GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 21 August 1869
Title
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 21 August 1869
Title
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 21 August 1869
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray
Date(s)
- 1869-08-21
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 21 August 1869
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
August 21. 69.
My dear Cara
Since I wrote you a hasty note telling you that we were more hopeful about our poor Thornie, we have gone through many sad fluctuations. The apparently decided improvement lasted hardly a week, and since then he has had an attack of paraplegia which for a few days made the lower part of his body quite helpless. He has recovered the use of his limbs, contrary to the expectation of Sir H. Holland 95 who has been kindly giving us advice in Paget's absence. But the dear boy is more than ever wasted, and in all ways shows signs of reduced strength. We feel utterly in the dark as to the probabilities of his case, and must resignedly accept what each day brings, comforting ourselves with the thought that various sad predictions have been successively proved false. We have just had the misfortune of being obliged to part with our Nurse, whose health has broken down, but we have a promising substitute. 96 Such are our circumstances.
But I confess, I should not have been impelled to write to you of what is far from cheerful, if I had not wished to hear something of you. How are you all? And what external conditions are making life easier or harder for you? Pray let me have the satisfaction of knowing how things go with you.
Mrs. H. B. Stowe has just sent me from America an article which she has written for the next Atlantic Monthly 97 containing the "True Story of Lord Byron's Life" which she had entrusted to her by Lady Byron. It has been drawn from her by the Countess Guiccioli's wretched book. With best love to Sara
Ever your affectionate
Marian.
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
August 21. 69.
My dear Cara
Since I wrote you a hasty note telling you that we were more hopeful about our poor Thornie, we have gone through many sad fluctuations. The apparently decided improvement lasted hardly a week, and since then he has had an attack of paraplegia which for a few days made the lower part of his body quite helpless. He has recovered the use of his limbs, contrary to the expectation of Sir H. Holland 95 who has been kindly giving us advice in Paget's absence. But the dear boy is more than ever wasted, and in all ways shows signs of reduced strength. We feel utterly in the dark as to the probabilities of his case, and must resignedly accept what each day brings, comforting ourselves with the thought that various sad predictions have been successively proved false. We have just had the misfortune of being obliged to part with our Nurse, whose health has broken down, but we have a promising substitute. 96 Such are our circumstances.
But I confess, I should not have been impelled to write to you of what is far from cheerful, if I had not wished to hear something of you. How are you all? And what external conditions are making life easier or harder for you? Pray let me have the satisfaction of knowing how things go with you.
Mrs. H. B. Stowe has just sent me from America an article which she has written for the next Atlantic Monthly 97 containing the "True Story of Lord Byron's Life" which she had entrusted to her by Lady Byron. It has been drawn from her by the Countess Guiccioli's wretched book. With best love to Sara
Ever your affectionate
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 21 August 1869, 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/93284