GHL to John Blackwood, Witley, 6 August 1878
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, Witley, 6 August 1878
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, Witley, 6 August 1878
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1878-08-06
Place
Witley
Letter Content
GHL to John Blackwood, Witley, 6 August 1878
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
The Heights, Witley, | Nr. Godalming.
August 78.
My dear Blackwood
The cordial urgency of your letter excited a strong impulse in me to decide on starting at once for Strathtyrum. But second thought, third thought, and all succeeding thought made it less and less feasible, till this morning we came to the final decision that it was not to be ventured on. You do not realize my state. The parallel you suggest of your own is not exact. You came back to your peaceful home. I shall leave mine to undertake a journey most formidable (even when we are in condition we have lately been unable to stand long railway journeys, and should be forced to reach Edinburgh in three stages) and at the end of it have the excitement -- pleasurable yet to me very telling -- of some days of friendly intercourse. I do not feel capable of bearing either the one or the other. You can do your three hours work of a morning. If I could even read an amusing book for three hours I should consider myself strong enough to come. But I can't work at all, and can't read for more than an hour. Walking is what I do best -- (no, sleeping is my forte!) -- even listening to Mrs. Lewes reading soon wearies me.
Now when I say that I have been forced to avoid all intercourse with friends -- have not even had the children on a visit -- and could not bring myself to go up to London either for the marriage of a friend or a bit of important business -- you will understand how formidable appears the prospect of a journey to Scotland, much as I should enjoy it! I dare say much of this is imaginary -- but it is part of my malady and imaginary evils are very real in certain states. Much also is certainly not imaginary -- I mean the effects of railway travelling and the excitement of visiting. The other day we drove to Haslemere but when we reached the bottom of Tennyson's hill, courage failed and we turned home again.
Abbotsford and Strathtyrum must therefore be unvisited this summer; but be assured that our disappointment thereat is great, and that we look forward eagerly to better luck next year.
Ever yours truly
G. H. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
The Heights, Witley, | Nr. Godalming.
August 78.
My dear Blackwood
The cordial urgency of your letter excited a strong impulse in me to decide on starting at once for Strathtyrum. But second thought, third thought, and all succeeding thought made it less and less feasible, till this morning we came to the final decision that it was not to be ventured on. You do not realize my state. The parallel you suggest of your own is not exact. You came back to your peaceful home. I shall leave mine to undertake a journey most formidable (even when we are in condition we have lately been unable to stand long railway journeys, and should be forced to reach Edinburgh in three stages) and at the end of it have the excitement -- pleasurable yet to me very telling -- of some days of friendly intercourse. I do not feel capable of bearing either the one or the other. You can do your three hours work of a morning. If I could even read an amusing book for three hours I should consider myself strong enough to come. But I can't work at all, and can't read for more than an hour. Walking is what I do best -- (no, sleeping is my forte!) -- even listening to Mrs. Lewes reading soon wearies me.
Now when I say that I have been forced to avoid all intercourse with friends -- have not even had the children on a visit -- and could not bring myself to go up to London either for the marriage of a friend or a bit of important business -- you will understand how formidable appears the prospect of a journey to Scotland, much as I should enjoy it! I dare say much of this is imaginary -- but it is part of my malady and imaginary evils are very real in certain states. Much also is certainly not imaginary -- I mean the effects of railway travelling and the excitement of visiting. The other day we drove to Haslemere but when we reached the bottom of Tennyson's hill, courage failed and we turned home again.
Abbotsford and Strathtyrum must therefore be unvisited this summer; but be assured that our disappointment thereat is great, and that we look forward eagerly to better luck next year.
Ever yours truly
G. H. Lewes.
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to John Blackwood, Witley, 6 August 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/94818