GHL to Robert Lytton, London, 8 May 1869
Title
GHL to Robert Lytton, London, 8 May 1869
Title
GHL to Robert Lytton, London, 8 May 1869
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
Robert Lyt
Date(s)
- 1869-05-08
Place
London
Letter Content
GHL to Robert Lytton, London, 8 May 1869
MS: Lady Hermione Cobbold.
1 North Bank, 8 May 1869.
My dear Lytton
On my return from Italy two days ago I found your letter and the Jahrb'fccher with Meynert's paper, 843 which was very welcome as everything on that subject is just now. I know his name well, and believe I have read some previous memoir of his; but I have read so many! There are several points in this paper which seem all the more important to me that I hold similar views; but I could wish so distinguished an inquirer had not fallen into what I regard as a pitfall to so many -- viz. the belief that differences in the form and size of nerve-cells have any reference whatever to differences of function. -- When next you write I should be glad if you could send me the titles of other papers or works by Meynert on the anat[omy] or phys[iology] of the brain.
Had I known of your removal to Vienna 844 it would have been a strong temptation to us to come home from Inspruck that way instead of by Munich. Some day or other we shall go to Constantinople and then we shall take Vienna en route, but I cannot be away from home now for many weeks because my mother who is 82 and lives mainly in the pleasure of seeing me twice or thrice a week, must not be deprived of her comfort many weeks in succession.
Had you been in London or otherwise amenable to viva voce lecturing I should have inveighed against the prodigal waste of power on such a subject as [Orval.] 845 Of course you would not have been convinced; for since the subject had fascinated you, you could not see its radical defects, but would have contended for your bantling, as in duty bound. I should not the less have been peremptory, and we should both have [marvelled] at each other. But one can't write such lectures.
Say all kind and pretty things for me to your sweet wife and believe me
Ever faithfully yours
G. H. Lewes.
MS: Lady Hermione Cobbold.
1 North Bank, 8 May 1869.
My dear Lytton
On my return from Italy two days ago I found your letter and the Jahrb'fccher with Meynert's paper, 843 which was very welcome as everything on that subject is just now. I know his name well, and believe I have read some previous memoir of his; but I have read so many! There are several points in this paper which seem all the more important to me that I hold similar views; but I could wish so distinguished an inquirer had not fallen into what I regard as a pitfall to so many -- viz. the belief that differences in the form and size of nerve-cells have any reference whatever to differences of function. -- When next you write I should be glad if you could send me the titles of other papers or works by Meynert on the anat[omy] or phys[iology] of the brain.
Had I known of your removal to Vienna 844 it would have been a strong temptation to us to come home from Inspruck that way instead of by Munich. Some day or other we shall go to Constantinople and then we shall take Vienna en route, but I cannot be away from home now for many weeks because my mother who is 82 and lives mainly in the pleasure of seeing me twice or thrice a week, must not be deprived of her comfort many weeks in succession.
Had you been in London or otherwise amenable to viva voce lecturing I should have inveighed against the prodigal waste of power on such a subject as [Orval.] 845 Of course you would not have been convinced; for since the subject had fascinated you, you could not see its radical defects, but would have contended for your bantling, as in duty bound. I should not the less have been peremptory, and we should both have [marvelled] at each other. But one can't write such lectures.
Say all kind and pretty things for me to your sweet wife and believe me
Ever faithfully yours
G. H. Lewes.
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to Robert Lytton, London, 8 May 1869, 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/95009