GHL to Mrs. William Cross, Redhill, 25 June 1872
Title
GHL to Mrs. William Cross, Redhill, 25 June 1872
Title
GHL to Mrs. William Cross, Redhill, 25 June 1872
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
Mrs. William Cross
Date(s)
- 1872-06-25
Place
Redhill
Letter Content
GHL to Mrs. William Cross, Redhill, 25 June 1872
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Elversley, Park Road | Red Hill | 25 June 1872.
My dear Friend
There is no one who will more heartily rejoice to hear of Mrs. Lewes's improved health than you will, and though I am not in a writing condition, I can't resist giving you the pleasure. She improves visibly, almost day by day. The color has come back to her cheek and the oval also. I tell her she will [put on flesh.] And she is writing -- writing -- writing! -- To parody Garrick's admirer I will say -- "Why, Sir, away from the desk she is a perfect woman, but at the desk -- oh! -- my!! -- God!!! 541
Imagine my delight; imagine also the delight yesterday of receiving a letter from a stranger 542 -- a Swiss writing from the Canton Vaud who although advanced in years 543 has learned English that he might have acc'e8s direct 'e0 cette source de po'e9sie, de v'e9rit'e9 et de sagesse -- the works of George Eliot, and in testimony of the [profonds et bienfaisants 'e9crits] which he had only known in translation he writes to express his gratitude. An admirable gentleman surely? He is a scholar and has translated Strauss. 544 He has got Main's book "livre exquis qui est devenu mon br'e9viaire." Has not a husband a right to rejoice in such testimonies? And you also will, with your deep sympathetic heart!
The perfect peace of this place and the beauty (not equal to Weybridge however) are most beneficial and I shall no doubt begin to feel the benefit soon, but my head has been troublesome ever since we left home. If you were not at such an inconvenient distance I should have looked in upon you now and then in my wanderings but it would require to go to London or Guilford before getting a train to Weybridge. Still if the Sellars 545 are with you during the summer, and you want me to come over for a night I will gladly come provided my head isn't too feeble for the excitement.
How are the dear ones? Let me hear full details. Polly would send messages crammed with love if she knew I was writing -- I send them for her.
Ever yours
G. H. L.
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Elversley, Park Road | Red Hill | 25 June 1872.
My dear Friend
There is no one who will more heartily rejoice to hear of Mrs. Lewes's improved health than you will, and though I am not in a writing condition, I can't resist giving you the pleasure. She improves visibly, almost day by day. The color has come back to her cheek and the oval also. I tell her she will [put on flesh.] And she is writing -- writing -- writing! -- To parody Garrick's admirer I will say -- "Why, Sir, away from the desk she is a perfect woman, but at the desk -- oh! -- my!! -- God!!! 541
Imagine my delight; imagine also the delight yesterday of receiving a letter from a stranger 542 -- a Swiss writing from the Canton Vaud who although advanced in years 543 has learned English that he might have acc'e8s direct 'e0 cette source de po'e9sie, de v'e9rit'e9 et de sagesse -- the works of George Eliot, and in testimony of the [profonds et bienfaisants 'e9crits] which he had only known in translation he writes to express his gratitude. An admirable gentleman surely? He is a scholar and has translated Strauss. 544 He has got Main's book "livre exquis qui est devenu mon br'e9viaire." Has not a husband a right to rejoice in such testimonies? And you also will, with your deep sympathetic heart!
The perfect peace of this place and the beauty (not equal to Weybridge however) are most beneficial and I shall no doubt begin to feel the benefit soon, but my head has been troublesome ever since we left home. If you were not at such an inconvenient distance I should have looked in upon you now and then in my wanderings but it would require to go to London or Guilford before getting a train to Weybridge. Still if the Sellars 545 are with you during the summer, and you want me to come over for a night I will gladly come provided my head isn't too feeble for the excitement.
How are the dear ones? Let me hear full details. Polly would send messages crammed with love if she knew I was writing -- I send them for her.
Ever yours
G. H. L.
Signature
G. H. L.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to Mrs. William Cross, Redhill, 25 June 1872, 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/94970