John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 25 November 1876
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 25 November 1876
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 25 November 1876
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Henry Lewes
Date(s)
- 1876-11-25
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 25 November 1876
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
George Street, | Edinburgh.
November 25/76.
My Dear Lewes
I have much pleasure in receiving your frank acceptance of our proposal for The Works and I sincerely hope the result will be a good steady sum to be settled yearly.
Like you I was rather startled when I found we had printed 2000 of Daniel in the 21/form although I have no doubt I had settled or assented to the number. However even if it should hang on hand for a time it will always be good stock and I would not allow it to interfere with bringing out the 7/6 edition when the right time comes.
I am sorry to hear of the three or four errors. Are they worth mentioning in an Errata at the end or a cancel or two? Simpson says he wrote to inquire whether there were any corrections for the reprint and the answer was no. I too remember something of this when we printed for Australia.
The Jews should be the most interesting people in the world, but even her magic pen cannot at once make them a popular element in a Novel. The discussion however goes on and the power she has expended on the despised element will tell and force its way. The fact is that Mrs. Lewes stands on such a pinnacle that the Critics are (unconsciously perhaps) glad to fix upon anything they can possibly mention as a flaw. Great success always bears this penalty with it. Bulwer felt it keenly and so did Dickens and Thackeray in a lesser degree. I remember a very hearty laugh with dear old Aytoun. He was complaining humorously of his treatment by the Press in his maturer years and said "Confound the fellows. They used to make me blush at their praises but now they have found out I am a Sheriff and a Professor they won't leave a literary feather on my back." 566
We have famous wintry weather here now and I hope it is agreeing with Mrs. Lewes and you. My wife and I are alone, our daughter having gone to visit her Aunts in England. It is a sad blank in the house but we have always a good deal to talk and think about.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
George Street, | Edinburgh.
November 25/76.
My Dear Lewes
I have much pleasure in receiving your frank acceptance of our proposal for The Works and I sincerely hope the result will be a good steady sum to be settled yearly.
Like you I was rather startled when I found we had printed 2000 of Daniel in the 21/form although I have no doubt I had settled or assented to the number. However even if it should hang on hand for a time it will always be good stock and I would not allow it to interfere with bringing out the 7/6 edition when the right time comes.
I am sorry to hear of the three or four errors. Are they worth mentioning in an Errata at the end or a cancel or two? Simpson says he wrote to inquire whether there were any corrections for the reprint and the answer was no. I too remember something of this when we printed for Australia.
The Jews should be the most interesting people in the world, but even her magic pen cannot at once make them a popular element in a Novel. The discussion however goes on and the power she has expended on the despised element will tell and force its way. The fact is that Mrs. Lewes stands on such a pinnacle that the Critics are (unconsciously perhaps) glad to fix upon anything they can possibly mention as a flaw. Great success always bears this penalty with it. Bulwer felt it keenly and so did Dickens and Thackeray in a lesser degree. I remember a very hearty laugh with dear old Aytoun. He was complaining humorously of his treatment by the Press in his maturer years and said "Confound the fellows. They used to make me blush at their praises but now they have found out I am a Sheriff and a Professor they won't leave a literary feather on my back." 566
We have famous wintry weather here now and I hope it is agreeing with Mrs. Lewes and you. My wife and I are alone, our daughter having gone to visit her Aunts in England. It is a sad blank in the house but we have always a good deal to talk and think about.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 25 November 1876, 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/95401