John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 8 August 1872
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 8 August 1872
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 8 August 1872
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Henry Lewes
Date(s)
- 1872-08-08
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 8 August 1872
Text: Copy in Blackwood Letter Book. Hitherto unpublished.
George Street | Edinburgh | August 8/72.
My Dear Lewes
I enclose a Memorandum of state of sales and stock of Middlemarch first four Numbers up to 25th July and a Bill for £1434.4/- at 6 Mos. from 10th July being the balance then due as per inclosed.
I also enclose cheque £100. being money received from Australia for the use of Middlemarch in Newspaper there, and there is to be £100. more from same source. 576 You owe this to Mr. Simpson who by a series of masterly letters brought the Australians up to the point.
The sale I know is not up to what you expected originally but considering the price of the book and the infamous habit the public have got into of not buying Novels I think we have great reason to be pleased, and as to the success d'estime, I do not think it could have been exceeded.
Thank Mrs. Lewes for her pleasant letter which I received yesterday. I am very sorry to hear that she has been poorly but I hope she is now better and when the great book is fairly finished I think you should set off on a foreign tour. Next to a game of Golf it is the best thing for the constitution and as Mrs. Lewes, although she showed talent that time at Black Heath, cannot enjoy the great game I recommend the Tour.
Simpson is better but still very far from strong. Willie and he send their best regards and believe me
Always Yours Truly
(Signed) John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes Esq.
Middlemarch Prestn Copies to Reviewers etc. "Odd Books" gratis to Trade (25 as 24) Sold On hand Total Printed
Book I. 112 234 5584 770 6700
Book II. 106 196 4724 487 5513
Book III. 91 187 4503 469 5250
Book IV. 91 188 4531 440 5250 at Royalty of 2/ per Book £1934.4-
Cash paid to A/C April 2 500.-
July 1872.
Text: Copy in Blackwood Letter Book. Hitherto unpublished.
George Street | Edinburgh | August 8/72.
My Dear Lewes
I enclose a Memorandum of state of sales and stock of Middlemarch first four Numbers up to 25th July and a Bill for £1434.4/- at 6 Mos. from 10th July being the balance then due as per inclosed.
I also enclose cheque £100. being money received from Australia for the use of Middlemarch in Newspaper there, and there is to be £100. more from same source. 576 You owe this to Mr. Simpson who by a series of masterly letters brought the Australians up to the point.
The sale I know is not up to what you expected originally but considering the price of the book and the infamous habit the public have got into of not buying Novels I think we have great reason to be pleased, and as to the success d'estime, I do not think it could have been exceeded.
Thank Mrs. Lewes for her pleasant letter which I received yesterday. I am very sorry to hear that she has been poorly but I hope she is now better and when the great book is fairly finished I think you should set off on a foreign tour. Next to a game of Golf it is the best thing for the constitution and as Mrs. Lewes, although she showed talent that time at Black Heath, cannot enjoy the great game I recommend the Tour.
Simpson is better but still very far from strong. Willie and he send their best regards and believe me
Always Yours Truly
(Signed) John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes Esq.
Middlemarch Prestn Copies to Reviewers etc. "Odd Books" gratis to Trade (25 as 24) Sold On hand Total Printed
Book I. 112 234 5584 770 6700
Book II. 106 196 4724 487 5513
Book III. 91 187 4503 469 5250
Book IV. 91 188 4531 440 5250 at Royalty of 2/ per Book £1934.4-
Cash paid to A/C April 2 500.-
July 1872.
Signature
(Signed) John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 8 August 1872, 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/95429