GE to Maria Lewis, Griff, 10 June [1840]
Title
GE to Maria Lewis, Griff, 10 June [1840]
Title
GE to Maria Lewis, Griff, 10 June [1840]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Maria Lewis
Date(s)
- 1840-06-10
Place
GRIFF
Letter Content
GE to Maria Lewis, Griff, 10 June [1840]
MS: Yale. Address: Miss Lewis | 25. Gurnault Place | near Myddleton Street | Spa Fields | London. Postmark: COVENTRY | JU | 1840. Extract published: Cross, I, 67.
Griff Whitwednesday.
My own dear Friend,
I have very sufficient reason savoir mauvais gré towards myself for giving you reason to ruminate two moments on your supposed satire which was nothing more than a playful "mighty" attached to my labours. I will make use of the dernier report of non-eloquent people and tell you that the state of our house "transcends description" -- 'tis at the very climax of dirt and confusion, consequently it must now needs turn round and grow better. I do hope that in a fortnight we shall have a tolerable degree of tranquility, and I do beg, as a proof of your affection, that you will once more visit Griff while I am its mistress. The last sentence was not written for Doctor Johnson, who had a particular inveteracy against a certain little superfluous auxiliary that figures therein, 206 but for my friend, who will pity my little troubles when I tell her that in addition to already detailed perplexities, I have had Dr. Kittermaster 207 two days to amuse, and have been far from well since Saturday. I shall have I hope a little trip with my Father next week into Derbyshire, and this [lark] will probably be beneficial to me, so that do not imagine I am inviting you to come and hear moaning, when you need all attainable relaxation. I assure you I am exhilarated by my prospects in many points of view, though I seem to need chastisement so much as almost to anticipate its introduction by a change of circumstances.
So you are in London! a fact which I have happily recalled at this moment, for though in full possession of the contents of your letter I am so stultified as to be unable to use my knowledge, and was on the point of directing to you at Burton. May the London air be blest to the refreshment of your body and may you possess that peace which no exterior tumult can disturb! If you have not met with a little book called "Hours of Thought," by W. McCombie 208 and should happen to do so, make an effort if necessary to peruse it. It is well worth it. Please to offer my love to Mrs. Buchanan, 209 to imagine all excuses for this letter, so little worthy of you, and to believe me as ever,
Your affectionate
Mary Ann.
May I trouble you with a commission? It is to procure for me an Italian book recommended by Mr. Brezzi -- or probably I had better send you his list which he gave me to select from that I might have something containing familiar Italian. If you can get it I should like the first, Silvio Pellico, Le mie prigioni; if not, Storia d'Italia. 210 If they are cheap I should like both. I beg of you not to endeavor to procure the books unless you can do so quite easily and agreeably.
MS: Yale. Address: Miss Lewis | 25. Gurnault Place | near Myddleton Street | Spa Fields | London. Postmark: COVENTRY | JU | 1840. Extract published: Cross, I, 67.
Griff Whitwednesday.
My own dear Friend,
I have very sufficient reason savoir mauvais gré towards myself for giving you reason to ruminate two moments on your supposed satire which was nothing more than a playful "mighty" attached to my labours. I will make use of the dernier report of non-eloquent people and tell you that the state of our house "transcends description" -- 'tis at the very climax of dirt and confusion, consequently it must now needs turn round and grow better. I do hope that in a fortnight we shall have a tolerable degree of tranquility, and I do beg, as a proof of your affection, that you will once more visit Griff while I am its mistress. The last sentence was not written for Doctor Johnson, who had a particular inveteracy against a certain little superfluous auxiliary that figures therein, 206 but for my friend, who will pity my little troubles when I tell her that in addition to already detailed perplexities, I have had Dr. Kittermaster 207 two days to amuse, and have been far from well since Saturday. I shall have I hope a little trip with my Father next week into Derbyshire, and this [lark] will probably be beneficial to me, so that do not imagine I am inviting you to come and hear moaning, when you need all attainable relaxation. I assure you I am exhilarated by my prospects in many points of view, though I seem to need chastisement so much as almost to anticipate its introduction by a change of circumstances.
So you are in London! a fact which I have happily recalled at this moment, for though in full possession of the contents of your letter I am so stultified as to be unable to use my knowledge, and was on the point of directing to you at Burton. May the London air be blest to the refreshment of your body and may you possess that peace which no exterior tumult can disturb! If you have not met with a little book called "Hours of Thought," by W. McCombie 208 and should happen to do so, make an effort if necessary to peruse it. It is well worth it. Please to offer my love to Mrs. Buchanan, 209 to imagine all excuses for this letter, so little worthy of you, and to believe me as ever,
Your affectionate
Mary Ann.
May I trouble you with a commission? It is to procure for me an Italian book recommended by Mr. Brezzi -- or probably I had better send you his list which he gave me to select from that I might have something containing familiar Italian. If you can get it I should like the first, Silvio Pellico, Le mie prigioni; if not, Storia d'Italia. 210 If they are cheap I should like both. I beg of you not to endeavor to procure the books unless you can do so quite easily and agreeably.
Signature
Mary Ann.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Maria Lewis, Griff, 10 June [1840], 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/92896