John Blackwood to GHL, St. Andrews, 9 October 1871
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, St. Andrews, 9 October 1871
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, St. Andrews, 9 October 1871
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Henry Lewes
Date(s)
- 1871-10-09
Place
St. Andrews
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GHL, St. Andrews, 9 October 1871
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: John Blackwood, p. 381.
Strathtyrum | St. Andrews | N.B.
October 9/71.
My Dear Lewes
Give my best regards to Mrs. Lewes and tell her that she who can administer to the world such glorious Tonics as Middlemarch must speedily cure herself of all ailments.
I put off the rereading in Type with a sort of "slow reluctant" loving delay (which I daresay you well understand) until yesterday when my wife, not being "too religious for family comfort," having accepted my apologies for not accompanying her to Church, I sat down to the proof.
It transcends even my recollections of the first perusual in M.S. and I passed the greater part of the day reading grinning and thinking as I read. Our scheme should succeed as this first part took me as much time to read as I would devote to many a large volume. I found myself pausing upon nearly every page to laugh and think over something equally happy in thought and expression. There is a perfect wealth of thought and fun and then it is real life. When I was transferred to the Vincy breakfast room 378 I almost exclaimed aloud "By Jove she is equally at home here."
If I might venture a doubt about anything it is Mr. Casaubon's letter proposing. It is exceedingly funny but I mean is it not too transparently so not to strike even a girl so devoted to wisdom as poor dear Dodo.
As I read I frequently thought of that American arrangement and I wish you had consulted me before making it. It will be impossible to prevent those brilliant happy thoughts and sayings from spreading over this country the moment they can reach it. To be sure this as I said before may act in two ways. It may take off the freshness but that may be counterbalanced by the curiosity and the general expectation excited let us hope the counterbalance will prevail.
I am going into Edin[burg]h at once and take Mr. Main's letters with me and shall write to you from thence. I mean to return here in a few days. With renewed congratulations to Mrs. Lewes I am
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: John Blackwood, p. 381.
Strathtyrum | St. Andrews | N.B.
October 9/71.
My Dear Lewes
Give my best regards to Mrs. Lewes and tell her that she who can administer to the world such glorious Tonics as Middlemarch must speedily cure herself of all ailments.
I put off the rereading in Type with a sort of "slow reluctant" loving delay (which I daresay you well understand) until yesterday when my wife, not being "too religious for family comfort," having accepted my apologies for not accompanying her to Church, I sat down to the proof.
It transcends even my recollections of the first perusual in M.S. and I passed the greater part of the day reading grinning and thinking as I read. Our scheme should succeed as this first part took me as much time to read as I would devote to many a large volume. I found myself pausing upon nearly every page to laugh and think over something equally happy in thought and expression. There is a perfect wealth of thought and fun and then it is real life. When I was transferred to the Vincy breakfast room 378 I almost exclaimed aloud "By Jove she is equally at home here."
If I might venture a doubt about anything it is Mr. Casaubon's letter proposing. It is exceedingly funny but I mean is it not too transparently so not to strike even a girl so devoted to wisdom as poor dear Dodo.
As I read I frequently thought of that American arrangement and I wish you had consulted me before making it. It will be impossible to prevent those brilliant happy thoughts and sayings from spreading over this country the moment they can reach it. To be sure this as I said before may act in two ways. It may take off the freshness but that may be counterbalanced by the curiosity and the general expectation excited let us hope the counterbalance will prevail.
I am going into Edin[burg]h at once and take Mr. Main's letters with me and shall write to you from thence. I mean to return here in a few days. With renewed congratulations to Mrs. Lewes I am
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes Esq.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GHL, St. Andrews, 9 October 1871, 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/95447