John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 9 February 1860
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 9 February 1860
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 9 February 1860
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1860-02-09
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 9 February 1860
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | February 9/60.
My Dear Madam
I inclose four more sheets of The Mill. I have been laughing immoderately over them. They are far better than I thought. In fact in reading the M.S. I was so eager to get on that I could not have the full enjoyment of the excellent turns of humour and even feared that some might think the narrative dragged, but there is nothing of the kind. You are irresistible. That visit to Mrs. Pullet with her "deputy scraper" bonnet etc. etc. and the domestic scene between Mr. and Mrs. Glegg are grand. 472 The softening of good old Tulliver's heart is beautifully done and Mrs. Moss with her 8 children sorrowing over the lost twins is delicious. 473
The scene of poor Maggie's return from her Gipsy flight 474 is a great stroke of art, that is to say it is perfectly natural.
The Major and the rest of the family here who are reading the sheets are enchanted. I am particularly glad to see the way the ladies are taking to Maggie.
No passage in these sheets occurs to me for comment except the description of Mrs. Moss as a "patient etc. woman." 475 It is excessively good, but as some might take exception to it, I think I would alter it. If I had seen the last sheet before it went to you I would have suggested a modification of Mrs. Pullet's graphic description of the dropsy patient which is very humorous but perhaps strong enough. I reinclose the sheet containing the passage in case on looking at it again you should feel inclined to alter. 476
Tell Lewes that his concluding chapter has arrived all right
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. M. E. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | February 9/60.
My Dear Madam
I inclose four more sheets of The Mill. I have been laughing immoderately over them. They are far better than I thought. In fact in reading the M.S. I was so eager to get on that I could not have the full enjoyment of the excellent turns of humour and even feared that some might think the narrative dragged, but there is nothing of the kind. You are irresistible. That visit to Mrs. Pullet with her "deputy scraper" bonnet etc. etc. and the domestic scene between Mr. and Mrs. Glegg are grand. 472 The softening of good old Tulliver's heart is beautifully done and Mrs. Moss with her 8 children sorrowing over the lost twins is delicious. 473
The scene of poor Maggie's return from her Gipsy flight 474 is a great stroke of art, that is to say it is perfectly natural.
The Major and the rest of the family here who are reading the sheets are enchanted. I am particularly glad to see the way the ladies are taking to Maggie.
No passage in these sheets occurs to me for comment except the description of Mrs. Moss as a "patient etc. woman." 475 It is excessively good, but as some might take exception to it, I think I would alter it. If I had seen the last sheet before it went to you I would have suggested a modification of Mrs. Pullet's graphic description of the dropsy patient which is very humorous but perhaps strong enough. I reinclose the sheet containing the passage in case on looking at it again you should feel inclined to alter. 476
Tell Lewes that his concluding chapter has arrived all right
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. M. E. Lewes.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 9 February 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/95298