GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [22 October 1853]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [22 October 1853]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [22 October 1853]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1853-10-22
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [22 October 1853]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: Oct. 22d. 1853. Mostly published: Cross, I, 314-315.
Cambridge St. | Saturday Morning.
Dear Sara
How are you? I am reading "The Religion of the Heart" 380 and am far more pleased with it than I expected to be. I have just fallen on two passages with which you will agree.
"Parker . . . is full of the poetry of religion; Martineau equally so, with a closer style and incessant eloquence of expression, perhaps a perilous superabundance of it as regards the claims of matter over manner; and his assumptions of perfection in the character of Jesus are so reiterated and peremptory, that in a man of less evident heart and goodness, they might almost look like a very unction of insincerity or of policy, -- of doubt forcing itself to seem undoubting."
"Hennell's Christian Theism is one long beautiful Discourse proclaiming the great Bible of Creation, and reconciling Pagan and Christian Philosophy."
To-day is an exceptional day -- that is, a fine one. I am hoping for a row (pron. ro) on the Serpentine, which is really almost as good as a lake.
Good Sir James Clark stopped me in the Park yesterday as I was sauntering along with eyes on the clouds, and made very fatherly inquiries about me, urging me to spend a quiet evening with him and Lady Clark next week -- which I will certainly do; for they are two capital people, without any snobbery.
I don't expect you to write after what you said -- I would rather not be associated with boredom in any form, so I will be content to have no letter and be liked a little the better in consequence.
Ever your faithful
Pollian.
Will you tell Cara that I left a small gold brooch on the table in my room with my Father's hair in it? Love to all.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: Oct. 22d. 1853. Mostly published: Cross, I, 314-315.
Cambridge St. | Saturday Morning.
Dear Sara
How are you? I am reading "The Religion of the Heart" 380 and am far more pleased with it than I expected to be. I have just fallen on two passages with which you will agree.
"Parker . . . is full of the poetry of religion; Martineau equally so, with a closer style and incessant eloquence of expression, perhaps a perilous superabundance of it as regards the claims of matter over manner; and his assumptions of perfection in the character of Jesus are so reiterated and peremptory, that in a man of less evident heart and goodness, they might almost look like a very unction of insincerity or of policy, -- of doubt forcing itself to seem undoubting."
"Hennell's Christian Theism is one long beautiful Discourse proclaiming the great Bible of Creation, and reconciling Pagan and Christian Philosophy."
To-day is an exceptional day -- that is, a fine one. I am hoping for a row (pron. ro) on the Serpentine, which is really almost as good as a lake.
Good Sir James Clark stopped me in the Park yesterday as I was sauntering along with eyes on the clouds, and made very fatherly inquiries about me, urging me to spend a quiet evening with him and Lady Clark next week -- which I will certainly do; for they are two capital people, without any snobbery.
I don't expect you to write after what you said -- I would rather not be associated with boredom in any form, so I will be content to have no letter and be liked a little the better in consequence.
Ever your faithful
Pollian.
Will you tell Cara that I left a small gold brooch on the table in my room with my Father's hair in it? Love to all.
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [22 October 1853], 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/93954