GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 22 September 1856
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 22 September 1856
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 22 September 1856
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1856-09-22
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 22 September 1856
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Park Shot | September 22. 56.
Dear Sara
Shouldn't you like an autograph letter of Currer Bell's? I hope to get you one by and bye, when Mrs. Gaskell returns the letters that have been sent to her. 745 Meanwhile, lest anything should prevent that, I send you some addresses which show her handwriting well enough.
How are you these fine Autumn days? Tell Mr. Bray I hope he won't allow them to pass by without paying his visit to Richmond -- where we will welcome Mrs. C. Hennell or any other friend of his that he likes to bring.
We went to the theatre on Saturday -- for the first time since we came from Germany, to see Dillon, the new actor, reputed to be very fine in Belphegor -- Lemaitre's fine part of Paillasse. 746 The acting is very so so, but the dramatic conception of Paillasse is one of the finest I know, and tell Mr. Bray, if he wants to see a piece that will make him cry, he must go to the Lyceum.
A curious thing happened the other day. Mr. Lewes has lately published in Frazer, two essays on Dwarfs and Giants, one historical, the other physiological. 747 The rule in Frazer is to put your initials to your articles unless there is a reason to the contrary, and accordingly these essays were signed G.H.L. A few days ago, came a letter from George Combe addressed to G.H.L. Esq. care of the Editor of Frazer, expressing very high admiration of the physiological essay, enquiring if the writer had published any other works on physiology, and saying that this essay seemed to him to contain much sounder views than he usually found in works on physiology. He didn't seem to have a suspicion that G.H.L. was G. H. Lewes! Mr. Lewes returned him a brief answer, telling him that his approbation was very flattering. We thought it better for him to answer the letter -- but I fear Mr. Combe would be rather disappointed to find out whom he had been praising, Mr. Lewes being his favorite aversion, as a "shallow, flippant man." However, we should all of us pass very different judgments now and then, if the thing to be judged were anonymous.
By the bye, have you all done with the Baden Powell? If so, perhaps Mr. Bray will bring it up with him when he comes.
Parker is going to publish a library edition of the "Biographical Hist[ory] of Philosophy," and Mr. Lewes has just begun the task of revising and enlarging it. It is to be in one stout volume octavo. 748
There are some scraps of news, such as I have to tell -- written with the thoroughly interested view of getting some from you in return. Especially about your own health. I am glad to hear Cara's has been so good lately. Give my love to her and Mr. Bray. Nelly, I should think, has forgotten me, and is growing into a tall young lady.
Ever yours
M. E.
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Park Shot | September 22. 56.
Dear Sara
Shouldn't you like an autograph letter of Currer Bell's? I hope to get you one by and bye, when Mrs. Gaskell returns the letters that have been sent to her. 745 Meanwhile, lest anything should prevent that, I send you some addresses which show her handwriting well enough.
How are you these fine Autumn days? Tell Mr. Bray I hope he won't allow them to pass by without paying his visit to Richmond -- where we will welcome Mrs. C. Hennell or any other friend of his that he likes to bring.
We went to the theatre on Saturday -- for the first time since we came from Germany, to see Dillon, the new actor, reputed to be very fine in Belphegor -- Lemaitre's fine part of Paillasse. 746 The acting is very so so, but the dramatic conception of Paillasse is one of the finest I know, and tell Mr. Bray, if he wants to see a piece that will make him cry, he must go to the Lyceum.
A curious thing happened the other day. Mr. Lewes has lately published in Frazer, two essays on Dwarfs and Giants, one historical, the other physiological. 747 The rule in Frazer is to put your initials to your articles unless there is a reason to the contrary, and accordingly these essays were signed G.H.L. A few days ago, came a letter from George Combe addressed to G.H.L. Esq. care of the Editor of Frazer, expressing very high admiration of the physiological essay, enquiring if the writer had published any other works on physiology, and saying that this essay seemed to him to contain much sounder views than he usually found in works on physiology. He didn't seem to have a suspicion that G.H.L. was G. H. Lewes! Mr. Lewes returned him a brief answer, telling him that his approbation was very flattering. We thought it better for him to answer the letter -- but I fear Mr. Combe would be rather disappointed to find out whom he had been praising, Mr. Lewes being his favorite aversion, as a "shallow, flippant man." However, we should all of us pass very different judgments now and then, if the thing to be judged were anonymous.
By the bye, have you all done with the Baden Powell? If so, perhaps Mr. Bray will bring it up with him when he comes.
Parker is going to publish a library edition of the "Biographical Hist[ory] of Philosophy," and Mr. Lewes has just begun the task of revising and enlarging it. It is to be in one stout volume octavo. 748
There are some scraps of news, such as I have to tell -- written with the thoroughly interested view of getting some from you in return. Especially about your own health. I am glad to hear Cara's has been so good lately. Give my love to her and Mr. Bray. Nelly, I should think, has forgotten me, and is growing into a tall young lady.
Ever yours
M. E.
Signature
M. E.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 22 September 1856, 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/94098