James Thomson to GE, London, 18 June 1874
Title
James Thomson to GE, London, 18 June 1874
Title
James Thomson to GE, London, 18 June 1874
Sender
James Thomson
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1874-06-18
Place
London
Letter Content
James Thomson to GE, London, 18 June 1874
MS: Alderman Library, University of Virginia. Hitherto unpublished.
Tachbrook St. | Pimlico, S.W. | 18 June '74.
Dear Madam,
Having been absent for several days, I am only now able to thank you for your very kind letter, 111 for your generous expression of praise, and for your yet more generous trust, though this I fear will prove to be misplaced.
I have no Byronic quarrel with my fellows, whom I find all alike crushed under the iron yoke of Fate; and few of whom I can deem worse than myself, while so many are far better. I certainly have an affectionate and even joyful recognition of the willing labours of those who have striven to alleviate our lot, though I cannot see that all their efforts have availed much against the primeval curse of our existence. Has the world been the better or the worse for the life of even such a man as Jesus? I cannot judge, but on the whole I fear considerably the worse. None the less I can love and revere his memory. A physician saves a life, and does well; yet perchance it were better for the patient himself and for others that he now died. But it is not for me to introduce such thoughts to you.
I ventured to send you a copy of the verses (as I ventured to send another to Mr. Carlyle) because I have always read, whether rightly or wrongly, through all the manifold beauty and delightfulness of your works, a character and an intellectual destiny akin to those of that grand and awful Melancholy of Albrecht D'fcrer which dominates the City of my poem.
I cannot conclude without expressing to you my gratitude for many hours of exquisite enjoyment. I am, Madam, with profound respect,
Yours sincerely,
James Thomson
(B.V.).
MS: Alderman Library, University of Virginia. Hitherto unpublished.
Tachbrook St. | Pimlico, S.W. | 18 June '74.
Dear Madam,
Having been absent for several days, I am only now able to thank you for your very kind letter, 111 for your generous expression of praise, and for your yet more generous trust, though this I fear will prove to be misplaced.
I have no Byronic quarrel with my fellows, whom I find all alike crushed under the iron yoke of Fate; and few of whom I can deem worse than myself, while so many are far better. I certainly have an affectionate and even joyful recognition of the willing labours of those who have striven to alleviate our lot, though I cannot see that all their efforts have availed much against the primeval curse of our existence. Has the world been the better or the worse for the life of even such a man as Jesus? I cannot judge, but on the whole I fear considerably the worse. None the less I can love and revere his memory. A physician saves a life, and does well; yet perchance it were better for the patient himself and for others that he now died. But it is not for me to introduce such thoughts to you.
I ventured to send you a copy of the verses (as I ventured to send another to Mr. Carlyle) because I have always read, whether rightly or wrongly, through all the manifold beauty and delightfulness of your works, a character and an intellectual destiny akin to those of that grand and awful Melancholy of Albrecht D'fcrer which dominates the City of my poem.
I cannot conclude without expressing to you my gratitude for many hours of exquisite enjoyment. I am, Madam, with profound respect,
Yours sincerely,
James Thomson
(B.V.).
Signature
James Thomson
Citation
James Thomson, James Thomson to GE, London, 18 June 1874, 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/95155