GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, [Redhill], 1 August 1872
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, [Redhill], 1 August 1872
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, [Redhill], 1 August 1872
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1872-08-01
Place
[Redhill]
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, [Redhill], 1 August 1872
MS: Yale. Extract published: Cross, III, 165-166.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
August 1. 72.
My dear Sara
I was glad to get better news of you all three, having been often wondering whether you had quite got over the spring ailments. And it is a comfort to know that poor Harriet goes on quietly. But alas what tragedies you imply in your words about Lizzie and Harry -- 'abhow much better (it seems as if) it would have been if the marriage that produced those two poor victims had never happened'bb!
The death of that honoured, good creature, Mr. William Smith, touched us particularly, because of the perfect marriage bond which had made the last eleven years of his life unspeakably precious both to him and his wife. Mr. Lewes offered to go to Brighton to see him, but he was so reduced, so very feeble in body though he kept to the last much brightness of mind, that Mrs. Smith feared for him the excitement of seeing friends who came specially from a distance. She came to see us in the first fortnight of her widowhood 571 on her way to their old abode near Keswick, and I have since had a letter from her. Her life at present is little more than a submission to mental anguish, but she tries to be cheerful with a young niece who is her companion, and by and by I hope her sympathetic nature will find some useful objects of interest. She is a fine, strong woman -- very charming in her manners; and her devoted admiration of her husband, who was little appreciated by the coarse successful people of the world, was always delightful to witness.
We have borne the heat tolerably well. Mr. Lewes is better, but I have gone back a little, and have just had a very nasty little bilious attack, which is very inopportune. Mr. Lewes stands over me, saying, "Don't write more now; say your husband forbids you." He wants to take me out of doors. So I must obey.
Gertrude has got a little daughter. The last bulletin was very good, and we are full of joy for her sake. Her sister is going to be married to the eldest son of Rev. Frederick Maurice. I meant to gossip much longer. But goodbye, dear. With love to all
Your
Pollian.
MS: Yale. Extract published: Cross, III, 165-166.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
August 1. 72.
My dear Sara
I was glad to get better news of you all three, having been often wondering whether you had quite got over the spring ailments. And it is a comfort to know that poor Harriet goes on quietly. But alas what tragedies you imply in your words about Lizzie and Harry -- 'abhow much better (it seems as if) it would have been if the marriage that produced those two poor victims had never happened'bb!
The death of that honoured, good creature, Mr. William Smith, touched us particularly, because of the perfect marriage bond which had made the last eleven years of his life unspeakably precious both to him and his wife. Mr. Lewes offered to go to Brighton to see him, but he was so reduced, so very feeble in body though he kept to the last much brightness of mind, that Mrs. Smith feared for him the excitement of seeing friends who came specially from a distance. She came to see us in the first fortnight of her widowhood 571 on her way to their old abode near Keswick, and I have since had a letter from her. Her life at present is little more than a submission to mental anguish, but she tries to be cheerful with a young niece who is her companion, and by and by I hope her sympathetic nature will find some useful objects of interest. She is a fine, strong woman -- very charming in her manners; and her devoted admiration of her husband, who was little appreciated by the coarse successful people of the world, was always delightful to witness.
We have borne the heat tolerably well. Mr. Lewes is better, but I have gone back a little, and have just had a very nasty little bilious attack, which is very inopportune. Mr. Lewes stands over me, saying, "Don't write more now; say your husband forbids you." He wants to take me out of doors. So I must obey.
Gertrude has got a little daughter. The last bulletin was very good, and we are full of joy for her sake. Her sister is going to be married to the eldest son of Rev. Frederick Maurice. I meant to gossip much longer. But goodbye, dear. With love to all
Your
Pollian.
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, [Redhill], 1 August 1872, 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/93866