John Blackwood to GHL, St. Andrews, 2 July 1868
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, St. Andrews, 2 July 1868
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, St. Andrews, 2 July 1868
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Henry Lewes
Date(s)
- 1868-07-02
Place
St. Andrews
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GHL, St. Andrews, 2 July 1868
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Strathtyrum | St. Andrews | July 2/68.
My Dear Lewes
I had the pleasure of receiving your letter from Petersthal and I think this should reach St. M'e4rgen about the time you proposed being there. I am glad to hear Mrs. Lewes is so well and enjoying the Black Forest. The sale of the Gypsy was going on very speedily all last week and I think there is now towards 1500 disposed of. There is a good deal of difference of opinion among the reviewers, some apparently suffering under the qualms which assailed me when I came to the turning point of the story. Still they all seem to be of opinion that something big is born into the world. I had to run up to London last week and I found a great many whose opinions I would have cared for were keeping the book to read when they got to the country -- Lord Lytton among the number.
I left London the night before last, passed yesterday forenoon in Edinburgh, and came on here in the evening. It was a hot fatiguing journey and I was said to be looking done, but this morning I am fresh as possible and am off to the links for a grand match which had been arranged in the prospect of my arrival.
Did you get a copy of Kinglake? 784 I intended that you should do so. Send for it when you return if you have not already got it. There has been a large sale and I seem to have hit the right number to print with it as well as the Gypsy which is lucky. None but a real expert can appreciate how much of great work there must be in such matters.
This place is looking lovely and the delight of the change from the heat and bustle of London is inexpressible. Our thermometer however is 74 in the shade.
Give my best regards to Mrs. Lewes, from whom I hope to hear one of these days. My expedition to London quite prevented from taking up The Earthly Paradise but I shall now have quiet for it. The more I see of London the more I am convinced that people read nothing there, at least during the season. I shall write again soon with any news.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Strathtyrum | St. Andrews | July 2/68.
My Dear Lewes
I had the pleasure of receiving your letter from Petersthal and I think this should reach St. M'e4rgen about the time you proposed being there. I am glad to hear Mrs. Lewes is so well and enjoying the Black Forest. The sale of the Gypsy was going on very speedily all last week and I think there is now towards 1500 disposed of. There is a good deal of difference of opinion among the reviewers, some apparently suffering under the qualms which assailed me when I came to the turning point of the story. Still they all seem to be of opinion that something big is born into the world. I had to run up to London last week and I found a great many whose opinions I would have cared for were keeping the book to read when they got to the country -- Lord Lytton among the number.
I left London the night before last, passed yesterday forenoon in Edinburgh, and came on here in the evening. It was a hot fatiguing journey and I was said to be looking done, but this morning I am fresh as possible and am off to the links for a grand match which had been arranged in the prospect of my arrival.
Did you get a copy of Kinglake? 784 I intended that you should do so. Send for it when you return if you have not already got it. There has been a large sale and I seem to have hit the right number to print with it as well as the Gypsy which is lucky. None but a real expert can appreciate how much of great work there must be in such matters.
This place is looking lovely and the delight of the change from the heat and bustle of London is inexpressible. Our thermometer however is 74 in the shade.
Give my best regards to Mrs. Lewes, from whom I hope to hear one of these days. My expedition to London quite prevented from taking up The Earthly Paradise but I shall now have quiet for it. The more I see of London the more I am convinced that people read nothing there, at least during the season. I shall write again soon with any news.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes Esq.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GHL, St. Andrews, 2 July 1868, 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/95437