GHL Journal, London, 19 October 1867
Title
GHL Journal, London, 19 October 1867
Title
GHL Journal, London, 19 October 1867
Sender
Ghl Journal
Recipient
U
Date(s)
- 1867-10-19
Place
London
Letter Content
GHL Journal, London, 19 October 1867
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Saturday 19 October.
On Monday at the meeting of the London Library Committee Herbert Spencer proposed that we should take a walking expedition into Surrey, and on Wednesday morning I put a night shirt, comb, and toothbrush in my pocket, and we started per rail for Weybridge. Arrived at the Inn we found friends of his -- the Cross family 675 -- just leaving it, after a fortnight's stay there, driven there by the burning down of their own house. I was introduced to them and received like an old friend -- they knowing my books well and worshipping Polly. After a chat we set off for St. George's Hill. The day superb; the tints of Autumn ravishing; the scene a constant surprise and delight. Back at 4 thoroughly but pleasantly tired. Wrote to Polly. Slept for 'bd an hour. Dined and spent the evening till 12 with the Cross family -- laughter and talk. 676
On Tuesday started per rail for Guil[d]ford, but the train carried us on to Basingstoke and we lost 3 hours thereby. Back to Guil[d]ford and walked across the Hog's Back to Farnham -- reached The Bush, good inn, very tired and very hungry. After dinner looked through the Times and went to bed at 'bd past 8. On Wednesday after breakfast we went to Waverley, and as Spencer knew some of the Nicholson family 677 we were permitted to explore the exquisite grounds; then went to the ruins of the Abbey, and ascended Crooksbury Hill -- a hill of Scotch firs -- from which charming views. Descended on to the wild heath, and thence into the Godalming Road. We paused at a little Inn to have a glass of ale and cigar and then walked on to Godalming -- reaching it at 3. The Angel. A lovely day and an exquisite walk. Dined and home by rail.
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Saturday 19 October.
On Monday at the meeting of the London Library Committee Herbert Spencer proposed that we should take a walking expedition into Surrey, and on Wednesday morning I put a night shirt, comb, and toothbrush in my pocket, and we started per rail for Weybridge. Arrived at the Inn we found friends of his -- the Cross family 675 -- just leaving it, after a fortnight's stay there, driven there by the burning down of their own house. I was introduced to them and received like an old friend -- they knowing my books well and worshipping Polly. After a chat we set off for St. George's Hill. The day superb; the tints of Autumn ravishing; the scene a constant surprise and delight. Back at 4 thoroughly but pleasantly tired. Wrote to Polly. Slept for 'bd an hour. Dined and spent the evening till 12 with the Cross family -- laughter and talk. 676
On Tuesday started per rail for Guil[d]ford, but the train carried us on to Basingstoke and we lost 3 hours thereby. Back to Guil[d]ford and walked across the Hog's Back to Farnham -- reached The Bush, good inn, very tired and very hungry. After dinner looked through the Times and went to bed at 'bd past 8. On Wednesday after breakfast we went to Waverley, and as Spencer knew some of the Nicholson family 677 we were permitted to explore the exquisite grounds; then went to the ruins of the Abbey, and ascended Crooksbury Hill -- a hill of Scotch firs -- from which charming views. Descended on to the wild heath, and thence into the Godalming Road. We paused at a little Inn to have a glass of ale and cigar and then walked on to Godalming -- reaching it at 3. The Angel. A lovely day and an exquisite walk. Dined and home by rail.
Citation
Ghl Journal, GHL Journal, London, 19 October 1867, 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/94315