GE to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bray and Sara Sophia Hennell, [London, 2 June 1852]
Title
GE to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bray and Sara Sophia Hennell, [London, 2 June 1852]
Title
GE to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bray and Sara Sophia Hennell, [London, 2 June 1852]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bray and Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1852-06-02
Place
[London]
Letter Content
GE to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bray and Sara Sophia Hennell, [London, 2 June 1852]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: June 2. Extracts published: Cross, I, 282; George Eliot and John Chapman, pp. 42-43.
Wednesday.
Dear Trio
No good news yet, but I have a Micawber-faith that something will turn up. Geo. Combe called yesterday while I was out, and by some chance he talked of Mr. Bray's affairs -- thinks the Editor of the Herald has too small a head to make the paper answer and that you should have a partner in the ribbon business. I suppose he came primed with all this to say to me and not finding me, let it off at Mr. Chapman. Don't of course let him (Geo. Combe) be aware that I have told you. Mrs. Combe 102 called the other day, looking perfectly beautiful -- a blooming complexion like a girl of fifteen and a smile as bright and cheery as a flower-garden.
We went to Miss Swanwick's for a stupid evening on Saturday -- 12 women and 2'bd men! The house is brimful of Americans with varying degrees of disagreeableness, but one is glad to think they pay well for their lodging. Good Mr. Mackay called on me yesterday, though I have not yet paid my wedding visit. He looked more miserable and ashamed of presuming to exist than I ever saw him. I asked him how they liked Weymouth (where they staid). "Not at all, not at all, but it was not the fault of the place"! I think I shall go this evening.
I am bothered to death with article-reading and scrap-work of all sorts -- it is clear my poor head will never produce anything under these circumstances, but I am patient while Mr. C. is in such a preliminary [predicament?] and only care to help him as much as I can.
I am ashamed to teaze you so -- but I must beg you to send me Geo. Sand's works (tomorrow or Friday if possible) and also I shall be grateful if you will lend me -- what I think you have -- an English edition of Corinne, and Miss Austin's "Sense and Sensibility." 103
Dear Sara, the Catalogue 104 is really coming out -- the wrapper is printed!
Disraeli is divinely handsome if one can trust his portrait 105 in the exhibition.
Harriet Martineau's article on Niebuhr will not go in the July number. 106 I am sorry for it -- it is admirable. After all she is a trump -- the only English woman that possesses thoroughly the art of writing. I am in such a hurry that you must not wonder at my hop skip and jump style -- By the bye, we met that odious Mrs. Richard Greaves at Miss Swanwick's. She is fearful -- her whole organization seems made for the sake of her teeth -- if indeed they are not false. Farewell, dear ones,
Your
Marian.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: June 2. Extracts published: Cross, I, 282; George Eliot and John Chapman, pp. 42-43.
Wednesday.
Dear Trio
No good news yet, but I have a Micawber-faith that something will turn up. Geo. Combe called yesterday while I was out, and by some chance he talked of Mr. Bray's affairs -- thinks the Editor of the Herald has too small a head to make the paper answer and that you should have a partner in the ribbon business. I suppose he came primed with all this to say to me and not finding me, let it off at Mr. Chapman. Don't of course let him (Geo. Combe) be aware that I have told you. Mrs. Combe 102 called the other day, looking perfectly beautiful -- a blooming complexion like a girl of fifteen and a smile as bright and cheery as a flower-garden.
We went to Miss Swanwick's for a stupid evening on Saturday -- 12 women and 2'bd men! The house is brimful of Americans with varying degrees of disagreeableness, but one is glad to think they pay well for their lodging. Good Mr. Mackay called on me yesterday, though I have not yet paid my wedding visit. He looked more miserable and ashamed of presuming to exist than I ever saw him. I asked him how they liked Weymouth (where they staid). "Not at all, not at all, but it was not the fault of the place"! I think I shall go this evening.
I am bothered to death with article-reading and scrap-work of all sorts -- it is clear my poor head will never produce anything under these circumstances, but I am patient while Mr. C. is in such a preliminary [predicament?] and only care to help him as much as I can.
I am ashamed to teaze you so -- but I must beg you to send me Geo. Sand's works (tomorrow or Friday if possible) and also I shall be grateful if you will lend me -- what I think you have -- an English edition of Corinne, and Miss Austin's "Sense and Sensibility." 103
Dear Sara, the Catalogue 104 is really coming out -- the wrapper is printed!
Disraeli is divinely handsome if one can trust his portrait 105 in the exhibition.
Harriet Martineau's article on Niebuhr will not go in the July number. 106 I am sorry for it -- it is admirable. After all she is a trump -- the only English woman that possesses thoroughly the art of writing. I am in such a hurry that you must not wonder at my hop skip and jump style -- By the bye, we met that odious Mrs. Richard Greaves at Miss Swanwick's. She is fearful -- her whole organization seems made for the sake of her teeth -- if indeed they are not false. Farewell, dear ones,
Your
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bray and Sara Sophia Hennell, [London, 2 June 1852], 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/93126