Lord Lytton to GHL, London, [21 March 1873]
Title
Lord Lytton to GHL, London, [21 March 1873]
Title
Lord Lytton to GHL, London, [21 March 1873]
Sender
Lord Lytton
Recipient
M
Date(s)
- 1873-03-21
Place
London
Letter Content
Lord Lytton to GHL, London, [21 March 1873]
MS: Yale.
George Sq. Friday.
My dear Lewes,
I do know Madame Olga. 161 She is sister in law to the Russian Minister at Vienna, and the whole Novikoff Family were the b'eates noires of Vienna when I was there.
I believe that Novikoff's previous career had been chiefly Consular and in the East. I doubt if he was ever before dans la haute. Both he and his wife are very underbred ridiculous people. She (a country vulgar precieuse) got into some silly scrape at Vienna -- nothing whatever "improper": but she wanted to get P[rince]ss Metternich 162 to come to her receptions, applied with that object to the good offices of a petit crev'e9 patronised by Mad[am]e Metternich; he said something impertinent to her in her own house. She complained to her husband who made a "scene." There was a talk of half a dozen duels, none of which came off, and a nine days gossip. After which the fat sister-in-law to whom your enquiry refers, arrived, giving out privately that she had been sent by the court "pour former sa soeur." She is the vulgarest of the three. A pushing, gushing, toadying, fulsome fat woman with the manners of a second rate adventuress. She introduced herself to my wife with the assertion that she was the bosom friend of my mother in law. 163 But in spite of the warmth as well as the magnitude of both her bosom and her friendship, Edith, who can be, when she pleases, a perfect refrigerator, iced the volcano at the first eruption. The truth was that she had only once met my mother in law in the streets at Ryde. She then went back to England and hurled herself at Mrs. Villiers as the bosom friend of my wife. She told me she was in close correspondence with my Uncle Henry 164 and Charles Villiers. 165 I believe the correspondence was chiefly unilateral. They told me they were much bored by her (they had met her at Ems) and asked me who she was.
After her return to Vienna, there was an odd story about some Diamonds, missed by her sister-in-law one evening when there had been a reception at the Russian Legation. Novikoff went to the Police about them. The police after some days' investigation declared that the diamonds were not stolen and that Madame Novikoff and her sister knew all about them. The matter was then hushed up. The Buchanans 166 told me that Madame Olga was in no sort of society at St. Petersburgh and they have always refused to know her. I believe however that she is in correspondence with Gortchakoff, 167 whose "bosom" friend she is said to be. Her wish is to pass for a femme politique, but she is not a Madame de Lieven. 168 In England I am told that she really has obtained a very good footing. We are not a very refined people: and I suspect that pushing gushing and flattering are not unserviceable instruments of success with us. However the long and the short of it is -- I don't like Madame Olga, but I know of no reason whatever why you should refuse to have the pleasure of adding G. Elliot and yourself to the list of her "distinguished acquaintances" -- (especially if by granting her that pleasure you would please any one you like) beyond the anticipation that you will not greatly care for her.
I do indeed rejoice to hear that Mr Casaubon has given birth to his first vol. 169 I am longing to see you both my dear friends. But oh, I am almost overwhelmed by troublesome business of all kinds. I have concentrated as much of it as I could, at Knebworth; where, as I daresay you may remember 170 there is a woeful dearth of bedrooms. The only double bedrooms in the house are now occupied by our nurseries and my mother in law who is staying with us, so that we cannot put up another couple. But can I induce you "one of these fine days" -- which are I hope at hand -- to come to us for a couple of days en gar'e7on -- and have a chat? If so rejoice my heart by letting me know -- and I'll send you lists of trains and all needful instructions how to get to us. So very much that I should like to talk over with you if I could!
Our dearest love to your most dear wife. I write this from town, but am only here for a few hours on business. Adieu.
Your affectionate
Lytton.
MS: Yale.
George Sq. Friday.
My dear Lewes,
I do know Madame Olga. 161 She is sister in law to the Russian Minister at Vienna, and the whole Novikoff Family were the b'eates noires of Vienna when I was there.
I believe that Novikoff's previous career had been chiefly Consular and in the East. I doubt if he was ever before dans la haute. Both he and his wife are very underbred ridiculous people. She (a country vulgar precieuse) got into some silly scrape at Vienna -- nothing whatever "improper": but she wanted to get P[rince]ss Metternich 162 to come to her receptions, applied with that object to the good offices of a petit crev'e9 patronised by Mad[am]e Metternich; he said something impertinent to her in her own house. She complained to her husband who made a "scene." There was a talk of half a dozen duels, none of which came off, and a nine days gossip. After which the fat sister-in-law to whom your enquiry refers, arrived, giving out privately that she had been sent by the court "pour former sa soeur." She is the vulgarest of the three. A pushing, gushing, toadying, fulsome fat woman with the manners of a second rate adventuress. She introduced herself to my wife with the assertion that she was the bosom friend of my mother in law. 163 But in spite of the warmth as well as the magnitude of both her bosom and her friendship, Edith, who can be, when she pleases, a perfect refrigerator, iced the volcano at the first eruption. The truth was that she had only once met my mother in law in the streets at Ryde. She then went back to England and hurled herself at Mrs. Villiers as the bosom friend of my wife. She told me she was in close correspondence with my Uncle Henry 164 and Charles Villiers. 165 I believe the correspondence was chiefly unilateral. They told me they were much bored by her (they had met her at Ems) and asked me who she was.
After her return to Vienna, there was an odd story about some Diamonds, missed by her sister-in-law one evening when there had been a reception at the Russian Legation. Novikoff went to the Police about them. The police after some days' investigation declared that the diamonds were not stolen and that Madame Novikoff and her sister knew all about them. The matter was then hushed up. The Buchanans 166 told me that Madame Olga was in no sort of society at St. Petersburgh and they have always refused to know her. I believe however that she is in correspondence with Gortchakoff, 167 whose "bosom" friend she is said to be. Her wish is to pass for a femme politique, but she is not a Madame de Lieven. 168 In England I am told that she really has obtained a very good footing. We are not a very refined people: and I suspect that pushing gushing and flattering are not unserviceable instruments of success with us. However the long and the short of it is -- I don't like Madame Olga, but I know of no reason whatever why you should refuse to have the pleasure of adding G. Elliot and yourself to the list of her "distinguished acquaintances" -- (especially if by granting her that pleasure you would please any one you like) beyond the anticipation that you will not greatly care for her.
I do indeed rejoice to hear that Mr Casaubon has given birth to his first vol. 169 I am longing to see you both my dear friends. But oh, I am almost overwhelmed by troublesome business of all kinds. I have concentrated as much of it as I could, at Knebworth; where, as I daresay you may remember 170 there is a woeful dearth of bedrooms. The only double bedrooms in the house are now occupied by our nurseries and my mother in law who is staying with us, so that we cannot put up another couple. But can I induce you "one of these fine days" -- which are I hope at hand -- to come to us for a couple of days en gar'e7on -- and have a chat? If so rejoice my heart by letting me know -- and I'll send you lists of trains and all needful instructions how to get to us. So very much that I should like to talk over with you if I could!
Our dearest love to your most dear wife. I write this from town, but am only here for a few hours on business. Adieu.
Your affectionate
Lytton.
Signature
Lytton.
Citation
Lord Lytton, Lord Lytton to GHL, London, [21 March 1873], 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/95531