Charles Bray to George Combe, Niton, 8 October 1854
Title
Charles Bray to George Combe, Niton, 8 October 1854
Title
Charles Bray to George Combe, Niton, 8 October 1854
Sender
Charles Bray
Recipient
George Combe
Date(s)
- 1854-10-08
Place
Niton
Letter Content
Charles Bray to George Combe, Niton, 8 October 1854
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: Isle of Wight | 8 Oct. 1854 | Charles Bray.
Niton, I. of Wight 226 Sunday Evening | October 8/54.
My dear Mr. Combe
I have heard that Mr. and Mrs. Lewes have not been man and wife to each other for some years, but I do not see what that has to do with the case before us except to give plausibility and colour to scandal. What I have heard is that Mrs. Lewes after the birth of her 3rd child took one of those strong and unaccountable dislikes to her husband that sometimes does occur under similar circumstances amounting to monomania and that Lewes was most sincerely attached to his wife and greatly distressed by it. Mr. Lewes would naturally appreciate a mind like Miss Evans', and the more, from the want of sympathy from his wife. I know he had a great friendship and respect for her. His health required that he should travel, he had overworked his brain, he had constant ringing in his ears and fear of apoplexy. Dr. Balbirnie, 227 with whom he had been staying at Malvern, told us, that he feared serious injury to the brain. Miss Evans has long been wanting to go abroad and Mr. Lewes offered to introduce her to friends of his in Germany and leave her there for 12 months, which is what she wished. This is all I know and all I believe and I do not see anything very serious to disapprove in it -- at least I did not. I see now all that may and will be said about their going together and I think it would have been much more prudent to have had others of the party. I can see how necessary it was for Lewes to travel and that he should have a friend with him and that Mrs. Lewes, with her family, could not go, but I fear it was asking too much on Miss Evans part, if she sets any store by public opinion or indeed cares for that of many of her friends. She is just the person however to disregard gossip if a friend wanted her aid or I think even if she could go abroad.
Nothing that I have yet heard or know will make any difference in my conduct towards her, although I may regret what she has done as imprudent and as laying herself open to evil report. I shall be at home this day week and shall be glad to hear from you. We very much regret Mrs. Combe's and your indisposition. We hope to hear a better account. With the kindest regard from our "trinity in unity" I remain my dear Mr. Combe
Most sincerely yours
Charles Bray.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: Isle of Wight | 8 Oct. 1854 | Charles Bray.
Niton, I. of Wight 226 Sunday Evening | October 8/54.
My dear Mr. Combe
I have heard that Mr. and Mrs. Lewes have not been man and wife to each other for some years, but I do not see what that has to do with the case before us except to give plausibility and colour to scandal. What I have heard is that Mrs. Lewes after the birth of her 3rd child took one of those strong and unaccountable dislikes to her husband that sometimes does occur under similar circumstances amounting to monomania and that Lewes was most sincerely attached to his wife and greatly distressed by it. Mr. Lewes would naturally appreciate a mind like Miss Evans', and the more, from the want of sympathy from his wife. I know he had a great friendship and respect for her. His health required that he should travel, he had overworked his brain, he had constant ringing in his ears and fear of apoplexy. Dr. Balbirnie, 227 with whom he had been staying at Malvern, told us, that he feared serious injury to the brain. Miss Evans has long been wanting to go abroad and Mr. Lewes offered to introduce her to friends of his in Germany and leave her there for 12 months, which is what she wished. This is all I know and all I believe and I do not see anything very serious to disapprove in it -- at least I did not. I see now all that may and will be said about their going together and I think it would have been much more prudent to have had others of the party. I can see how necessary it was for Lewes to travel and that he should have a friend with him and that Mrs. Lewes, with her family, could not go, but I fear it was asking too much on Miss Evans part, if she sets any store by public opinion or indeed cares for that of many of her friends. She is just the person however to disregard gossip if a friend wanted her aid or I think even if she could go abroad.
Nothing that I have yet heard or know will make any difference in my conduct towards her, although I may regret what she has done as imprudent and as laying herself open to evil report. I shall be at home this day week and shall be glad to hear from you. We very much regret Mrs. Combe's and your indisposition. We hope to hear a better account. With the kindest regard from our "trinity in unity" I remain my dear Mr. Combe
Most sincerely yours
Charles Bray.
Signature
Charles Bray.
Citation
Charles Bray, Charles Bray to George Combe, Niton, 8 October 1854, Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/91738