John Blackwood to GHL, London, 23 May 1858
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, London, 23 May 1858
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, London, 23 May 1858
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Henry Lewes
Date(s)
- 1858-05-23
Place
London
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GHL, London, 23 May 1858
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: John Blackwood, p. 42.
The Cavendish, Jermyn St. | May 23/58.
My Dear Lewes
I have been paying some visits, and since I came to London a week ago the whirl of engagements has left me no leisure, or rather energy, to get through more than the daily proofs and M.S.S. which every day supplies. This must be my excuse for not sooner answering your pleasant note from Munich, where I am glad to hear that George Eliot and you find so much to interest and amuse you. You are well entitled to a hearty welcome from the Germans and it is to the credit of the Goethe and pipe loving race that they are so cordial. By all means send the Translation from Liebig's Lecture 1137 for the Magazine, unless you think it could appear more advantageously in some other form. I think however that it will suit the Mag. and that will be the best way of making it known in England.
My silence as to the sales of Clerical Scenes and Seaside Studies prevented, I am sorry to say, your having no good news to give. Inclosed is Mr. Langford's mem. of the state of sales in London. It is aggravating but we cannot compel the brutes to buy. As to the Sea-side Studies I have no doubt the edition will go off as the season gets on. We are advertising and I think some copies are gone since this mem. was made out a week ago.
In regard to the Clerical Scenes I am still confident that we will do [them] in a cheaper form, and tell G.E. that I am satisfied the great point is gained, viz., that degree of reputation which ensures a market and readers for the author's next work. The book is talked of everywhere and I am excessively surprised that the sale has not been greater, although to a certain extent I understand it. The following will perhaps interest and amuse G.E. I was smoking my cigar and watching the betters in the enclosure in front of the Stand on the Derby day when I was accosted by Newdigate, 1138 the member for Warwickshire, who after some talk on politics etc. said, "Do you know that you have been publishing a capital series of stories in the Mag., the Clerical Scenes, all about my place and County." My disbelief availed nothing. He knew the author, a Mr. Liggers. This is I think the same unfortunate patronymic that the Manx Cat selected as the author's.
Liggers has not acknowledged the authorship but Newdigate said he had written to him accusing him of it but saying that the stories were told with so much delicacy, good taste, and good feeling that no offence could possibly be taken. Oldinport he said was old Sir Roger Newdigate, and he could send me a key to the whole characters. 1139 The date he considered about the beginning of the present century although more recent characters were introduced. The perfect conviction of Newdigate in the truth of his surmises was very curious, and G.E. must write me a line with a message to him. Newdigate is a capital specimen of an honest high minded English gentleman and Squire, and his opinion is excellent evidence as to the existence of the qualities he attributed to the Tales.
I went to the Isle of Wight to the Revd. J. White, 1140 as I think I told you I intended. Great fun we had, White being one of the most humorous of men. We had one delightful day at Freshwater with Tennyson 1141 whom I had never met before. He was exceedingly pleasant and took Mrs. Blackwood and me a walk nominally of 3 miles which lasted 3 hours at a good pace.
Of literary men the chief specimens I have seen since coming to Town are Bulwer, Thackeray, Warren, 1142 and A. Smith. Bulwer is in great form and I do not think he cares much whether he is to be a Cabinet Minister or not. I hope he will, as I think he has the best head in the House of Commons. I never met any one whose views were so clear and statesmanlike. Very few have any idea what a shrewd practical man he is and how ready to consult the opinions and wishes of others.
Thackeray's daughters had a soir'e9e last night and to be out of the way of the preparations the venerable man dined with us. He says he cannot get ahead with the Virginians and was desperately pushed with the last number, having written the last 16 pages in one day, the last he had to spare. The last two numbers are, I think, better than their predecessors, but he must improve much or the book will not keep up his reputation. He spoke of the Clerical Scenes in the usual terms of praise. By the way Bulwer, as also his son, 1143 a very clever young fellow, spoke in the highest terms of your articles.
The indefatigable Albert 1144 seems pretty well done at present, and no wonder. Fancy playing on that confounded horn and telling the same stories for two thousand nights. He will be greatly the better of his trip to China and I doubt not he will popularise China and give the public a clearer idea of the Chinese than we have hitherto derived from the Tea Chests and three fellows in pigtails crossing the bridge on the old blue plates.
How does Adam Bede get on? Let me know if you wish me to remit or pay into a banker here the honoraria for your Magazine papers.
With best regards to G.E.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes Esq.
Ministers are now pretty safe for the Session unless Dizzy 1145 commits some absurdity.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: John Blackwood, p. 42.
The Cavendish, Jermyn St. | May 23/58.
My Dear Lewes
I have been paying some visits, and since I came to London a week ago the whirl of engagements has left me no leisure, or rather energy, to get through more than the daily proofs and M.S.S. which every day supplies. This must be my excuse for not sooner answering your pleasant note from Munich, where I am glad to hear that George Eliot and you find so much to interest and amuse you. You are well entitled to a hearty welcome from the Germans and it is to the credit of the Goethe and pipe loving race that they are so cordial. By all means send the Translation from Liebig's Lecture 1137 for the Magazine, unless you think it could appear more advantageously in some other form. I think however that it will suit the Mag. and that will be the best way of making it known in England.
My silence as to the sales of Clerical Scenes and Seaside Studies prevented, I am sorry to say, your having no good news to give. Inclosed is Mr. Langford's mem. of the state of sales in London. It is aggravating but we cannot compel the brutes to buy. As to the Sea-side Studies I have no doubt the edition will go off as the season gets on. We are advertising and I think some copies are gone since this mem. was made out a week ago.
In regard to the Clerical Scenes I am still confident that we will do [them] in a cheaper form, and tell G.E. that I am satisfied the great point is gained, viz., that degree of reputation which ensures a market and readers for the author's next work. The book is talked of everywhere and I am excessively surprised that the sale has not been greater, although to a certain extent I understand it. The following will perhaps interest and amuse G.E. I was smoking my cigar and watching the betters in the enclosure in front of the Stand on the Derby day when I was accosted by Newdigate, 1138 the member for Warwickshire, who after some talk on politics etc. said, "Do you know that you have been publishing a capital series of stories in the Mag., the Clerical Scenes, all about my place and County." My disbelief availed nothing. He knew the author, a Mr. Liggers. This is I think the same unfortunate patronymic that the Manx Cat selected as the author's.
Liggers has not acknowledged the authorship but Newdigate said he had written to him accusing him of it but saying that the stories were told with so much delicacy, good taste, and good feeling that no offence could possibly be taken. Oldinport he said was old Sir Roger Newdigate, and he could send me a key to the whole characters. 1139 The date he considered about the beginning of the present century although more recent characters were introduced. The perfect conviction of Newdigate in the truth of his surmises was very curious, and G.E. must write me a line with a message to him. Newdigate is a capital specimen of an honest high minded English gentleman and Squire, and his opinion is excellent evidence as to the existence of the qualities he attributed to the Tales.
I went to the Isle of Wight to the Revd. J. White, 1140 as I think I told you I intended. Great fun we had, White being one of the most humorous of men. We had one delightful day at Freshwater with Tennyson 1141 whom I had never met before. He was exceedingly pleasant and took Mrs. Blackwood and me a walk nominally of 3 miles which lasted 3 hours at a good pace.
Of literary men the chief specimens I have seen since coming to Town are Bulwer, Thackeray, Warren, 1142 and A. Smith. Bulwer is in great form and I do not think he cares much whether he is to be a Cabinet Minister or not. I hope he will, as I think he has the best head in the House of Commons. I never met any one whose views were so clear and statesmanlike. Very few have any idea what a shrewd practical man he is and how ready to consult the opinions and wishes of others.
Thackeray's daughters had a soir'e9e last night and to be out of the way of the preparations the venerable man dined with us. He says he cannot get ahead with the Virginians and was desperately pushed with the last number, having written the last 16 pages in one day, the last he had to spare. The last two numbers are, I think, better than their predecessors, but he must improve much or the book will not keep up his reputation. He spoke of the Clerical Scenes in the usual terms of praise. By the way Bulwer, as also his son, 1143 a very clever young fellow, spoke in the highest terms of your articles.
The indefatigable Albert 1144 seems pretty well done at present, and no wonder. Fancy playing on that confounded horn and telling the same stories for two thousand nights. He will be greatly the better of his trip to China and I doubt not he will popularise China and give the public a clearer idea of the Chinese than we have hitherto derived from the Tea Chests and three fellows in pigtails crossing the bridge on the old blue plates.
How does Adam Bede get on? Let me know if you wish me to remit or pay into a banker here the honoraria for your Magazine papers.
With best regards to G.E.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes Esq.
Ministers are now pretty safe for the Session unless Dizzy 1145 commits some absurdity.
Signature
G. H. Lewes Esq.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GHL, London, 23 May 1858, 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/95431