GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Foleshill, 16 September 1843
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Foleshill, 16 September 1843
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Foleshill, 16 September 1843
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1843-09-16
Place
FOLESHILL
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Foleshill, 16 September 1843
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, I, 119.
Foleshill September 16th | 1843.
My dear Sara,
Many thanks for procuring me the Hymns and Anthems; 480 I was right glad to play "Ancient of Ages" again and I shall like still better to sing it with you when we meet. That that is to be so soon and under circumstances so joyful, are among the mirabilia of this changing world. To see and re-see such a cluster of not indifferent persons as the programme for the wedding 481 gives will be almost too large a bonne bouche. But quite seriously it will be no small pleasure to me to witness what is likely to add to your family comforts by giving Mr. Hennell a new guardian angel. You will have fewer demands at home and we at Coventry shall be gainers I guess. I shall expect to become a better creature if you are much near me, so let that prospect of doing good encourage you to come. I hear that you are not better than when we were at Tenby, 482 but I dare say you have had much to occupy you lately, and when the little anxieties of preparation are past, you will get just as fat and well as your friends would like to see you.
I saw Robert Owen 483 yesterday, Mr. and Mrs. Bray having kindly asked me to dine with him, and I think if his system prosper it will be in spite of its founder, and not because of his advocacy; but I dare say one should even begin to like him if he were known long enough to erase the first impression. I have heard much of your notes and thought of you still more but I knew you would not care to have notes in proof of it, so I have been glumly silent. I only write now to thank you for remembering me, and I do not at all expect an answer. Therefore pray do not give up one moment of your precious time for the purpose. Give my love to Mrs. Hennell and eke to Mr. H. if they will have it, and believe me my dear Sara,
Ever your affectionate
Mary Ann Evans.
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, I, 119.
Foleshill September 16th | 1843.
My dear Sara,
Many thanks for procuring me the Hymns and Anthems; 480 I was right glad to play "Ancient of Ages" again and I shall like still better to sing it with you when we meet. That that is to be so soon and under circumstances so joyful, are among the mirabilia of this changing world. To see and re-see such a cluster of not indifferent persons as the programme for the wedding 481 gives will be almost too large a bonne bouche. But quite seriously it will be no small pleasure to me to witness what is likely to add to your family comforts by giving Mr. Hennell a new guardian angel. You will have fewer demands at home and we at Coventry shall be gainers I guess. I shall expect to become a better creature if you are much near me, so let that prospect of doing good encourage you to come. I hear that you are not better than when we were at Tenby, 482 but I dare say you have had much to occupy you lately, and when the little anxieties of preparation are past, you will get just as fat and well as your friends would like to see you.
I saw Robert Owen 483 yesterday, Mr. and Mrs. Bray having kindly asked me to dine with him, and I think if his system prosper it will be in spite of its founder, and not because of his advocacy; but I dare say one should even begin to like him if he were known long enough to erase the first impression. I have heard much of your notes and thought of you still more but I knew you would not care to have notes in proof of it, so I have been glumly silent. I only write now to thank you for remembering me, and I do not at all expect an answer. Therefore pray do not give up one moment of your precious time for the purpose. Give my love to Mrs. Hennell and eke to Mr. H. if they will have it, and believe me my dear Sara,
Ever your affectionate
Mary Ann Evans.
Signature
Mary Ann Evans.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Foleshill, 16 September 1843, 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/93915