GHL to Robert Lytton, London, 27 March 1872
Title
GHL to Robert Lytton, London, 27 March 1872
Title
GHL to Robert Lytton, London, 27 March 1872
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
Robert Lyt
Date(s)
- 1872-03-27
Place
London
Letter Content
GHL to Robert Lytton, London, 27 March 1872
MS: Lady Hermione Cobbold.
The Priory | 27 March 72.
My dear Lytton
Our blessing on the Mottled and our love to his Mother! Tell her she has my entire approbation for having made arrangements to continue the male line of Lytton -- not that I am disposed to share the Italian contempt of daughters, especially when there is a chance of their taking after such a sweet mother but still a boy's a boy and will have the best of it in this world of ours. I am writing this on my tablets because my head aches and won't allow me to bend over the desk. If I am particularly brilliant therefore you will attribute it to my genius, if particularly dull you will know where the dullness springs from!
Apropos of genius in your ingenious defence of Dickens you seem to imply that I did not sufficiently emphasize the fact of his unquestionable genius and that I meant to place Thackeray above him -- which proves that my article was a very imperfect expression of my real opinion. I meant to bring out strongly the distinctive nature of his genius and to mark not only the defects of his works but also the reason why so many readers were impatient and intolerant. But I suppose as usual what was clear in my own mind was assumed to be clearly presented to the reader. With all you so admirably say of Thackeray I agree.
No Lizzy came to us -- or rather came at proper time. But we saw her and her husband at the Concert though that was meagre and scrappy work and hadn't the pleasurable excitement of the former reconnaissance. However I dare say we shall get to know her some future time and she has a warm place prepared for her (I don't mean in the other world, but in the Priory) and if she doesn't find herself there it will be her fault.
Gobineau's 92 Medaillon will not be forgotten though unless I can biologize some rich man and persuade him that he passionately longs to possess what of course he doesn't, I don't see how my attention to the work will fatten Gobineau. Alfred Morrison 93 for example is frightfully rich and is always buying "the most perfect thing in the world, sir," but then whether he will take my view of the Medaillon or at any rate of the propriety of his buying it is another matter. I should say not.
Your capital stories -- especially that one about the marriage certificate -- demands repayment in kind. Grant Duff told us this: Gould, Fisk, and Tweed, 94 among other speculations ran steamboats. On panels of the cabin of the chief boat were portraits of Fisk and Gould; the panel for Tweed's not being filled up at the time, a Yankee quietly observed "Wal, they're certainly like but I miss Christ between them."
Here's another: The Dukes of Argyll and Northumberland were in a railway carriage and a bagman who got in en route entered into talk with them and rattled away freely. The Duke of N. got out and left at a station midway; bagman getting out to stretch his legs at the same time was much struck with the deference paid his travelling companion and enquired who he might be; was told; and returned full of excitement to the Duke of A. "Do you know that was the Duke of Northumberland that just left. Only think of a great man like that talking so freely to snobs like you and me." These are not fit to par'e9 off with yours but they are the last I have heard and I only hope they're not already familiar to you. 95
You want to know about my mathematical speculation. Could I only have you here over a cigarette, or have my own feet on your hearthrug I would discourse till the small hours and make you eternally repent your indiscretion in opening such a sluice. But I can't write about it. All I can say is that the higher calculus has opened a shaft in the metaphysical mine which if it doesn't lead me to the foundation of things will not be for want of digging or adventurous confidence. I sometimes think (so modest is Philosophy!) that as Descartes revolutionized science by his discovery of the application of Algebra to Geometry, expressing curves by equations, so a larger revolution may be heralded by an application of Algebra to the Cosmos, reducing all Science to Symbols and operations on Symbols.
Polly, who is suffering from a week's hemicrania, and would otherwise have written her love to Edith, bids me send all manner of tender messages, and especially to emphasize the fact of it (what else can it be?) being a Boy -- a possible Casaubon! 96 who however isn't likely to find a Dodo -- that species being said to be extinct. And would you have that Zoological problem solved, why was the Dodo suffered to get [improved] from the face of Gaea? The solution is extremely simple -- Because such was the resultant of the component forces! I must not go on.
Ever yours affectionately
G. H. L.
MS: Lady Hermione Cobbold.
The Priory | 27 March 72.
My dear Lytton
Our blessing on the Mottled and our love to his Mother! Tell her she has my entire approbation for having made arrangements to continue the male line of Lytton -- not that I am disposed to share the Italian contempt of daughters, especially when there is a chance of their taking after such a sweet mother but still a boy's a boy and will have the best of it in this world of ours. I am writing this on my tablets because my head aches and won't allow me to bend over the desk. If I am particularly brilliant therefore you will attribute it to my genius, if particularly dull you will know where the dullness springs from!
Apropos of genius in your ingenious defence of Dickens you seem to imply that I did not sufficiently emphasize the fact of his unquestionable genius and that I meant to place Thackeray above him -- which proves that my article was a very imperfect expression of my real opinion. I meant to bring out strongly the distinctive nature of his genius and to mark not only the defects of his works but also the reason why so many readers were impatient and intolerant. But I suppose as usual what was clear in my own mind was assumed to be clearly presented to the reader. With all you so admirably say of Thackeray I agree.
No Lizzy came to us -- or rather came at proper time. But we saw her and her husband at the Concert though that was meagre and scrappy work and hadn't the pleasurable excitement of the former reconnaissance. However I dare say we shall get to know her some future time and she has a warm place prepared for her (I don't mean in the other world, but in the Priory) and if she doesn't find herself there it will be her fault.
Gobineau's 92 Medaillon will not be forgotten though unless I can biologize some rich man and persuade him that he passionately longs to possess what of course he doesn't, I don't see how my attention to the work will fatten Gobineau. Alfred Morrison 93 for example is frightfully rich and is always buying "the most perfect thing in the world, sir," but then whether he will take my view of the Medaillon or at any rate of the propriety of his buying it is another matter. I should say not.
Your capital stories -- especially that one about the marriage certificate -- demands repayment in kind. Grant Duff told us this: Gould, Fisk, and Tweed, 94 among other speculations ran steamboats. On panels of the cabin of the chief boat were portraits of Fisk and Gould; the panel for Tweed's not being filled up at the time, a Yankee quietly observed "Wal, they're certainly like but I miss Christ between them."
Here's another: The Dukes of Argyll and Northumberland were in a railway carriage and a bagman who got in en route entered into talk with them and rattled away freely. The Duke of N. got out and left at a station midway; bagman getting out to stretch his legs at the same time was much struck with the deference paid his travelling companion and enquired who he might be; was told; and returned full of excitement to the Duke of A. "Do you know that was the Duke of Northumberland that just left. Only think of a great man like that talking so freely to snobs like you and me." These are not fit to par'e9 off with yours but they are the last I have heard and I only hope they're not already familiar to you. 95
You want to know about my mathematical speculation. Could I only have you here over a cigarette, or have my own feet on your hearthrug I would discourse till the small hours and make you eternally repent your indiscretion in opening such a sluice. But I can't write about it. All I can say is that the higher calculus has opened a shaft in the metaphysical mine which if it doesn't lead me to the foundation of things will not be for want of digging or adventurous confidence. I sometimes think (so modest is Philosophy!) that as Descartes revolutionized science by his discovery of the application of Algebra to Geometry, expressing curves by equations, so a larger revolution may be heralded by an application of Algebra to the Cosmos, reducing all Science to Symbols and operations on Symbols.
Polly, who is suffering from a week's hemicrania, and would otherwise have written her love to Edith, bids me send all manner of tender messages, and especially to emphasize the fact of it (what else can it be?) being a Boy -- a possible Casaubon! 96 who however isn't likely to find a Dodo -- that species being said to be extinct. And would you have that Zoological problem solved, why was the Dodo suffered to get [improved] from the face of Gaea? The solution is extremely simple -- Because such was the resultant of the component forces! I must not go on.
Ever yours affectionately
G. H. L.
Signature
G. H. L.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to Robert Lytton, London, 27 March 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/95006