GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 11 October [1858]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 11 October [1858]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 11 October [1858]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1858-10-11
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 11 October [1858]
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Richmond | October 11. /58.
Dear Sara
Dr. Chapman came yesterday, in spite of the weather, and in spite of a bad headache, poor man! It was quite easy for me to speak about the article after your last letter, and I made myself sure of his mind on the subject. The negative seems to be a decided and unconditional one, not founded on any disagreement with the views contained in it, but on the opinion that the form given to the views is not such as to make them telling in a Review. The defect he alleges is a want of fusion: -- the connection of the ideas advanced in the different portions of the article is not made sufficiently evident. It appears that he presented the article to Mr. Wilson 1203 of Oxford (an excellent judge) for the sake of having his criticism, and I imagine that Dr. Chapman is expressing Mr. Wilson's opinion. I asked him point blank if he would insert it gratuitously, and he said "No."
I felt deep compassion for him yesterday. His health seems to be threatening again, and the load of anxieties he has to carry about his neck, while he is making efforts so strenuous and in many respects so disagreeable that few men would have the courage for them! That hideous Martineau-correspondence 1204 gave me almost a sick-headache only to think of. He seems to have enjoyed his visit to Coventry, and gives me a pleasant idea of you all. It is good to me to get a glimpse of you through other eyes. In haste, ever
Your loving
Marian.
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Richmond | October 11. /58.
Dear Sara
Dr. Chapman came yesterday, in spite of the weather, and in spite of a bad headache, poor man! It was quite easy for me to speak about the article after your last letter, and I made myself sure of his mind on the subject. The negative seems to be a decided and unconditional one, not founded on any disagreement with the views contained in it, but on the opinion that the form given to the views is not such as to make them telling in a Review. The defect he alleges is a want of fusion: -- the connection of the ideas advanced in the different portions of the article is not made sufficiently evident. It appears that he presented the article to Mr. Wilson 1203 of Oxford (an excellent judge) for the sake of having his criticism, and I imagine that Dr. Chapman is expressing Mr. Wilson's opinion. I asked him point blank if he would insert it gratuitously, and he said "No."
I felt deep compassion for him yesterday. His health seems to be threatening again, and the load of anxieties he has to carry about his neck, while he is making efforts so strenuous and in many respects so disagreeable that few men would have the courage for them! That hideous Martineau-correspondence 1204 gave me almost a sick-headache only to think of. He seems to have enjoyed his visit to Coventry, and gives me a pleasant idea of you all. It is good to me to get a glimpse of you through other eyes. In haste, ever
Your loving
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 11 October [1858], 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/94085