George du Maurier to Charles Lee Lewes, Hampstead, 1 December [1878]
Title
George du Maurier to Charles Lee Lewes, Hampstead, 1 December [1878]
Title
George du Maurier to Charles Lee Lewes, Hampstead, 1 December [1878]
Sender
George du Maurier
Recipient
Charles Lee Lewes
Date(s)
- 1878-12-01
Place
Hampstead
Letter Content
George du Maurier to Charles Lee Lewes, Hampstead, 1 December [1878]
MS: Balliol College, Oxford. Hitherto unpublished.
New Grove House, | Hampstead Heath.
December 1.
My dear Lewes,
I cannot tell you how grieved and shocked I was today at hearing the sudden news of your father's death; I had not even heard of his illness, and so little suspected anything wrong that on my way to the Priory I was actually rehearsing a song which I hoped to sing to him this afternoon! Sad and strange to say, I had only just learnt the words ('fcber alle[n] gipfeln ist ruh) from the life of Goethe which he was kind enough to give me some time ago and which I only finished this week! -- I like to think how much he has been in my thoughts lately, and I realise in great distress of mind that I have lost a good friend whom I shall always remember with warm gratitude and affection.
I have been trying to write to Mrs. Lewes to express the sympathy my wife and I so deeply feel -- but I cannot find words to do so now, in the freshness of her great bereavement, and fear to intrude on her grief. We can only think and talk of her, and you must kindly convey to her for us the message of our earnest and heartfelt condolence.
And with you also, my dear Lewes, we sincerely grieve, knowing how warmly attached you were to your father and how great his loss must be to you. Believe me always
Yours very sincerely
George du Maurier.
MS: Balliol College, Oxford. Hitherto unpublished.
New Grove House, | Hampstead Heath.
December 1.
My dear Lewes,
I cannot tell you how grieved and shocked I was today at hearing the sudden news of your father's death; I had not even heard of his illness, and so little suspected anything wrong that on my way to the Priory I was actually rehearsing a song which I hoped to sing to him this afternoon! Sad and strange to say, I had only just learnt the words ('fcber alle[n] gipfeln ist ruh) from the life of Goethe which he was kind enough to give me some time ago and which I only finished this week! -- I like to think how much he has been in my thoughts lately, and I realise in great distress of mind that I have lost a good friend whom I shall always remember with warm gratitude and affection.
I have been trying to write to Mrs. Lewes to express the sympathy my wife and I so deeply feel -- but I cannot find words to do so now, in the freshness of her great bereavement, and fear to intrude on her grief. We can only think and talk of her, and you must kindly convey to her for us the message of our earnest and heartfelt condolence.
And with you also, my dear Lewes, we sincerely grieve, knowing how warmly attached you were to your father and how great his loss must be to you. Believe me always
Yours very sincerely
George du Maurier.
Signature
George du Maurier.
Citation
George du Maurier, George du Maurier to Charles Lee Lewes, Hampstead, 1 December [1878], 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/94248