Frederic Harrison to GE, London, 2 May [1866]
Title
Frederic Harrison to GE, London, 2 May [1866]
Title
Frederic Harrison to GE, London, 2 May [1866]
Sender
Frederic Harrison
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1866-05-02
Place
London
Letter Content
Frederic Harrison to GE, London, 2 May [1866]
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
New Sq: | May 2.
My dear Mrs. Lewes,
I am very sorry that I shall not see volume iii in MS. It is essential to avoid any slip as to a technical term -- but I hope you will let me see it in the proof, and point it out if I chance to find a word which sounds strange to professional ears.
As to enemies -- I find that many of those non combatants whom Napoleon seized by his decree in 1803 were made prisoners-of-war and kept in prison until 1814. Whether he seized any subsequently to his razzia in 1803 I cannot learn. It was considered a very exceptional act only justified by special circumstances of state. I think you are quite safe in assuming that an English civilian might have been kept a prisoner in 1810. I think Prussia was not at war with France from 1806-1813. Would Hanover answer? 453 See Twiss on International Rights volume 2. 454
As to Transportation I find that about 1832 the system was very lax -- felons were at once transported to Australia and thence at once handed over to the settlers as serfs or domestic slaves with practical liberty, the workingmen as labourers -- the educated as clerks and tutors etc. They were bound to give their services to their new masters -- who were bound to support them but gave them no wages. They enjoyed practical liberty and got a ticket of leave after 5, 6, and 8 years of service. They often made considerable gains and were in the position of Turkish or ancient Roman slaves. See two volumes on Transportation etc. by Messrs. Whately 1832 and 1834 with appendex articles by Sir G. Cornewall Lewis. 455 A Party Committee sat on the subject in 1832.
Pray do not continue to suggest that you do anything but confer a favour and a pleasure on me by letting me see your MS. I am almost however stirred up to act as if I were justified in asking a favour of you, which is to consider some day a project which has long been working in my head and on which I wish to have your opinion. I shall feel spirited enough some day to expound it to you. Not now -- there is no hurry. I hope the Surrey hills will do all the good in the world to you and to Mr. Lewes.
Very sincerely yours
Frederic Harrison.
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
New Sq: | May 2.
My dear Mrs. Lewes,
I am very sorry that I shall not see volume iii in MS. It is essential to avoid any slip as to a technical term -- but I hope you will let me see it in the proof, and point it out if I chance to find a word which sounds strange to professional ears.
As to enemies -- I find that many of those non combatants whom Napoleon seized by his decree in 1803 were made prisoners-of-war and kept in prison until 1814. Whether he seized any subsequently to his razzia in 1803 I cannot learn. It was considered a very exceptional act only justified by special circumstances of state. I think you are quite safe in assuming that an English civilian might have been kept a prisoner in 1810. I think Prussia was not at war with France from 1806-1813. Would Hanover answer? 453 See Twiss on International Rights volume 2. 454
As to Transportation I find that about 1832 the system was very lax -- felons were at once transported to Australia and thence at once handed over to the settlers as serfs or domestic slaves with practical liberty, the workingmen as labourers -- the educated as clerks and tutors etc. They were bound to give their services to their new masters -- who were bound to support them but gave them no wages. They enjoyed practical liberty and got a ticket of leave after 5, 6, and 8 years of service. They often made considerable gains and were in the position of Turkish or ancient Roman slaves. See two volumes on Transportation etc. by Messrs. Whately 1832 and 1834 with appendex articles by Sir G. Cornewall Lewis. 455 A Party Committee sat on the subject in 1832.
Pray do not continue to suggest that you do anything but confer a favour and a pleasure on me by letting me see your MS. I am almost however stirred up to act as if I were justified in asking a favour of you, which is to consider some day a project which has long been working in my head and on which I wish to have your opinion. I shall feel spirited enough some day to expound it to you. Not now -- there is no hurry. I hope the Surrey hills will do all the good in the world to you and to Mr. Lewes.
Very sincerely yours
Frederic Harrison.
Signature
Frederic Harrison.
Citation
Frederic Harrison, Frederic Harrison to GE, London, 2 May [1866], 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/91843