GE to Maria Lewis, Griff , 11 February 1841
Title
GE to Maria Lewis, Griff , 11 February 1841
Title
GE to Maria Lewis, Griff , 11 February 1841
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Maria Lewis
Date(s)
- 1841-02-11
Place
Griff
Letter Content
GE to Maria Lewis, Griff , 11 February 1841
MS: Yale. Extract published: Cross, I, 80.
Griff | February 11. 1841.
My dear Veronica,
There are three accidents of mortality very grievous to me, yea four from which my soul shrinketh -- a freezing northeast wind, foraging for that unsatisfiable animal, man, the din of his revelry, and -- bad writing tackle. 289 My condition at this moment is the product of enduring these evils either retrospectively, actually or prospectively, and I do you to wit that my letter will be matter-of-fact, as undiluted as after a progress through my unhappily transmutative brain any matter may be.
Imprimis -- I have a niece! 290 a healthy little baby, with its dear mamma preserved through her sufferings and as comfortable as ever she has been after her confinements. Here is matter for much thankfulness. I had the pleasure of delivering your nice present into Chrissey's hand last week, and was commissioned to tell you that they are just her desideratum and to tender to you her love and thanks. The baby's name will I think be Mary Louisa owing partly to my denunciation of everyday names before the plebeian monosyllabic surname to which her star has made her inheritor.
On Monday and Tuesday my Father and I were occupied with the sale of furniture at our new house 291 -- it is probable that we shall migrate thither in a month. It is not true that my Father has had much trouble about the Spon Street house. 292 I shall be incessantly hurried until and after our departure, but at present I have to be grateful for a smooth passage through contemplated difficulties. Sewing is my staple article of commerce with the hard trader Time -- now the wind has veered to the south I hope to do much more and that with greater zest than I have done for many months; I mean of all kinds.
My sister Fanny sent me word this morning that a head is wanted for the Baginton school, 293 which is managed entirely by a female. The salary is now £60 per annum and will be 80 at the death of the old schoolmistress, and as coals, brooms etc. are supplied as well as a pleasant and comfortable residence, my sister thinks the remuneration equivalent to a hundred. The number of children does not exceed 30 at the highest calculation, probably not more than 20. It is a situation that offers a permanent home as nothing but misconduct or death would occasion removal, and Fanny surmises that permission would be given to receive boarders. I send you an account of all this because you may probably know some one to whom such a situation would be a rich boon from its possessing the three blessings to which the letter p has the honour of being the initial, plenty, peace and permanence.
Dick has just returned from a journey in quest of R. Whadcock, whose wife gave birth to a triad of babes, 294 and who says that he had the parcel containing pinafores and stockings, but he asserts that there was no R. in the direction and that he therefore did not know whether the parcel was really meant for him. When Dick called at the house to leave the package R. Whadcock was not at home, but he delivered it to an elderly man who was in the house and promised to give it to Whadcock. It appears that he did so and I know not the reason that the sender of the parcel believes it to have miscarried. I should say, by the bye, that Dick found Whadcock had removed from the Coton Road into Abbey St.
My head is but poorly today and I am altogether in so low and flat a key that I fear I have committed treason against the Queen's English, but provided you can tell what my sentences should have been, it is enough. The words of one of Dr. Watts' sweet little hymns have been much in my mind today -- "Twill please us to look back and see, That our whole lives were thine." 295 Such a retrospect is indeed blissful, but how sad to look back on imperfectly used. 296
MS: Yale. Extract published: Cross, I, 80.
Griff | February 11. 1841.
My dear Veronica,
There are three accidents of mortality very grievous to me, yea four from which my soul shrinketh -- a freezing northeast wind, foraging for that unsatisfiable animal, man, the din of his revelry, and -- bad writing tackle. 289 My condition at this moment is the product of enduring these evils either retrospectively, actually or prospectively, and I do you to wit that my letter will be matter-of-fact, as undiluted as after a progress through my unhappily transmutative brain any matter may be.
Imprimis -- I have a niece! 290 a healthy little baby, with its dear mamma preserved through her sufferings and as comfortable as ever she has been after her confinements. Here is matter for much thankfulness. I had the pleasure of delivering your nice present into Chrissey's hand last week, and was commissioned to tell you that they are just her desideratum and to tender to you her love and thanks. The baby's name will I think be Mary Louisa owing partly to my denunciation of everyday names before the plebeian monosyllabic surname to which her star has made her inheritor.
On Monday and Tuesday my Father and I were occupied with the sale of furniture at our new house 291 -- it is probable that we shall migrate thither in a month. It is not true that my Father has had much trouble about the Spon Street house. 292 I shall be incessantly hurried until and after our departure, but at present I have to be grateful for a smooth passage through contemplated difficulties. Sewing is my staple article of commerce with the hard trader Time -- now the wind has veered to the south I hope to do much more and that with greater zest than I have done for many months; I mean of all kinds.
My sister Fanny sent me word this morning that a head is wanted for the Baginton school, 293 which is managed entirely by a female. The salary is now £60 per annum and will be 80 at the death of the old schoolmistress, and as coals, brooms etc. are supplied as well as a pleasant and comfortable residence, my sister thinks the remuneration equivalent to a hundred. The number of children does not exceed 30 at the highest calculation, probably not more than 20. It is a situation that offers a permanent home as nothing but misconduct or death would occasion removal, and Fanny surmises that permission would be given to receive boarders. I send you an account of all this because you may probably know some one to whom such a situation would be a rich boon from its possessing the three blessings to which the letter p has the honour of being the initial, plenty, peace and permanence.
Dick has just returned from a journey in quest of R. Whadcock, whose wife gave birth to a triad of babes, 294 and who says that he had the parcel containing pinafores and stockings, but he asserts that there was no R. in the direction and that he therefore did not know whether the parcel was really meant for him. When Dick called at the house to leave the package R. Whadcock was not at home, but he delivered it to an elderly man who was in the house and promised to give it to Whadcock. It appears that he did so and I know not the reason that the sender of the parcel believes it to have miscarried. I should say, by the bye, that Dick found Whadcock had removed from the Coton Road into Abbey St.
My head is but poorly today and I am altogether in so low and flat a key that I fear I have committed treason against the Queen's English, but provided you can tell what my sentences should have been, it is enough. The words of one of Dr. Watts' sweet little hymns have been much in my mind today -- "Twill please us to look back and see, That our whole lives were thine." 295 Such a retrospect is indeed blissful, but how sad to look back on imperfectly used. 296
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Maria Lewis, Griff , 11 February 1841, 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/92897