GE to Mr. Charles Bray and Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, [22 November 1852]
Title
GE to Mr. Charles Bray and Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, [22 November 1852]
Title
GE to Mr. Charles Bray and Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, [22 November 1852]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mr. Charles Bray and Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray
Date(s)
- 1852-11-22
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Mr. Charles Bray and Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, [22 November 1852]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: Nov. 20. 1852. Mostly published: Cross, I, 297-298.
Strand | Monday.
Dear Friends
I perceive your reading of the golden rule is "Do as you are done by," and I shall be wiser than to expect a letter from you another Monday morning when I have not earned it by my Saturday's billet. The fact is, both callers and work thicken -- the former sadly interfering with the latter. I will just tell you how it was last Saturday and that will give you an idea of my days. My task was to read an article of Greg's in the N[orth] British on Taxation, 227 a heap of newspaper articles and all that J. S. Mill says on the same subject. 228 When I had got some way into this magnum mare, in comes Mr. Chapman with a thick German volume. "Will you read enough of this to give me your opinion of it?" Then of course I must have a walk after lunch, and when I had sat down again thinking that I had two clear hours before dinner -- rap at the door -- Mr. Lewes -- who of course sits talking till the second bell rings. After dinner another visitor -- and so behold me at 11 P.M. still very far at sea on the subject of taxation but too tired to keep my eyes open.
We had Bryant, 229 the poet last evening -- a pleasant, quiet, elderly man. To-day the supreme felicity of a call from Dr. Brabant. He is coming to stay next month, partly attracted by the fact that Mr.
Neuberg 230 is to spend the winter here. We shall be quite brilliant.
Do you know of this second sample of plagiarism by Disraeli, detected by the Morn[in]g Chronicle? 231 It is worth sending for its cool impudence. Write me some news about trade, at all events. I could tolerate even Louis Napoleon, 232 if somehow or other he could have a favourable influence on the Coventry trade. In haste
Your faithful
Marian.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: Nov. 20. 1852. Mostly published: Cross, I, 297-298.
Strand | Monday.
Dear Friends
I perceive your reading of the golden rule is "Do as you are done by," and I shall be wiser than to expect a letter from you another Monday morning when I have not earned it by my Saturday's billet. The fact is, both callers and work thicken -- the former sadly interfering with the latter. I will just tell you how it was last Saturday and that will give you an idea of my days. My task was to read an article of Greg's in the N[orth] British on Taxation, 227 a heap of newspaper articles and all that J. S. Mill says on the same subject. 228 When I had got some way into this magnum mare, in comes Mr. Chapman with a thick German volume. "Will you read enough of this to give me your opinion of it?" Then of course I must have a walk after lunch, and when I had sat down again thinking that I had two clear hours before dinner -- rap at the door -- Mr. Lewes -- who of course sits talking till the second bell rings. After dinner another visitor -- and so behold me at 11 P.M. still very far at sea on the subject of taxation but too tired to keep my eyes open.
We had Bryant, 229 the poet last evening -- a pleasant, quiet, elderly man. To-day the supreme felicity of a call from Dr. Brabant. He is coming to stay next month, partly attracted by the fact that Mr.
Neuberg 230 is to spend the winter here. We shall be quite brilliant.
Do you know of this second sample of plagiarism by Disraeli, detected by the Morn[in]g Chronicle? 231 It is worth sending for its cool impudence. Write me some news about trade, at all events. I could tolerate even Louis Napoleon, 232 if somehow or other he could have a favourable influence on the Coventry trade. In haste
Your faithful
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mr. Charles Bray and Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, [22 November 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/93166