John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 5 November 1857
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 5 November 1857
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 5 November 1857
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Henry Lewes
Date(s)
- 1857-11-05
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 5 November 1857
Text: Copy in Blackwood Letter Book, National Library of Scotland.
Edinburgh November 5th 1857.
My dear Lewes
I have just put your interesting paper on Phrenology 345 into the printing office. The only part where I would seriously object is when you seem to put Phrenology on the same platform as Medicine. I do not think you exactly intend to do so, but any difficulties can be obviated by putting the paper in the form of a letter. Phrenology has not, and never will, discover anything so useful to humanity as an humble black draught or seidlitz powder.
I like the whole of the Illustrations and the charge seems exceedingly moderate. The drawings have a genuine look which is a great thing. The book reads well and I begin to be sanguine. I should like to publish in December but this will depend on your returning the proofs for Press. Do not hurry yourself when you have such a man as Owen to consult and advise with.
Do you know much about Chemistry? I want to find a man who possesses a competent knowledge of science and at the same time writes a pleasant popular style to edit Johnston's Chemistry of Common Life. 346 Poor Johnston's own style was admirably clear and readable and this I have no doubt was the main cause of the wonderful success of the book.
I have once or twice spoken to Lyon Playfair 347 on the subject and he was to have called upon me about it. But as it is a long time ago and he has never come, I consider myself entirely free of him. The impression he made upon me, moreover, was that of not being qualified for the work, "more sound than sense" about him, as we say in Scotland. Of course this is all between ourselves.
Ever yours truly,
Sig[ne]d John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes, Esq.
Text: Copy in Blackwood Letter Book, National Library of Scotland.
Edinburgh November 5th 1857.
My dear Lewes
I have just put your interesting paper on Phrenology 345 into the printing office. The only part where I would seriously object is when you seem to put Phrenology on the same platform as Medicine. I do not think you exactly intend to do so, but any difficulties can be obviated by putting the paper in the form of a letter. Phrenology has not, and never will, discover anything so useful to humanity as an humble black draught or seidlitz powder.
I like the whole of the Illustrations and the charge seems exceedingly moderate. The drawings have a genuine look which is a great thing. The book reads well and I begin to be sanguine. I should like to publish in December but this will depend on your returning the proofs for Press. Do not hurry yourself when you have such a man as Owen to consult and advise with.
Do you know much about Chemistry? I want to find a man who possesses a competent knowledge of science and at the same time writes a pleasant popular style to edit Johnston's Chemistry of Common Life. 346 Poor Johnston's own style was admirably clear and readable and this I have no doubt was the main cause of the wonderful success of the book.
I have once or twice spoken to Lyon Playfair 347 on the subject and he was to have called upon me about it. But as it is a long time ago and he has never come, I consider myself entirely free of him. The impression he made upon me, moreover, was that of not being qualified for the work, "more sound than sense" about him, as we say in Scotland. Of course this is all between ourselves.
Ever yours truly,
Sig[ne]d John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes, Esq.
Signature
Sig[ne]d John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 5 November 1857, 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/95420