GHL to William Blackwood, Wandsworth, [15 March 1859]
Title
GHL to William Blackwood, Wandsworth, [15 March 1859]
Title
GHL to William Blackwood, Wandsworth, [15 March 1859]
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
William Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1859-03-15
Place
Wandsworth
Letter Content
GHL to William Blackwood, Wandsworth, [15 March 1859]
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: /59.
Holly Lodge, Wimbledon Park | Southfields, Wandsworth | Tuesday.
My dear Major
The sight of a letter from Edinburgh always excites the pleasantest ideas in this house, for it is pretty sure to be the harbinger of good news or kindly feeling. "Hommes de relations charmantes -- c'est le cas de le dire!" Your news is good -- better -- best.
Respecting "Food and Drink" however I have a sort of qualm. I thought we had agreed that some parts might be a little longer than others, and that of course implied a latitude the other way. If Part III of Food and Drink be somewhat short, the others were somewhat too long. 433 It would damage Digestion and Indigestion to tag on 8 pages to Food and Drink -- I mean that it would spoil the exposition, and hurt the sale of the particular part. If each number is more or less complete in itself, that is all the respected public cares about -- quantity is quite a subordinate matter. So at least I think; but you can decide. Let me know.
The Digestion proof has been delayed because I sent it to a scientific friend for severe revision. I think he must be repeating the experiments he is so slow about it; but I don't "hurry no man's cattle."
G.E. has been made very happy by your news; but like "Oliver Twist" he is for ever "asking for more." He seems to me a sort of obverse of that Roman Emperor who had a slave at his elbow to whisper constantly to him "Remember you are mortal" 434 -- he wants a friend at his elbow to whisper "You see, George, you really are not a confounded Noodle, and the public doesn't think so."
Ever yours faithfully
G. H. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: /59.
Holly Lodge, Wimbledon Park | Southfields, Wandsworth | Tuesday.
My dear Major
The sight of a letter from Edinburgh always excites the pleasantest ideas in this house, for it is pretty sure to be the harbinger of good news or kindly feeling. "Hommes de relations charmantes -- c'est le cas de le dire!" Your news is good -- better -- best.
Respecting "Food and Drink" however I have a sort of qualm. I thought we had agreed that some parts might be a little longer than others, and that of course implied a latitude the other way. If Part III of Food and Drink be somewhat short, the others were somewhat too long. 433 It would damage Digestion and Indigestion to tag on 8 pages to Food and Drink -- I mean that it would spoil the exposition, and hurt the sale of the particular part. If each number is more or less complete in itself, that is all the respected public cares about -- quantity is quite a subordinate matter. So at least I think; but you can decide. Let me know.
The Digestion proof has been delayed because I sent it to a scientific friend for severe revision. I think he must be repeating the experiments he is so slow about it; but I don't "hurry no man's cattle."
G.E. has been made very happy by your news; but like "Oliver Twist" he is for ever "asking for more." He seems to me a sort of obverse of that Roman Emperor who had a slave at his elbow to whisper constantly to him "Remember you are mortal" 434 -- he wants a friend at his elbow to whisper "You see, George, you really are not a confounded Noodle, and the public doesn't think so."
Ever yours faithfully
G. H. Lewes.
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to William Blackwood, Wandsworth, [15 March 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/95100