John Blackwood to Joseph Munt Langford, Edinburgh, 24 November 1878
Title
John Blackwood to Joseph Munt Langford, Edinburgh, 24 November 1878
Title
John Blackwood to Joseph Munt Langford, Edinburgh, 24 November 1878
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
Joseph Munt Langford
Date(s)
- 1878-11-24
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to Joseph Munt Langford, Edinburgh, 24 November 1878
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Randolph Cres[cen]t | November 24/78.
My Dear Langford
I am glad to hear that you have not to go down to Scarboro which would have been rather a trial to you at this season when you are already suffering from cold.
You will be pleased to hear the following bit of news. When I went up to George St. on Friday morning I found a note from Lewes accompanied by a M.S. of a new work by George Eliot, a post 80. volume of some 300 pages. They are Essays "Characters and Characteristics" from the remains of "Theophrastus Such." They seem desperately good, full of wit and wisdom. You do not read them quickly but it is with pleasure that you linger and think over them. Their idea is a 10/6 volume and I think we shall decide on that.
From the way she spoke I knew she was not idle but the M.S. came without beat of drum and you may guess my pleasure and surprise. Their wish is to have out the book immediately but they do not wish it announced yet. I have a note from her today and from what she says I fear Lewes has been and is very unwell. He had been in great excitement sending this off to me and seems rather to have knocked himself up. You should call. This book coming in so suddenly is quite the sort of stimulus we wished and Burton has delivered the great bulk of his Queen Anne, 155 which promises to be really good. So we have enough on hand.
Willie is going on well. I am well but do not sleep as I did in the country and the days are too short and cold to allow a good walk after lunch so I am determined to arrange to go down to Musselburgh twice a week at eleven o'clock. 156 This is a capital number of the Magazine. The first article is by Shand 157 and The House on the River [by] Chesney. 158 At the urgent private entreaty of the greatest banking authority we have I withdrew article on Glasgow Bank at last moment. From the alarm expressed I fear there is more mischief in the air. Say nothing about it.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
We have dark foggy days but not quite so cold. I hope you are shaking off your cold. Lockhart is going up to London tomorrow but I fancy is going on to Isle of Wight. He means to have his children in London at Christmas and is great on being the digne p'e8re de famille.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Randolph Cres[cen]t | November 24/78.
My Dear Langford
I am glad to hear that you have not to go down to Scarboro which would have been rather a trial to you at this season when you are already suffering from cold.
You will be pleased to hear the following bit of news. When I went up to George St. on Friday morning I found a note from Lewes accompanied by a M.S. of a new work by George Eliot, a post 80. volume of some 300 pages. They are Essays "Characters and Characteristics" from the remains of "Theophrastus Such." They seem desperately good, full of wit and wisdom. You do not read them quickly but it is with pleasure that you linger and think over them. Their idea is a 10/6 volume and I think we shall decide on that.
From the way she spoke I knew she was not idle but the M.S. came without beat of drum and you may guess my pleasure and surprise. Their wish is to have out the book immediately but they do not wish it announced yet. I have a note from her today and from what she says I fear Lewes has been and is very unwell. He had been in great excitement sending this off to me and seems rather to have knocked himself up. You should call. This book coming in so suddenly is quite the sort of stimulus we wished and Burton has delivered the great bulk of his Queen Anne, 155 which promises to be really good. So we have enough on hand.
Willie is going on well. I am well but do not sleep as I did in the country and the days are too short and cold to allow a good walk after lunch so I am determined to arrange to go down to Musselburgh twice a week at eleven o'clock. 156 This is a capital number of the Magazine. The first article is by Shand 157 and The House on the River [by] Chesney. 158 At the urgent private entreaty of the greatest banking authority we have I withdrew article on Glasgow Bank at last moment. From the alarm expressed I fear there is more mischief in the air. Say nothing about it.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
We have dark foggy days but not quite so cold. I hope you are shaking off your cold. Lockhart is going up to London tomorrow but I fancy is going on to Isle of Wight. He means to have his children in London at Christmas and is great on being the digne p'e8re de famille.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to Joseph Munt Langford, Edinburgh, 24 November 1878, 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/95455