GHL Journal, ,26 March 1857
Title
GHL Journal, ,26 March 1857
Title
GHL Journal, ,26 March 1857
Sender
Ghl Journal
Recipient
U
Date(s)
- 1857-03-26
Place
Isles of Scilly
Letter Content
GHL Journal, ,26 March 1857
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Thursday 26th.
At six this morning the man came to call us to say the packet was out of harbour and awaiting us. Hurriedly dressing and without time for breakfast away we went. Glorious morning. The sun red in the east; the sea calm. On getting on board the Yacht Ariadne, which is the packet boat, we found no tea or anything possible for breakfast, so we munched our biscuits and made the best of it. Presently the rain came on, and we descended to our cabin and got into our berths. Only ourselves as passengers. The swell and roll of the Atlantic soon produced a terrible commotion, and we lay sick, at times semidelirious, icy cold, and with pain in the intestines of a very unpleasant kind. Nevertheless between intervals -- when lucid -- I mentally wrote passages in my contemplated article for Blackwood, and reproached myself for the cowardly twinges of remorse extorted by suffering. At length about 1 o'clock we got into the Sound. The sun was shining brightly and the aspect of the Scilly Isles surpassed all my expectations. We got on shore and took lodgings at the post office -- 14/- a week with 1/6 for fire. Rooms large but low, and comfortably clean. After tea and toast which greatly restored us, we went out and rambled over the Fortification Hill. The weather was beautiful and the prospect full of promise. The place seemed to be the very place we wanted. Unpacked our boxes and arranged books. Then took another ramble. Went early to bed.
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Thursday 26th.
At six this morning the man came to call us to say the packet was out of harbour and awaiting us. Hurriedly dressing and without time for breakfast away we went. Glorious morning. The sun red in the east; the sea calm. On getting on board the Yacht Ariadne, which is the packet boat, we found no tea or anything possible for breakfast, so we munched our biscuits and made the best of it. Presently the rain came on, and we descended to our cabin and got into our berths. Only ourselves as passengers. The swell and roll of the Atlantic soon produced a terrible commotion, and we lay sick, at times semidelirious, icy cold, and with pain in the intestines of a very unpleasant kind. Nevertheless between intervals -- when lucid -- I mentally wrote passages in my contemplated article for Blackwood, and reproached myself for the cowardly twinges of remorse extorted by suffering. At length about 1 o'clock we got into the Sound. The sun was shining brightly and the aspect of the Scilly Isles surpassed all my expectations. We got on shore and took lodgings at the post office -- 14/- a week with 1/6 for fire. Rooms large but low, and comfortably clean. After tea and toast which greatly restored us, we went out and rambled over the Fortification Hill. The weather was beautiful and the prospect full of promise. The place seemed to be the very place we wanted. Unpacked our boxes and arranged books. Then took another ramble. Went early to bed.
Citation
Ghl Journal, GHL Journal, ,26 March 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/94295