thoughts may be returned to the palate again and again with increasing rather than diminished relish. I have highly enjoyed Hannah More's letters; the contemplation of so blessed a character as hers is very salutary. 70 "That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises," 71 is a valuable admonition. I was once told that there was nothing out of myself to prevent my becoming as eminently holy as St. Paul, and though I think that is too sweeping an assertion, yet it is very certain we are generally too low in our aims, more anxious for safety than sanctity, for place than purity, forgetting that each involves the other, and that as Doddridge tells us to rest satisfied with any attainments in religion is a fearful proof that we are ignorant of the very first principles of it. O that we could live only for Eternity, that we could realize its nearness! I know you do not love quotations so I will not give you one but if you do not distinctly remember it, do turn to the passage in Young's "Infidel reclaimed" beginning O vain vain vain all else, Eternity! 72 and do love the lines for my sake.
I heard a few days ago from dear Miss Rebecca Franklin who is now in her turn indisposed. Miss Franklin 73 is in her old station again but not with equal strength for its duties; so that these dear friends as well as others are for a time "in heaviness." 74 My dear Sister is tolerably well and our dear baby still fatter than when you saw him. Isaac presumes to say that I must send his love to you. And now, last not least, for we save, you know, the choicest morsel till last, you tell me nothing about your own health which I fear is suffering from the confusion you describe. I beg you will not forget this when you write again, if I can hope that you will be magnanimous enough to forgive the trouble I fear my almost undecipherable letter will give you. Do not, pray write neatly to me, for I cannot undertake to correspond with any one who will not allow me to scribble, though this precious sheet has I think an extra portion of untidiness owing to my being from a cause I need not mention in a degree of perturbation that prevents my either thinking or writing as I should like. Men speak of the inequalities of this world, but I confess I think happiness very equally distributed. I speak of course of happiness as connected with externals, for those who have the Lord for their portion enjoy satisfaction utterly unknown to those without hope and without God in the world. 75 I feel unable to write more, and can only beg you to believe me
Your truly obliged and affectionate
Polly.
I beg you to believe that I know which way a letter should be directed, but that as in many more important cases I have failed to put my theory in practice. 76
Signature
Polly.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Maria Lewis, Griff, [18 August 1838], 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/92891