John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 25 February 1872
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 25 February 1872
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 25 February 1872
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1872-02-25
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 25 February 1872
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Randolph Crescent
February 25/72.
My Dear Mrs. Lewes
It gave me much pleasure to receive your interesting letter yesterday and I am happy to say the sales of Middlemarch continue. Simpkins had a 100 Book Two upon Friday which looks like the demand from out and out purchasers.
Do not disturb yourself about Book III being thin -- there is the matter of volumes in it. That capture of Lydgate 466 is worth a volume. Besides the acute Simpson is using paper for the part which will make it bulk about the same as the others. This will amuse Lewes who I hope is better.
I fear it is going hard with poor William Smith, and it would be very kind if Lewes could go down to see him. I had not heard that it was heart, but felt from his wife's letters and his that he must be very ill. My wife's sisters, Miss Blandfords, are at Brighton and they report him very cheerful and pleasant as usual but looking very weak indeed.
Send down Book IV at once and we shall get it into type immediately. I am most eager to see it.
I quite agree with you about Mr. Main. He is not like an ordinary "gusher" at all. 467 He does pour forth certainly, but he gives a reason for the faith that is in him.
I am now quite well. Better indeed I think than I was before the illness. I shall not however I believe feel all right until I have been to Golf, which the weather at present is against.
Hoping to hear from you with M.S. almost immediately, Believe me
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Randolph Crescent
February 25/72.
My Dear Mrs. Lewes
It gave me much pleasure to receive your interesting letter yesterday and I am happy to say the sales of Middlemarch continue. Simpkins had a 100 Book Two upon Friday which looks like the demand from out and out purchasers.
Do not disturb yourself about Book III being thin -- there is the matter of volumes in it. That capture of Lydgate 466 is worth a volume. Besides the acute Simpson is using paper for the part which will make it bulk about the same as the others. This will amuse Lewes who I hope is better.
I fear it is going hard with poor William Smith, and it would be very kind if Lewes could go down to see him. I had not heard that it was heart, but felt from his wife's letters and his that he must be very ill. My wife's sisters, Miss Blandfords, are at Brighton and they report him very cheerful and pleasant as usual but looking very weak indeed.
Send down Book IV at once and we shall get it into type immediately. I am most eager to see it.
I quite agree with you about Mr. Main. He is not like an ordinary "gusher" at all. 467 He does pour forth certainly, but he gives a reason for the faith that is in him.
I am now quite well. Better indeed I think than I was before the illness. I shall not however I believe feel all right until I have been to Golf, which the weather at present is against.
Hoping to hear from you with M.S. almost immediately, Believe me
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 25 February 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/95239