GHL to John Blackwood, Weymouth, [6 September 1859]
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, Weymouth, [6 September 1859]
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, Weymouth, [6 September 1859]
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1859-09-06
Place
Weymouth
Letter Content
GHL to John Blackwood, Weymouth, [6 September 1859]
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
East Street | Weymouth | Tuesday.
My dear Blackwood
Your letter, with the checque, was sent on to me here where we are rusticating and zoologizing, and I hope getting up some health to stock us for the autumn and winter. We tried North Wales, and then ran across here; and although Weymouth does not turn out what we wanted, we made a discovery yesterday which will repay all. G.E. is in high spirits, having found a Mill and Millstream to his heart's content; and we are going to hire a laborer's cottage for a day or two, and live a poetical primitive life, the results of which will appear in Maggie -- who by the way becomes more fascinating than ever, and Tom more intensely boyish.
We really must see the Colonel and hear the history from his own mouth -- nay he ought to see Pug -- for I venture to say that hitherto he has not seen that noble beast -- but only a larval form! The Pug he saw was the Pug of the Knave of Clubs. Since his introduction into literary society he has developed an aristocratic audacity and refinement, not to mention originality of genius, of which he before had no gleam. He was un Pug incompris, in Bethnal Green. Seriously, he is 100 per cent more lively and handsome than he was when we had him. I don't think he could have fallen into more admiring hands: he makes us shout with laughter continually; and we miss him terribly -- for we dared not bring him away with us.
I haven't seen Maga, and can't therefore give any opinion of its contents, except that "I am given to understand" it is peculiarly brilliant and profound in the metaphysical department! No, I am not doing anything for that respected periodical; but I have got a French book which may be available. You were to send me some book about Sea Weeds Nature printed 280 -- but that will do when I return which will be very shortly. Indeed our movements are so uncertain that unless you write within the next week, you had better address to Wandsworth.
Adam follows us about everywhere. By the way your friend Quirk has turned up again and this time with a pointblank question to G.E. begging to know if it were true that she was the writer! We were naturally indignant at this repeated proof of his want of delicacy but as he had attended her sister in her final illness, and spoke in her name, we were unwilling to let him go quite unanswered so I wrote to say that "I was not aware Mr. Liggins had ever directly claimed the authorship; but even if he had the word of honorable and responsible men emphatically denying that he was the author, was enough for all sensible people." He is evidently intensely annoyed at having Liggins no longer to patronize as the author; and at the Coventry people all turning their backs on Liggins. I told him his letter overstepped the bounds of etiquette and that I only answered him at all because of Mrs. Lewes's sister.
Before we left town there was an American Literary Agent 281 who offered 'a31,200 for a story in one small volume, to be published in the Century a New York newspaper; but we wished America might get it! To-day a letter has come from the editor of a "Parish Magazine" 282 -- and really G.E. was almost more likely to be tempted by that audience than by the New Yorkers. Indeed he is so interested by the letter, that he begs me to enclose it for your perusal -- but you must not forget to return it when you write. The first volume of Maggie is ended or nearly, but he is going back to insert fresh details and passages. But of that he will write probably after our cottage experience. With his best regards believe me,
Ever yours
G. H. Lewes.
G.E. says will you please write a polite note to Erskine Clarke and say that although he sympathizes very strongly with his efforts, his cooperation is impossible from want of leisure.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
East Street | Weymouth | Tuesday.
My dear Blackwood
Your letter, with the checque, was sent on to me here where we are rusticating and zoologizing, and I hope getting up some health to stock us for the autumn and winter. We tried North Wales, and then ran across here; and although Weymouth does not turn out what we wanted, we made a discovery yesterday which will repay all. G.E. is in high spirits, having found a Mill and Millstream to his heart's content; and we are going to hire a laborer's cottage for a day or two, and live a poetical primitive life, the results of which will appear in Maggie -- who by the way becomes more fascinating than ever, and Tom more intensely boyish.
We really must see the Colonel and hear the history from his own mouth -- nay he ought to see Pug -- for I venture to say that hitherto he has not seen that noble beast -- but only a larval form! The Pug he saw was the Pug of the Knave of Clubs. Since his introduction into literary society he has developed an aristocratic audacity and refinement, not to mention originality of genius, of which he before had no gleam. He was un Pug incompris, in Bethnal Green. Seriously, he is 100 per cent more lively and handsome than he was when we had him. I don't think he could have fallen into more admiring hands: he makes us shout with laughter continually; and we miss him terribly -- for we dared not bring him away with us.
I haven't seen Maga, and can't therefore give any opinion of its contents, except that "I am given to understand" it is peculiarly brilliant and profound in the metaphysical department! No, I am not doing anything for that respected periodical; but I have got a French book which may be available. You were to send me some book about Sea Weeds Nature printed 280 -- but that will do when I return which will be very shortly. Indeed our movements are so uncertain that unless you write within the next week, you had better address to Wandsworth.
Adam follows us about everywhere. By the way your friend Quirk has turned up again and this time with a pointblank question to G.E. begging to know if it were true that she was the writer! We were naturally indignant at this repeated proof of his want of delicacy but as he had attended her sister in her final illness, and spoke in her name, we were unwilling to let him go quite unanswered so I wrote to say that "I was not aware Mr. Liggins had ever directly claimed the authorship; but even if he had the word of honorable and responsible men emphatically denying that he was the author, was enough for all sensible people." He is evidently intensely annoyed at having Liggins no longer to patronize as the author; and at the Coventry people all turning their backs on Liggins. I told him his letter overstepped the bounds of etiquette and that I only answered him at all because of Mrs. Lewes's sister.
Before we left town there was an American Literary Agent 281 who offered 'a31,200 for a story in one small volume, to be published in the Century a New York newspaper; but we wished America might get it! To-day a letter has come from the editor of a "Parish Magazine" 282 -- and really G.E. was almost more likely to be tempted by that audience than by the New Yorkers. Indeed he is so interested by the letter, that he begs me to enclose it for your perusal -- but you must not forget to return it when you write. The first volume of Maggie is ended or nearly, but he is going back to insert fresh details and passages. But of that he will write probably after our cottage experience. With his best regards believe me,
Ever yours
G. H. Lewes.
G.E. says will you please write a polite note to Erskine Clarke and say that although he sympathizes very strongly with his efforts, his cooperation is impossible from want of leisure.
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to John Blackwood, Weymouth, [6 September 1859], 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/94816