John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 31 December 1871
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 31 December 1871
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 31 December 1871
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1871-12-31
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 31 December 1871
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
December 31/71.
My Dear Mrs. Lewes
I cannot let the year close without writing a line to wish Lewes and you health and happiness in the year which opens upon us tomorrow.
When I came out a little ago I left my wife deep in the "Sayings" with which she is perfectly delighted and told Principal Tulloch who lunched with us that they are undeniable Sunday reading. He had not taken up the volume himself but said his son was raving about it.
Simpkins and Whittakers have each had 25 Middlemarch recently, which looks as if the public were buying. The sale is [word illegible] something over five thousand. The change in the second part is I think an immense improvement and makes it most attractive. Mr. Simpson would acknowledge the third part, which is in the printers' hands.
I intended to have come to see you again before I left London but I could not get it made out. However I had nothing to say but to repeat congratulations on the reception of Middlemarch. Hamley only ran up for an afternoon and could not get to the Priory. This place is dull after Paris and London, but when I am not golfing I am working as hard as can be so it does not signify to me. I have laid down a rule to take two days golf each week and as the regimen is agreeable to me I am likely to stick to it. I found a brother enthusiast for golf in Capt. Thrupp of the Megaera. 429 You would have laughed if you had heard us go at it in the midst of his description of St. Paul. I hope you will like the way the Tale of the Megaera is told in the Magazine. From the way Puck (my daughter) and Jack devoured it I am in hopes the right chord is struck. Jack is away at St. Andrews for a little winter shooting but returns tomorrow. Hoping that you are both well I am
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
December 31/71.
My Dear Mrs. Lewes
I cannot let the year close without writing a line to wish Lewes and you health and happiness in the year which opens upon us tomorrow.
When I came out a little ago I left my wife deep in the "Sayings" with which she is perfectly delighted and told Principal Tulloch who lunched with us that they are undeniable Sunday reading. He had not taken up the volume himself but said his son was raving about it.
Simpkins and Whittakers have each had 25 Middlemarch recently, which looks as if the public were buying. The sale is [word illegible] something over five thousand. The change in the second part is I think an immense improvement and makes it most attractive. Mr. Simpson would acknowledge the third part, which is in the printers' hands.
I intended to have come to see you again before I left London but I could not get it made out. However I had nothing to say but to repeat congratulations on the reception of Middlemarch. Hamley only ran up for an afternoon and could not get to the Priory. This place is dull after Paris and London, but when I am not golfing I am working as hard as can be so it does not signify to me. I have laid down a rule to take two days golf each week and as the regimen is agreeable to me I am likely to stick to it. I found a brother enthusiast for golf in Capt. Thrupp of the Megaera. 429 You would have laughed if you had heard us go at it in the midst of his description of St. Paul. I hope you will like the way the Tale of the Megaera is told in the Magazine. From the way Puck (my daughter) and Jack devoured it I am in hopes the right chord is struck. Jack is away at St. Andrews for a little winter shooting but returns tomorrow. Hoping that you are both well I am
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 31 December 1871, 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/95275