Thornton Arnott Lewes to GHL, Durban, 29 August 1864
Title
Thornton Arnott Lewes to GHL, Durban, 29 August 1864
Title
Thornton Arnott Lewes to GHL, Durban, 29 August 1864
Sender
Thornton Arnott Lewes
Recipient
n Arnott Lewes
Date(s)
- 1864-08-29
Place
Durban
Letter Content
Thornton Arnott Lewes to GHL, Durban, 29 August 1864
MS: Yale.
Durban, | 29 August | 1864.
Dear Pater,
Your guess as to my not writing before, being caused by my absence up country was perfectly correct, and as I have now got down again, I answer all yours, which have come in the meanwhile at once. I begin with your 3 February letter, which I got just before I started. I am sorry to say that I can't send a number of the Blunderbuss, as the Captain 624 begged so hard for all the numbers, to get them bound that I could not refuse. However you can imagine what they were like.
I can't understand Colston's having sent in the bill for [Forged stamps] 625 to you, as Pemberton had taken it over into his own hands, as we had settled everything long before I left and he was to pay the bill. What an amiable beast Ben must be. If you have his portrait 626 taken mind and send me a copy. Apropos of portraits, Charlie's, which you enclosed, was carried up with the letter in my coat pocket to the Transvaal, much to the edification thereof, for on taking it out one day lo! and behold, the letter was just legible and the portrait --!! So if he does not mind sending me another, which shall not be crushed, I shall be much obliged. Your trip to Scotland and to Italy must indeed have been pleasant for you, particularly the latter, though I should probably have preferred the former. I can imagine Bertie driving about Maggie, which beast I picture to myself as a brown Shetland pony. 627 Am I right? Whenever that young man feels inclined to come out here, he can come; he need not wait for my turning to farming, for I am going in for trading of which more anon, and as land is rapidly rising, out here, the sooner he gets a farm the better. I never was in Glasgow, but know it by reputation.
And so the Captain 628 has "hopped the Living"? I thought he was going to live forever, and I half suspect somebody has been soaping the stairs. However "requiescat in pace." I hope Grandmamma is all right and that Nursie has got over her late attack. And so Charlie is engaged! Well, as I owe him a letter, I think this will be a good opportunity for writing to him. . . .
And so the hedgehog is dead. As I before observed Requiescat in pace. I hope you performed a funeral service over his bristles, consisting of the "Dead March in Saul," and winding up with the pathetic air "Down among the dead men." Poor Peter! never again will he dirty Grace's table's legs by rubbing himself against them.
Much love to everybody, not forgetting the servants and Ben.
Your affectionate son
Thornton Lewes.
P.S. I shall write to Miss Dodd by next mail. I always make impressions (one way or the other) on female's hearts and Miss Dodd was always remarkably fond of me. No fear of my marrying. I am to be the bachelor as Charlie is not, that's clear, and I made up my mind to it a long while ago. Ta-ta. If you write by every mail a four page letter, and I write by every 3rd mail a twelve page one, I think that will be about fair.
MS: Yale.
Durban, | 29 August | 1864.
Dear Pater,
Your guess as to my not writing before, being caused by my absence up country was perfectly correct, and as I have now got down again, I answer all yours, which have come in the meanwhile at once. I begin with your 3 February letter, which I got just before I started. I am sorry to say that I can't send a number of the Blunderbuss, as the Captain 624 begged so hard for all the numbers, to get them bound that I could not refuse. However you can imagine what they were like.
I can't understand Colston's having sent in the bill for [Forged stamps] 625 to you, as Pemberton had taken it over into his own hands, as we had settled everything long before I left and he was to pay the bill. What an amiable beast Ben must be. If you have his portrait 626 taken mind and send me a copy. Apropos of portraits, Charlie's, which you enclosed, was carried up with the letter in my coat pocket to the Transvaal, much to the edification thereof, for on taking it out one day lo! and behold, the letter was just legible and the portrait --!! So if he does not mind sending me another, which shall not be crushed, I shall be much obliged. Your trip to Scotland and to Italy must indeed have been pleasant for you, particularly the latter, though I should probably have preferred the former. I can imagine Bertie driving about Maggie, which beast I picture to myself as a brown Shetland pony. 627 Am I right? Whenever that young man feels inclined to come out here, he can come; he need not wait for my turning to farming, for I am going in for trading of which more anon, and as land is rapidly rising, out here, the sooner he gets a farm the better. I never was in Glasgow, but know it by reputation.
And so the Captain 628 has "hopped the Living"? I thought he was going to live forever, and I half suspect somebody has been soaping the stairs. However "requiescat in pace." I hope Grandmamma is all right and that Nursie has got over her late attack. And so Charlie is engaged! Well, as I owe him a letter, I think this will be a good opportunity for writing to him. . . .
And so the hedgehog is dead. As I before observed Requiescat in pace. I hope you performed a funeral service over his bristles, consisting of the "Dead March in Saul," and winding up with the pathetic air "Down among the dead men." Poor Peter! never again will he dirty Grace's table's legs by rubbing himself against them.
Much love to everybody, not forgetting the servants and Ben.
Your affectionate son
Thornton Lewes.
P.S. I shall write to Miss Dodd by next mail. I always make impressions (one way or the other) on female's hearts and Miss Dodd was always remarkably fond of me. No fear of my marrying. I am to be the bachelor as Charlie is not, that's clear, and I made up my mind to it a long while ago. Ta-ta. If you write by every mail a four page letter, and I write by every 3rd mail a twelve page one, I think that will be about fair.
Signature
Thornton Lewes.
Citation
Thornton Arnott Lewes, Thornton Arnott Lewes to GHL, Durban, 29 August 1864, 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/95612