John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 6 January 1860
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 6 January 1860
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 6 January 1860
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1860-01-06
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 6 January 1860
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | January 6/60.
My Dear Madam
It is a real pleasure to receive such a letter as yours, which I got yesterday. Since then we have all been considering the various Titles proposed, and this morning it suddenly came across me that
The Mill on the Floss would be an appropriate Title and in some respects more appropriate and curiously exciting than any of those suggested. It has too a sort of poetical sound.
The Major and I rather inclined for Sister Maggie, but as the early part of the story is so much about children I think Lewes' objection is valid. Mr. Simpson to whom we showed the proposed titles was for the House of Tulliver or Life on the Floss, but now we all incline for The Mill. The Title however is of no great moment and whatever you fix upon will be best.
It will be as well to advertise in the next number of The Magazine so send down what you think should be said. Mention when you think we may be able to publish. I do not mean this for announcement in the advert[isement] but that we may consider whether we are not giving too long notice of the good things that are coming.
The dates you propose for the payments, viz. 'a31000 at 6 months and 'a31000 at 9 months from date of publication, are quite agreeable to us.
With regard to the Clerical Scenes we have been thinking a good deal, and our proposition is to print another edition of 1000 at 12/- which, placing the book on the same permanent footing as the new novel and the future editions of Adam Bede, will yield you 'a3150.
Looking to Clerical Scenes as an individual book, this is the worst proposition for us pecuniarily that we could make, but considering the large interests both you and we have in the other books, we think it is the wisest course. A 6/- Clerical Scenes would naturally lead to the expectation of a 6/- Adam and that again to a 6/- edition of the new novel, which might be very fatal to the 12/- edition. When we come to have the three books there will really be something to be made out of a uniform edition of them at 6/-. They will help instead of hurt each other.
I fancy the present edition of Clerical Scenes is about sold out, so we should print at once. 451 There were sold in London in December 39 copies and the same number in previous month.
I had no opportunty of asking Sir Edward what he got from foreigners, but something like 150 'a3 from America and 'a375 from Germany strikes me as having been at one time the rate, but now I think it is more. I am however very uncertain. Sir Edward will be very glad indeed to make your acquaintance and also to renew that with Lewes. I am to send the address, which I shall do in writing today or tomorrow. He is looking better than I have seen him for years, although he complains a little of cold on the chest.
I intended to have written to Lewes but as I have got on to a new sheet of paper and have nothing particular to say, merely ask you to tell him that I am greatly amused with his animated interview with Cooke. It will not I fear do any good. A bird like Cooke cannot at any time feel the respect due to a man of genius, however much you may dislike the man or his principles. Inflated too by the success of the Saturday and surrounded by cleverish sharp disappointed men like the Reviewers there, he will consider them the equals of Bulwer, Dickens or any body and entitled to dogmatism accordingly. I am not sorry to pause and consider the Darwin a bit.
The Major sends his regards and believe me,
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. M. E. Lewes.
I am glad the review of Fielding is on the stocks.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | January 6/60.
My Dear Madam
It is a real pleasure to receive such a letter as yours, which I got yesterday. Since then we have all been considering the various Titles proposed, and this morning it suddenly came across me that
The Mill on the Floss would be an appropriate Title and in some respects more appropriate and curiously exciting than any of those suggested. It has too a sort of poetical sound.
The Major and I rather inclined for Sister Maggie, but as the early part of the story is so much about children I think Lewes' objection is valid. Mr. Simpson to whom we showed the proposed titles was for the House of Tulliver or Life on the Floss, but now we all incline for The Mill. The Title however is of no great moment and whatever you fix upon will be best.
It will be as well to advertise in the next number of The Magazine so send down what you think should be said. Mention when you think we may be able to publish. I do not mean this for announcement in the advert[isement] but that we may consider whether we are not giving too long notice of the good things that are coming.
The dates you propose for the payments, viz. 'a31000 at 6 months and 'a31000 at 9 months from date of publication, are quite agreeable to us.
With regard to the Clerical Scenes we have been thinking a good deal, and our proposition is to print another edition of 1000 at 12/- which, placing the book on the same permanent footing as the new novel and the future editions of Adam Bede, will yield you 'a3150.
Looking to Clerical Scenes as an individual book, this is the worst proposition for us pecuniarily that we could make, but considering the large interests both you and we have in the other books, we think it is the wisest course. A 6/- Clerical Scenes would naturally lead to the expectation of a 6/- Adam and that again to a 6/- edition of the new novel, which might be very fatal to the 12/- edition. When we come to have the three books there will really be something to be made out of a uniform edition of them at 6/-. They will help instead of hurt each other.
I fancy the present edition of Clerical Scenes is about sold out, so we should print at once. 451 There were sold in London in December 39 copies and the same number in previous month.
I had no opportunty of asking Sir Edward what he got from foreigners, but something like 150 'a3 from America and 'a375 from Germany strikes me as having been at one time the rate, but now I think it is more. I am however very uncertain. Sir Edward will be very glad indeed to make your acquaintance and also to renew that with Lewes. I am to send the address, which I shall do in writing today or tomorrow. He is looking better than I have seen him for years, although he complains a little of cold on the chest.
I intended to have written to Lewes but as I have got on to a new sheet of paper and have nothing particular to say, merely ask you to tell him that I am greatly amused with his animated interview with Cooke. It will not I fear do any good. A bird like Cooke cannot at any time feel the respect due to a man of genius, however much you may dislike the man or his principles. Inflated too by the success of the Saturday and surrounded by cleverish sharp disappointed men like the Reviewers there, he will consider them the equals of Bulwer, Dickens or any body and entitled to dogmatism accordingly. I am not sorry to pause and consider the Darwin a bit.
The Major sends his regards and believe me,
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. M. E. Lewes.
I am glad the review of Fielding is on the stocks.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 6 January 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/95285