GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 20 October 1857
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 20 October 1857
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 20 October 1857
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1857-10-20
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 20 October 1857
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, I, 467.
Park Shot | October 20. 57.
Dear Sara
You are the best correspondent in the world, for you always write to me when you have a nice little budget of news to tell me.
I'm very glad to know that Mr. Bray read his paper and had the satisfaction of feeling that his work was effective. I looked through the Athenaeum report for it in vain, and feared that he might not have been able to read it after all. I shall be glad to receive a copy.
"Open to conviction" indeed! I should think so. I am open to conviction on all points except dinner and debts. I hold that the one must be eaten and the other paid. These are my only prejudices.
I was pleased with Mr. Call. 989 He is a man one really cares to talk to -- has thoughts, says what he means, and listens to what others say.
We should quite like to see him often. And I cannot tell you how much I have felt Mrs. Call's graceful as well as kind behaviour to me.
Your praise of the Biographical History of Philosophy is very pleasant reading to me, because I know it represents your real feeling. That sort of testimony is worth half a dozen newspaper critiques. We have not seen the one in the Spectator, 990 for we never see that oracular journal, and never look out for reviews. When the Biographical History originally came out in Knight's edition it was hardly noticed at all -- Mr. Heraud, in the Athenaeum, said it was written from the transcendental point of view!! and dismissed it in three lines. 991 Yet you see it has sold better than most books that have the laudation of the press and is a text book at Oxford, of all places. Encouragement for all authors who have something to say and know how to say it. Some months ago, before the new edition came out, Mr. Lewes had a letter from a workingman, -- at Leicester, I think -- who said that he and some fellow students met together on a Sunday to read the book aloud and discuss it. He had marked some errors of the press and sent them to Mr. Lewes for his new edition. Wasn't that pretty?
I suppose you see the "National," when you like. The article on the "Ultimate Laws of Physiology" is Herbert Spencer's, 992 as indeed you will see at a glance, if you don't know it already. The whole number is interesting and certainly more fascinating than the Westminster Review, though that too is good this time.
I've no news to tell you, except that we are both much better than we have ever been since our sudden transition from sea-breezes to London haze. You give no sanitary report. I hope that means that you are well. Best love to Cara and Mr. Bray.
Ever your loving
Pollian.
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, I, 467.
Park Shot | October 20. 57.
Dear Sara
You are the best correspondent in the world, for you always write to me when you have a nice little budget of news to tell me.
I'm very glad to know that Mr. Bray read his paper and had the satisfaction of feeling that his work was effective. I looked through the Athenaeum report for it in vain, and feared that he might not have been able to read it after all. I shall be glad to receive a copy.
"Open to conviction" indeed! I should think so. I am open to conviction on all points except dinner and debts. I hold that the one must be eaten and the other paid. These are my only prejudices.
I was pleased with Mr. Call. 989 He is a man one really cares to talk to -- has thoughts, says what he means, and listens to what others say.
We should quite like to see him often. And I cannot tell you how much I have felt Mrs. Call's graceful as well as kind behaviour to me.
Your praise of the Biographical History of Philosophy is very pleasant reading to me, because I know it represents your real feeling. That sort of testimony is worth half a dozen newspaper critiques. We have not seen the one in the Spectator, 990 for we never see that oracular journal, and never look out for reviews. When the Biographical History originally came out in Knight's edition it was hardly noticed at all -- Mr. Heraud, in the Athenaeum, said it was written from the transcendental point of view!! and dismissed it in three lines. 991 Yet you see it has sold better than most books that have the laudation of the press and is a text book at Oxford, of all places. Encouragement for all authors who have something to say and know how to say it. Some months ago, before the new edition came out, Mr. Lewes had a letter from a workingman, -- at Leicester, I think -- who said that he and some fellow students met together on a Sunday to read the book aloud and discuss it. He had marked some errors of the press and sent them to Mr. Lewes for his new edition. Wasn't that pretty?
I suppose you see the "National," when you like. The article on the "Ultimate Laws of Physiology" is Herbert Spencer's, 992 as indeed you will see at a glance, if you don't know it already. The whole number is interesting and certainly more fascinating than the Westminster Review, though that too is good this time.
I've no news to tell you, except that we are both much better than we have ever been since our sudden transition from sea-breezes to London haze. You give no sanitary report. I hope that means that you are well. Best love to Cara and Mr. Bray.
Ever your loving
Pollian.
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 20 October 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/94095