John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 March 1867(1)
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 March 1867(1)
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 March 1867(1)
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1867-03-20
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 March 1867
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | March 20/67.
My Dear Madam
Along with this I send formal note and order for £2166.13.4d and I now write to say how glad I am to hear that you have got safe back after an expedition so successful and pleasant in every way. I only hope that the abominable weather will not throw Lewes back again. A howling northeast wind and sleet in St. John's Wood must be a painful contrast to the sunshine at Grenada, but a comfortable English house and fireside is not to be sneezed at.
I intended to have sent along with this a copy of the first part of the cheap edition of the novels, but Mr. Simpson has not yet got an impression of the cover and illustration thrown off to please his critical eye. The cover I think you will like, as it seems to me neat. The first illustration seems to me the worst of the lot, but some of them are really very good. I found it was no use fighting with the illustrators and that they must be allowed to have their own way in choice of subjects, and they assert that figures are the only things to tell. Some of the illustrations will, I doubt not, give you "a turn" but on the whole they are much better than I expected, and Mr. Cooper 602 has certainly spared no pains or trouble.
The 12/- Felix has, I am sorry to say, done very little. Our next adventure, I think, we must try some innovation in form of publication. This library system I feel to be a false one. 603 It fosters the production of mediocre novels, but of a really good book each copy is made to do duty some hundred times over. I have told Mr. Simpson to make the arrangement with Tauchnitz for the republication of Felix.
I am curious to hear about your work connected with Spain. Is it a Romance?
You once talked to me of a short work on home life something on the scale of Silas. Has that ever taken any shape in your thoughts? I observed the letter in the Pall Mall correcting the Edinburgh Review as to the law in Felix Holt.
I am amused with your view of Mr. Reeve. He is a very singular instance of the success of self satisfied mediocrity. I remember Oliphant and I one night speculating at the Cosmopolitan, when Reeve was sitting opposite to us, smiling complacently as usual, as to what could be the secret of his permanent success and position in life. We could hit upon no theory, unless it was his imposing Paunch.
Politics at present are worrying me, but as all are agreed that Reform must be, I think Household Suffrage is the best business, the most likely to be permanent.
I hope your cold is better in spite of the weather, and with best regards to Lewes, in which as also to yourself my nephew joins, Believe me, Dear Madam
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. M. E. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | March 20/67.
My Dear Madam
Along with this I send formal note and order for £2166.13.4d and I now write to say how glad I am to hear that you have got safe back after an expedition so successful and pleasant in every way. I only hope that the abominable weather will not throw Lewes back again. A howling northeast wind and sleet in St. John's Wood must be a painful contrast to the sunshine at Grenada, but a comfortable English house and fireside is not to be sneezed at.
I intended to have sent along with this a copy of the first part of the cheap edition of the novels, but Mr. Simpson has not yet got an impression of the cover and illustration thrown off to please his critical eye. The cover I think you will like, as it seems to me neat. The first illustration seems to me the worst of the lot, but some of them are really very good. I found it was no use fighting with the illustrators and that they must be allowed to have their own way in choice of subjects, and they assert that figures are the only things to tell. Some of the illustrations will, I doubt not, give you "a turn" but on the whole they are much better than I expected, and Mr. Cooper 602 has certainly spared no pains or trouble.
The 12/- Felix has, I am sorry to say, done very little. Our next adventure, I think, we must try some innovation in form of publication. This library system I feel to be a false one. 603 It fosters the production of mediocre novels, but of a really good book each copy is made to do duty some hundred times over. I have told Mr. Simpson to make the arrangement with Tauchnitz for the republication of Felix.
I am curious to hear about your work connected with Spain. Is it a Romance?
You once talked to me of a short work on home life something on the scale of Silas. Has that ever taken any shape in your thoughts? I observed the letter in the Pall Mall correcting the Edinburgh Review as to the law in Felix Holt.
I am amused with your view of Mr. Reeve. He is a very singular instance of the success of self satisfied mediocrity. I remember Oliphant and I one night speculating at the Cosmopolitan, when Reeve was sitting opposite to us, smiling complacently as usual, as to what could be the secret of his permanent success and position in life. We could hit upon no theory, unless it was his imposing Paunch.
Politics at present are worrying me, but as all are agreed that Reform must be, I think Household Suffrage is the best business, the most likely to be permanent.
I hope your cold is better in spite of the weather, and with best regards to Lewes, in which as also to yourself my nephew joins, Believe me, Dear Madam
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. M. E. Lewes.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 March 1867(1), 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/95216