John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 March 1860
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 March 1860
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 March 1860
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1860-03-20
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 March 1860
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | March 20/60.
My Dear Madam
Your second last chapter 511 arrived safely today and will go out in proof to you along with this. I must write you a line of congratulation without waiting for the last chapter, which I hope to see on Thursday morning. The Mill on the Floss is safe for immortality.
Of course in spite of Lewes' strict injunctions I fastened upon these two last chapters the moment I secured them. Nothing short of a point of honour would have restrained me.
Bob Jakin's attempt to convey his sympathy to Maggie 512 is beyond price. Never surely were pathos and exquisite humour more beautifully combined. Bob is the prince of packmen and a gentleman. In his reply to Dr. Kenn 513 he will have the ardent sympathy of every one who has groaned under the inforced idleness of a dull sermon, and who has not?
I do not envy the man who can read the scene where Lucy appears and falls on Maggie's neck 514 without being affected to tears. It is overpowering and touching and beautiful and is moreover exactly what was wanted to relieve the reader's feelings as well as Maggie's. The skill too with which it is indicated that dear Lucy's is a sorrow which may not be without hope like poor Maggie's is very fine.
I early foresaw that good Dr. Kenn would play a part and he comes in most happily. The illustration that his effort to put Maggie's character in the right light was as hopeless as a struggle to change the shape of bonnets 515 made me burst out laughing. Aunt Glegg is great. Several times in reading these last chapters I have found myself start from my seat and walk to the Major's adjoining room exclaiming "By God she is a wonderful woman." The exclamation was irreverent, quite superfluous, and has a rude sound but I felt impelled to speak and the emphasis conveyed volumes of heartfelt admiration, so I hope to be excused.
I await with trembling impatience the Catastrophe.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. M. E. Lewes.
Mr. Simpson, I am sorry to say, is confined to the house with cold in the eyes but I inclose copy of a Mem. he left for me which will show you our plans for the publication of the book.
I must tell you one of his. He came to me in fits of laughter over Mrs. Tulliver's notable expedition to bring old Wakem to her side. 516 He has just had a precisely similar case. With great skill he was arranging to get a deceased bookbinder's business carried on for the benefit of his widow and family when all his plans were knocked on the head by the poor woman thrusting herself in and confiding all her hopes and fears to the very man on whom he was working, viz. her late husband's foreman, and he accordingly has done her. I daresay however that our arms will be long enough to protect this Scottish Mrs. Tulliver to some extent. I have called the chapter received today the second last as Lewes seemed to indicate, but I hardly think it possible as you have so much work before you.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | March 20/60.
My Dear Madam
Your second last chapter 511 arrived safely today and will go out in proof to you along with this. I must write you a line of congratulation without waiting for the last chapter, which I hope to see on Thursday morning. The Mill on the Floss is safe for immortality.
Of course in spite of Lewes' strict injunctions I fastened upon these two last chapters the moment I secured them. Nothing short of a point of honour would have restrained me.
Bob Jakin's attempt to convey his sympathy to Maggie 512 is beyond price. Never surely were pathos and exquisite humour more beautifully combined. Bob is the prince of packmen and a gentleman. In his reply to Dr. Kenn 513 he will have the ardent sympathy of every one who has groaned under the inforced idleness of a dull sermon, and who has not?
I do not envy the man who can read the scene where Lucy appears and falls on Maggie's neck 514 without being affected to tears. It is overpowering and touching and beautiful and is moreover exactly what was wanted to relieve the reader's feelings as well as Maggie's. The skill too with which it is indicated that dear Lucy's is a sorrow which may not be without hope like poor Maggie's is very fine.
I early foresaw that good Dr. Kenn would play a part and he comes in most happily. The illustration that his effort to put Maggie's character in the right light was as hopeless as a struggle to change the shape of bonnets 515 made me burst out laughing. Aunt Glegg is great. Several times in reading these last chapters I have found myself start from my seat and walk to the Major's adjoining room exclaiming "By God she is a wonderful woman." The exclamation was irreverent, quite superfluous, and has a rude sound but I felt impelled to speak and the emphasis conveyed volumes of heartfelt admiration, so I hope to be excused.
I await with trembling impatience the Catastrophe.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. M. E. Lewes.
Mr. Simpson, I am sorry to say, is confined to the house with cold in the eyes but I inclose copy of a Mem. he left for me which will show you our plans for the publication of the book.
I must tell you one of his. He came to me in fits of laughter over Mrs. Tulliver's notable expedition to bring old Wakem to her side. 516 He has just had a precisely similar case. With great skill he was arranging to get a deceased bookbinder's business carried on for the benefit of his widow and family when all his plans were knocked on the head by the poor woman thrusting herself in and confiding all her hopes and fears to the very man on whom he was working, viz. her late husband's foreman, and he accordingly has done her. I daresay however that our arms will be long enough to protect this Scottish Mrs. Tulliver to some extent. I have called the chapter received today the second last as Lewes seemed to indicate, but I hardly think it possible as you have so much work before you.
Signature
Mrs. M. E. Lewes.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 March 1860, 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/95215