GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, Wandsworth, 5 December 1859
Title
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, Wandsworth, 5 December 1859
Title
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, Wandsworth, 5 December 1859
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon
Date(s)
- 1859-12-05
Place
Wandsworth
Letter Content
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, Wandsworth, 5 December 1859
MS: Mr. Philip Leigh-Smith. Extracts published: Cross, II, 146-149.
Holly Lodge, December 5. 1859.
Dearest Barbara
"Better late than never" is true of all good things, and therefore of your letter; so I will not waste space in grumbling at its lateness. Dr. Bodichon's manuscript with your note 417 went yesterday to Mr. Smith (of Smith and Elder) enclosed with a letter from Mr. Lewes. It had been presented to Lucas, the editor of "Once a Week" and also to the editor of the "Constitutional Free Press," without success, which was a disappointment to both of us. You will recognize Mr. Lewes in the "Cornhill
Magazine"; he is writing for it a series of papers -- "Studies in Animal Life" -- which are to be subsequently republished as a book. 418 It is very pleasant work to him, in addition to his "Physiology," the writing for which is not quite finished yet. 419 Then, he has a new microscope, 420 of a first-rate class -- another source of fresh enjoyment. You would have been amused to see a scene in this room one night when he was expecting the new microscope. P.D.C. knocked at the door late, after the servant was gone to bed: George opened the door, and brought into the drawing-room a palpable tea-chest (he himself having ordered said chest of tea a few days before). Nevertheless, his perceptions were so completely drowned by intoxication about the microscope that he began to open the tea-chest with the firm persuasion that it contained that key to discovery and immortality. At last the obstinacy of the lid moderated his inflamed imagination, and he began to see the tea-chest. It is events like this that make up our drama -- a very quiet one: especially since I have resolutely closed my ears to all gossip, and have determined to let no one talk to me about my books.
A short time ago your kind sister 421 wrote to me announcing the blackberry jam, which came duly; and from her I learned that Chapman and Hall had written to ask your views about terms for the American Letters -- from which I gather that they will print them. I hope that little spec. will turn out well, and I would endure a few small torments if they would help to make the perverse race of Editors accept Dr. Bodichon's interesting papers. I do so thoroughly enter into your wishes on that subject. As to your pictures, there is surely solid ground for hope about them. This last season was one of progress as to status, though not in a monetary sense. I like to think of your glorious walkings together; and the sight of your sketches has enabled me to imagine them better.
The Englishwoman's Journal must be doing good substantially -- stimulating woman to useful work, and rousing people generally to some consideration of women's needs. A few mistakes, and rather a feeble presentation of useful matter, will not neutralize the good that lies in a great aim and an honest effort; and I heartily wish all connected with the Journal '91God speed'92 -- except the ignorant and unconscientious writer who sometimes figures as a reviewer of books. I wish Bessie felt more keenly about the immorality of such slack writing as is sometimes admitted into that department of the Journal.
I took no notice of the extract you sent me from a letter of Mrs. Gaskell's, being determined not to engage in any writing on the topic of my authorship, except such as was absolutely demanded of us, as in the case of the muddle-headed magistrate, Mr. Bracebridge. But since then I have had a very beautiful letter from Mrs. Gaskell and I will quote some of her words, because they do her honour, and will incline you to think more highly of her. She begins in this way: "Since I heard, on authority, that you were the author of "Scenes of Clerical Life" and "Adam Bede," I have read them again, and I must, once more, tell you how earnestly, fully, and humbly I admire them. I never read anything so complete and beautiful in fiction in my life before." Very sweet and noble of her, was it not? She went on to speak of her having held to the notion of "Liggins," but, she adds, "I was never such a goose as to believe that books like yours were a mosaic of real and ideal." 422
The "Seth Bede" 423 and "Adam Bede, Junior" are speculations of dishonest publishers, who are always ready to fasten themselves, like leeches, on a popular fame. 424 Such things must be endured: they are the shadow to the bright fact of selling 16,000 in one year. As to the silly falsehoods and empty opinions afloat in some petty circles, I have quite conquered my temporary irritation about them -- indeed I feel all the more serene now for that very irritation: it has impressed on me more deeply how entirely the rewards of the artist lie apart from everything that is narrow and personal. There is no peace until that lesson is thoroughly learned. I shall go on writing from my inward promptings
I am delighted to hear that Dr. Bodichon and you admire the "Physiology": 425 it really promises to be a useful book, and, I think, especially useful as an educator, even apart from the specific knowledge it conveys, because it looks at the questions discussed in a philosophic spirit -- a very rare quality in books on natural science. We have been reading Darwin's Book on the "Origin of Species" just now: it makes an epoch, as the expression of his thorough adhesion, after long years of study, to the Doctrine of Development -- and not the adhesion of an anonym like the author of the "Vestiges," but of a long-celebrated naturalist. The book is ill-written and sadly wanting in illustrative facts -- of which he has collected a vast number, but reserves them for a future book of which this smaller one is the avant-courier. This will prevent the work from becoming popular, as the "Vestiges" did, but it will have a great effect in the scientific world, causing a thorough and open discussion of a question about which people have hitherto felt timid. So the world gets on step by step towards brave clearness and honesty! But to me the Development theory and all other explanations of processes by which things came to be, produce a feeble impression compared with the mystery that lies under the processes.
It is nice to think of your reading our great, great favourite Moli'e8re, while, for the present, we are not taking him down from the shelves -- only talking about him, as we do very often. I get a good deal of pleasure out of the sense that some one I love is reading and enjoying my best-loved writers: Mrs. Congreve and her sister are reading Scott, now, and it quite gives me a flavour of reading him myself. I think the Misanthrope the finest, most complete production of its kind in the world. I know you enjoy the "Sonnet" scene and the one between Arsino'eb and C'e9lim'e8ne. 426 You make me tremble by what you say you observe of the French feeling towards us. 427 We live so out of the political world that the threatenings of war, which have in some degree subsided from the English newspapers, only reach us now and then. It is depressing to witness this reaction towards barbarism. One would like one's life to be borne on the onward wave and not the receding one -- the flow and not the ebb: yet somebody must live in the bad times, and there is no reason, I suppose, out of our own esteem for ourselves, why the best things in the lot of mankind should fall to us in particular.
"Where shall we be in May?" I don't know at all. Perhaps just where we are: for at present we expect Charlie, our eldest boy, to come to us at Easter, and we think of staying here, till it is quite settled what his destination is to be. My novel 428 will not come out till Easter, and until it is out of my hands, I shall think of no migration, unless it be to the coast for a week or two.
You are a vilely uncertain correspondent, and that's the truth. I don't mind about having long letters, but I don't like to be left in utter ignorance of you for months together. But follow your own promptings, and be disagreeable by silence rather than make me disagreeable to you, by forcing yourself to write when you have no inclination.
Mr. Lewes unites with me in heartiest respect and regard towards Dr. Bodichon, and in the desire to be always kindly remembered by him among the palms and olives. He sends his affectionate "duty" to you, leaving it to be defined by any commands you may have for him.
Ever yours affectionately,
Marian.
MS: Mr. Philip Leigh-Smith. Extracts published: Cross, II, 146-149.
Holly Lodge, December 5. 1859.
Dearest Barbara
"Better late than never" is true of all good things, and therefore of your letter; so I will not waste space in grumbling at its lateness. Dr. Bodichon's manuscript with your note 417 went yesterday to Mr. Smith (of Smith and Elder) enclosed with a letter from Mr. Lewes. It had been presented to Lucas, the editor of "Once a Week" and also to the editor of the "Constitutional Free Press," without success, which was a disappointment to both of us. You will recognize Mr. Lewes in the "Cornhill
Magazine"; he is writing for it a series of papers -- "Studies in Animal Life" -- which are to be subsequently republished as a book. 418 It is very pleasant work to him, in addition to his "Physiology," the writing for which is not quite finished yet. 419 Then, he has a new microscope, 420 of a first-rate class -- another source of fresh enjoyment. You would have been amused to see a scene in this room one night when he was expecting the new microscope. P.D.C. knocked at the door late, after the servant was gone to bed: George opened the door, and brought into the drawing-room a palpable tea-chest (he himself having ordered said chest of tea a few days before). Nevertheless, his perceptions were so completely drowned by intoxication about the microscope that he began to open the tea-chest with the firm persuasion that it contained that key to discovery and immortality. At last the obstinacy of the lid moderated his inflamed imagination, and he began to see the tea-chest. It is events like this that make up our drama -- a very quiet one: especially since I have resolutely closed my ears to all gossip, and have determined to let no one talk to me about my books.
A short time ago your kind sister 421 wrote to me announcing the blackberry jam, which came duly; and from her I learned that Chapman and Hall had written to ask your views about terms for the American Letters -- from which I gather that they will print them. I hope that little spec. will turn out well, and I would endure a few small torments if they would help to make the perverse race of Editors accept Dr. Bodichon's interesting papers. I do so thoroughly enter into your wishes on that subject. As to your pictures, there is surely solid ground for hope about them. This last season was one of progress as to status, though not in a monetary sense. I like to think of your glorious walkings together; and the sight of your sketches has enabled me to imagine them better.
The Englishwoman's Journal must be doing good substantially -- stimulating woman to useful work, and rousing people generally to some consideration of women's needs. A few mistakes, and rather a feeble presentation of useful matter, will not neutralize the good that lies in a great aim and an honest effort; and I heartily wish all connected with the Journal '91God speed'92 -- except the ignorant and unconscientious writer who sometimes figures as a reviewer of books. I wish Bessie felt more keenly about the immorality of such slack writing as is sometimes admitted into that department of the Journal.
I took no notice of the extract you sent me from a letter of Mrs. Gaskell's, being determined not to engage in any writing on the topic of my authorship, except such as was absolutely demanded of us, as in the case of the muddle-headed magistrate, Mr. Bracebridge. But since then I have had a very beautiful letter from Mrs. Gaskell and I will quote some of her words, because they do her honour, and will incline you to think more highly of her. She begins in this way: "Since I heard, on authority, that you were the author of "Scenes of Clerical Life" and "Adam Bede," I have read them again, and I must, once more, tell you how earnestly, fully, and humbly I admire them. I never read anything so complete and beautiful in fiction in my life before." Very sweet and noble of her, was it not? She went on to speak of her having held to the notion of "Liggins," but, she adds, "I was never such a goose as to believe that books like yours were a mosaic of real and ideal." 422
The "Seth Bede" 423 and "Adam Bede, Junior" are speculations of dishonest publishers, who are always ready to fasten themselves, like leeches, on a popular fame. 424 Such things must be endured: they are the shadow to the bright fact of selling 16,000 in one year. As to the silly falsehoods and empty opinions afloat in some petty circles, I have quite conquered my temporary irritation about them -- indeed I feel all the more serene now for that very irritation: it has impressed on me more deeply how entirely the rewards of the artist lie apart from everything that is narrow and personal. There is no peace until that lesson is thoroughly learned. I shall go on writing from my inward promptings
I am delighted to hear that Dr. Bodichon and you admire the "Physiology": 425 it really promises to be a useful book, and, I think, especially useful as an educator, even apart from the specific knowledge it conveys, because it looks at the questions discussed in a philosophic spirit -- a very rare quality in books on natural science. We have been reading Darwin's Book on the "Origin of Species" just now: it makes an epoch, as the expression of his thorough adhesion, after long years of study, to the Doctrine of Development -- and not the adhesion of an anonym like the author of the "Vestiges," but of a long-celebrated naturalist. The book is ill-written and sadly wanting in illustrative facts -- of which he has collected a vast number, but reserves them for a future book of which this smaller one is the avant-courier. This will prevent the work from becoming popular, as the "Vestiges" did, but it will have a great effect in the scientific world, causing a thorough and open discussion of a question about which people have hitherto felt timid. So the world gets on step by step towards brave clearness and honesty! But to me the Development theory and all other explanations of processes by which things came to be, produce a feeble impression compared with the mystery that lies under the processes.
It is nice to think of your reading our great, great favourite Moli'e8re, while, for the present, we are not taking him down from the shelves -- only talking about him, as we do very often. I get a good deal of pleasure out of the sense that some one I love is reading and enjoying my best-loved writers: Mrs. Congreve and her sister are reading Scott, now, and it quite gives me a flavour of reading him myself. I think the Misanthrope the finest, most complete production of its kind in the world. I know you enjoy the "Sonnet" scene and the one between Arsino'eb and C'e9lim'e8ne. 426 You make me tremble by what you say you observe of the French feeling towards us. 427 We live so out of the political world that the threatenings of war, which have in some degree subsided from the English newspapers, only reach us now and then. It is depressing to witness this reaction towards barbarism. One would like one's life to be borne on the onward wave and not the receding one -- the flow and not the ebb: yet somebody must live in the bad times, and there is no reason, I suppose, out of our own esteem for ourselves, why the best things in the lot of mankind should fall to us in particular.
"Where shall we be in May?" I don't know at all. Perhaps just where we are: for at present we expect Charlie, our eldest boy, to come to us at Easter, and we think of staying here, till it is quite settled what his destination is to be. My novel 428 will not come out till Easter, and until it is out of my hands, I shall think of no migration, unless it be to the coast for a week or two.
You are a vilely uncertain correspondent, and that's the truth. I don't mind about having long letters, but I don't like to be left in utter ignorance of you for months together. But follow your own promptings, and be disagreeable by silence rather than make me disagreeable to you, by forcing yourself to write when you have no inclination.
Mr. Lewes unites with me in heartiest respect and regard towards Dr. Bodichon, and in the desire to be always kindly remembered by him among the palms and olives. He sends his affectionate "duty" to you, leaving it to be defined by any commands you may have for him.
Ever yours affectionately,
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, Wandsworth, 5 December 1859, 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/93095