GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, [5 March 1857]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, [5 March 1857]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, [5 March 1857]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1857-03-05
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, [5 March 1857]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: March 5. 1857. Extracts published: Cross, 1, 434-435.
Richmond | Thursday.
Dear Sara
I think I wrote very brusquely and disagreeably to you the other day, but the impertinence was altogether in the form and not at all in the feeling. I always have uncomfortable sensations after writing objections and criticisms when they relate to things I substantially admire. It is inflicting a hurt on my own veneration.
I showed the passage on the eye, p. 157, to H. Spencer, and he agrees with us that you have not stated your idea so as to render it a logical argument against design. You appear to imply that development and gradation in organs and functions are opposed to that conception, which they are not. I mention this because, in a second edition, 817 you may see the desirability of altering or expanding the statement.
I had written thus far when your letter came. Please to thank Mr. Bray on my behalf for acting as a steward of my forgotten property. I am very much obliged to him for disposing of it to such advantage.
As to your passage on "design," I suppose you are aware that we all three hold the conception of creative design to be untenable -- we only think you have not made out a good case against it. Mr. Spencer read with interest and admiration your excellent passage quoted in the Leader.
Thank you for sending me some news of Harriet Martineau. I have often said lately, "I wonder how she is." I have a wretched headache, so no more at present from
Your affectionate
Pollian.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: March 5. 1857. Extracts published: Cross, 1, 434-435.
Richmond | Thursday.
Dear Sara
I think I wrote very brusquely and disagreeably to you the other day, but the impertinence was altogether in the form and not at all in the feeling. I always have uncomfortable sensations after writing objections and criticisms when they relate to things I substantially admire. It is inflicting a hurt on my own veneration.
I showed the passage on the eye, p. 157, to H. Spencer, and he agrees with us that you have not stated your idea so as to render it a logical argument against design. You appear to imply that development and gradation in organs and functions are opposed to that conception, which they are not. I mention this because, in a second edition, 817 you may see the desirability of altering or expanding the statement.
I had written thus far when your letter came. Please to thank Mr. Bray on my behalf for acting as a steward of my forgotten property. I am very much obliged to him for disposing of it to such advantage.
As to your passage on "design," I suppose you are aware that we all three hold the conception of creative design to be untenable -- we only think you have not made out a good case against it. Mr. Spencer read with interest and admiration your excellent passage quoted in the Leader.
Thank you for sending me some news of Harriet Martineau. I have often said lately, "I wonder how she is." I have a wretched headache, so no more at present from
Your affectionate
Pollian.
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, [5 March 1857], 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/94082