GE to William Blackwood, London, 31 December 1879
Title
GE to William Blackwood, London, 31 December 1879
Title
GE to William Blackwood, London, 31 December 1879
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
William Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1879-12-31
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to William Blackwood, London, 31 December 1879
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
December 31. 79.
My dear Mr. William
I think there is no objection to your giving the desired permission to Professor Meiklejohn, on the condition mentioned -- namely that the extracts should be few and not exceeding six pages. Dr. Abbott and Professor Seeley introduced (with my permission) several well-chosen extracts in their [English Lessons,] and I think that such indications from scholarly and tasteful men are really useful to the works from which they are taken.
Our weather here during Christmas week was hideous, purgatorial. I am a little less well perhaps in consequence of our long sunlessness and want of clear air, but the ailment is only slight.
Yes, I trust that the coming year may bring us both reasons for contentment in our life even though it is hardly possible that it should be otherwise than anxious and fraught with effort. This world is not one in which any but the quite youthful can be without regretful memories and importunate forebodings. But we must muster our courage and, as much as we can, rejoice with those who have good reason for rejoicing. I feel very much for Mrs. Blackwood, knowing well that in proportion as she is not called on to act even in a mournful way, she must be more and more conscious of the change that has come over her life.
I shall be glad to hear when you have got well through the horrible [valuation] and other brambly passages.
Yours always sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
December 31. 79.
My dear Mr. William
I think there is no objection to your giving the desired permission to Professor Meiklejohn, on the condition mentioned -- namely that the extracts should be few and not exceeding six pages. Dr. Abbott and Professor Seeley introduced (with my permission) several well-chosen extracts in their [English Lessons,] and I think that such indications from scholarly and tasteful men are really useful to the works from which they are taken.
Our weather here during Christmas week was hideous, purgatorial. I am a little less well perhaps in consequence of our long sunlessness and want of clear air, but the ailment is only slight.
Yes, I trust that the coming year may bring us both reasons for contentment in our life even though it is hardly possible that it should be otherwise than anxious and fraught with effort. This world is not one in which any but the quite youthful can be without regretful memories and importunate forebodings. But we must muster our courage and, as much as we can, rejoice with those who have good reason for rejoicing. I feel very much for Mrs. Blackwood, knowing well that in proportion as she is not called on to act even in a mournful way, she must be more and more conscious of the change that has come over her life.
I shall be glad to hear when you have got well through the horrible [valuation] and other brambly passages.
Yours always sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to William Blackwood, London, 31 December 1879, 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/94202