John Blackwood to GE, Colinsburgh, 15 August 1859
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Colinsburgh, 15 August 1859
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Colinsburgh, 15 August 1859
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1859-08-15
Place
Colinsburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Colinsburgh, 15 August 1859
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: John Blackwood, p. 56.
Gebliston by Colinsburgh | Fife August 15/59.
My Dear George Eliot
I have the pleasure of inclosing a cheque 'a3200 for the second edition of Clerical Scenes. 256 I have not heard anything of the sales since the subscription but I think we must get through our edition. The Tales are so good and Adam Bede as you will have heard goes on gloriously. 257
How is the new Tale? 258 I long to see more of it. Every bit of what I read is distinctly before me now.
I am enchanted that the Pug proves a success. His portrait is very engaging. We have four little dogs here and four more entirely useless animals it would be impossible to find.
For the last few days we have had a very interesting visitor Captain Speke 259 lately from the Mountains of the Moon and what he believes to be I think with good grounds the fountains of the Nile. He is a fine manly unaffected specimen of an Englishman. He is very innocent of literature having since he went to India at 17 been devoted to wild sports and geographical discovery.
He has gone through dangers and suffering enough to disgust any ordinary man with the mere thought of Africa but he is determined to go back and carry out his discovery and has got a grant for the purpose. His reply to my remonstrance against his going again was unanswerable.
"Fancy my disgust if any vapouring boasting brat of a Frenchman went and got the credit of this discovery for France."
I hope to hear from you soon with good accounts of the new Novel and believe me
ever your truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: John Blackwood, p. 56.
Gebliston by Colinsburgh | Fife August 15/59.
My Dear George Eliot
I have the pleasure of inclosing a cheque 'a3200 for the second edition of Clerical Scenes. 256 I have not heard anything of the sales since the subscription but I think we must get through our edition. The Tales are so good and Adam Bede as you will have heard goes on gloriously. 257
How is the new Tale? 258 I long to see more of it. Every bit of what I read is distinctly before me now.
I am enchanted that the Pug proves a success. His portrait is very engaging. We have four little dogs here and four more entirely useless animals it would be impossible to find.
For the last few days we have had a very interesting visitor Captain Speke 259 lately from the Mountains of the Moon and what he believes to be I think with good grounds the fountains of the Nile. He is a fine manly unaffected specimen of an Englishman. He is very innocent of literature having since he went to India at 17 been devoted to wild sports and geographical discovery.
He has gone through dangers and suffering enough to disgust any ordinary man with the mere thought of Africa but he is determined to go back and carry out his discovery and has got a grant for the purpose. His reply to my remonstrance against his going again was unanswerable.
"Fancy my disgust if any vapouring boasting brat of a Frenchman went and got the credit of this discovery for France."
I hope to hear from you soon with good accounts of the new Novel and believe me
ever your truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Colinsburgh, 15 August 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/95162