John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 6 December 1867
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 6 December 1867
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 6 December 1867
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1867-12-06
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 6 December 1867
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: John Blackwood, pp. 376-377.
Edinburgh December 6/67.
My Dear Madam
I inclose proof of your noble Address to the Working Men. 693 I wish the poor fellows were capable of appreciating it. If they were we should be all right, but it will do great good and is exactly what I expected that you would write.
Should there be a preliminary note from me or a note from you to the Editor? I incline for the last, as I know that anything I could say would sound quite discordant beside your perfect English. At foot of first page do you not allow too much weight to the assumption that the franchise makes the working man the master? The allegation in the House was made as a sarcasm by those opposed to the Bill. 694
Your picture of "the ignoble martyrdom of fools" 695 which would be their fate if they allowed the mob and mob orators to mislead them and destroyed the class who have leisure and refinement to think and legislate is perfect. According to my knowledge of working men, which is not inconsiderable, the good among them are thoroughly up to the useless self-seeking character of their own noisy demagogues, and I think you may say something more on that head.
The first part of the Great Poem is now all in type. It is wonderful. I find myself reading and rereading and I feel myself quite incompetent to say all I think of it, especially within half an hour of post time. Shall I send up the proof? You may feel satisfied that Fidalma will add another wreath to your laurels. I really feel that I do not know how rightly to express myself about it.
I think Lewes will shout out, Why has he not sent proof, and I think I would, had I not left it at Randolph Cres[cent]. Willie tells me that he had a most pleasant forenoon at the Priory, and your visitor turned out to be a grand-daughter of my own friend and my father's friend, excellent old Mrs. Hughes. 696
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: John Blackwood, pp. 376-377.
Edinburgh December 6/67.
My Dear Madam
I inclose proof of your noble Address to the Working Men. 693 I wish the poor fellows were capable of appreciating it. If they were we should be all right, but it will do great good and is exactly what I expected that you would write.
Should there be a preliminary note from me or a note from you to the Editor? I incline for the last, as I know that anything I could say would sound quite discordant beside your perfect English. At foot of first page do you not allow too much weight to the assumption that the franchise makes the working man the master? The allegation in the House was made as a sarcasm by those opposed to the Bill. 694
Your picture of "the ignoble martyrdom of fools" 695 which would be their fate if they allowed the mob and mob orators to mislead them and destroyed the class who have leisure and refinement to think and legislate is perfect. According to my knowledge of working men, which is not inconsiderable, the good among them are thoroughly up to the useless self-seeking character of their own noisy demagogues, and I think you may say something more on that head.
The first part of the Great Poem is now all in type. It is wonderful. I find myself reading and rereading and I feel myself quite incompetent to say all I think of it, especially within half an hour of post time. Shall I send up the proof? You may feel satisfied that Fidalma will add another wreath to your laurels. I really feel that I do not know how rightly to express myself about it.
I think Lewes will shout out, Why has he not sent proof, and I think I would, had I not left it at Randolph Cres[cent]. Willie tells me that he had a most pleasant forenoon at the Priory, and your visitor turned out to be a grand-daughter of my own friend and my father's friend, excellent old Mrs. Hughes. 696
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. Lewes.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 6 December 1867, 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/95284