Herbert Spencer to GHL, London, 11 November 1872
Title
Herbert Spencer to GHL, London, 11 November 1872
Title
Herbert Spencer to GHL, London, 11 November 1872
Sender
Herbert Spencer
Recipient
George Henry Lewes
Date(s)
- 1872-11-11
Place
London
Letter Content
Herbert Spencer to GHL, London, 11 November 1872
MS: London University. Only the signature is in Spencer's hand. Brief extract published: Haight, George Eliot, p. 446.
Queen's Gardens, | Bayswater, London, W. | 11 November 1872.
My dear Lewes,
Yesterday I forgot for the moment the proper course to be pursued. The proposal, according to the established arrangement, should be made through King, since the supposition is that the Committee is anonymous. 119
Yesterday, after seeing you, I finished reading the last instalment of Middlemarch. It is altogether admirable. I cannot conceive anything more perfectly done. Hitherto, I have felt that the story, while it has been somewhat too uniformly full of fine things -- too uniformly rich, has been a little wanting in breadth of light and shade; but this last portion seems to me to fulfil the requirements of the highest art in every respect.
Ever yours truly,
Herbert Spencer.
MS: London University. Only the signature is in Spencer's hand. Brief extract published: Haight, George Eliot, p. 446.
Queen's Gardens, | Bayswater, London, W. | 11 November 1872.
My dear Lewes,
Yesterday I forgot for the moment the proper course to be pursued. The proposal, according to the established arrangement, should be made through King, since the supposition is that the Committee is anonymous. 119
Yesterday, after seeing you, I finished reading the last instalment of Middlemarch. It is altogether admirable. I cannot conceive anything more perfectly done. Hitherto, I have felt that the story, while it has been somewhat too uniformly full of fine things -- too uniformly rich, has been a little wanting in breadth of light and shade; but this last portion seems to me to fulfil the requirements of the highest art in every respect.
Ever yours truly,
Herbert Spencer.
Signature
Herbert Spencer.
Citation
Herbert Spencer, Herbert Spencer to GHL, London, 11 November 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/95142