GE and GHL to Charles Lee Lewes, Florence, 17 May 1861
Title
GE and GHL to Charles Lee Lewes, Florence, 17 May 1861
Title
GE and GHL to Charles Lee Lewes, Florence, 17 May 1861
Sender
George Eliot, George Henry Lewes
Recipient
Charles Lee Lewes
Date(s)
- 1861-05-17
Place
Florence
Letter Content
GE and GHL to Charles Lee Lewes, Florence, 17 May 1861
MS: Yale. Mostly published: Paterson, pp. 91-95.
L'Albergo della Vittoria | Florence | May 17th 61.
Dearest Boy,
I will begin by telling you that Pater and I are very well and are enjoying our quiet life here immensely. That is the best Preface to the "renovare dolorem" 762 with which I must resume our journal at the point when we sent off our last letter. No sooner had Pater's severe bilious fit gone off, than I became worse, my cold taking a form which deserved to be called by a very long name, but which we found was simply the Florentine "grippe" caused by the bitterly cold winds. Said winds being of a grave and earnest disposition have naturally a disgust for trivial dilettanti foreigners, and seize on the peculiarly feeble and worthless with much virulence. In consequence we had a sad history for nearly a week -- Pater doing little else than nurse me, and I doing little else but feel eminently uncomfortable, for which as you know, I have a faculty "second to none."
[In GHL's hand.]
At this point soup appeared (for the heat of the weather forces us to dine at 2 and repose all the afternoon) and cut short the eloquence of Mater Dolorosa, and she suggests now (3 hours after) that I should continue the narrative. We have seen Mrs. Hay twice, once at her house, and once here. Mrs. Trollope 763 I have seen, but when she called here Mater was out, so she has not seen her yet. Moreover we have seen "Il Trovatore," or heard it bawled (2 acts of it) and "L'Assedio di Firenze" a new opera by Bottesini 764 the great, very great, player on the double bass. That we heard last night, and when Bottesini himself played twice on his instrument, the sound of which was like the harmonious plaint of imprisoned angels, Mutter in her perspiring delight exclaimed "Oh! how I wish our dear boy were here!" and indeed that juvenile would have enjoyed it greatly. As to the opera, new it may be, but we have heard it all before often, and do not desire to hear it again.
Our daily programme is this. Up at 7. Breakfast (tea!) cigar and read. Our rooms are two, the sitting room very cheerful, -- though rather strong in the way of satin and gold, and looking glasses and other ornamental inutilies 765 -- 'ablooks'bb opens on to a broad terrace overlooking the Arno, and giving a charming view of part of the city, the bridges, and the distant mountains. After cigar we trot out, visit a church or two, or a picture gallery, look over bookstalls, and poke into the curiosities of old Florence. Then we go to the Magliabecchian Library (a sort of British Museum) open to the public (and a very small public cares to enter) where with great facility we get what books we desire, and read them in peace and comfort. You should see the Mutter turning over the old books with love! Then we ramble home; dine at 2; siesta till 5 or 6, and then out to drive or ramble and watch sunset effects, or else to opera where as I said we have been twice, but where we shall hardly go again.
More good news about Silas! Mudie has again taken 250 copies -- making 3,000 in all; and Blackwood writes in great spirits about it. We had a letter from Thornie the other day, rambling, and full of enjoyment. I presume you give Grandmama, Mama and Nursie full true and particular accounts of our journey.
[In GE's hand.]
Pater takes up my work of reading a catalogue, and I come back to chat with the Larva who is to become one day a splendid "angelica Farfalla" 766 -- when he has fed long enough on our love and literature and Grace's puddings. -- Your second thought was right -- to send M. D'Albert's letter; for we have some thought of seeing them on our way home, and I wanted to know exactly what he had said. If Bertie should write, let us know what he says too. It is very pretty of Mr. Pigott to ask you to go and see him so often: take care and show him that you feel his kindness, but when you don't want to go because you have things to do -- practising etc. -- just say that simply, instead of feigning a headache, because he would understand that now you are taking lessons your time is valuable.
Tell Grace I am very sorry to hear of her loss, but I thought she was quite too sharp a person to be open to such misfortunes. She must give up having the new shawl, and I dare say I have some garment which will look quite as well on her shoulders if not better. The best of all securities against being robbed is to carry no money in one's pocket, and it is to this excellent recipe that I attribute my own freedom from that accident. My best wishes to her and Amelia. -- It was quite right of you to use that self-denial of leaving William Tell at the end of the 3d act, and I kiss you for it -- you are at liberty to imagine a kiss from me, or else to accept a note for it payable at sight. They don't give P.O's for such payments here. 767
I'm very glad you have had some companionship with Empson. I forget whether you like Walter Young much; but the music, at least, is a link. Don't neglect writing a little, so that there may be some Gombosition 768 for us to read when we get home. How we shall enjoy meeting again! I feel very full of thankfulness for all the creatures I have got to love, all the beautiful and great things that are given me to know, and I feel, too, much younger and more hopeful, as if a great deal of life and work were still before me. Pater and I have had great satisfaction in finding our impressions of admiration more than renewed in returning to Florence: the things we cared about when we were here before, seem even more worthy than they did in our memories. -- We have had delightful weather since the cold winds abated, and the evening lights on the Arno, the bridges and the quaint houses are a treat that we think of beforehand.
Your letters, too, are thought of beforehand. We long for them, and when they come, they don't disappoint us: they tell us everything and make us feel at home with you after a fashion. I confess to some dread of Blandford Square in the abstract. I fear London will seem more odious to me than ever; but I think I shall bear it with more fortitude. After all, that is the best place to live in where one has a strong reason for living. -- We are going out now for our evening's exploration, so I will leave off, though we seem to have told you very little. But we shall make up for it when we get home. The things we have to say, will keep; whereas your details would evaporate if you didn't make haste and send them. Love to Grandmama and congratulations on her peace and quietness. God bless our boy. Mutter sums up all her wishes for him in that little sentence. Pater says, Write again immediately on the receipt of this; else we may be gone away on an expedition. Address Poste Restante.
MS: Yale. Mostly published: Paterson, pp. 91-95.
L'Albergo della Vittoria | Florence | May 17th 61.
Dearest Boy,
I will begin by telling you that Pater and I are very well and are enjoying our quiet life here immensely. That is the best Preface to the "renovare dolorem" 762 with which I must resume our journal at the point when we sent off our last letter. No sooner had Pater's severe bilious fit gone off, than I became worse, my cold taking a form which deserved to be called by a very long name, but which we found was simply the Florentine "grippe" caused by the bitterly cold winds. Said winds being of a grave and earnest disposition have naturally a disgust for trivial dilettanti foreigners, and seize on the peculiarly feeble and worthless with much virulence. In consequence we had a sad history for nearly a week -- Pater doing little else than nurse me, and I doing little else but feel eminently uncomfortable, for which as you know, I have a faculty "second to none."
[In GHL's hand.]
At this point soup appeared (for the heat of the weather forces us to dine at 2 and repose all the afternoon) and cut short the eloquence of Mater Dolorosa, and she suggests now (3 hours after) that I should continue the narrative. We have seen Mrs. Hay twice, once at her house, and once here. Mrs. Trollope 763 I have seen, but when she called here Mater was out, so she has not seen her yet. Moreover we have seen "Il Trovatore," or heard it bawled (2 acts of it) and "L'Assedio di Firenze" a new opera by Bottesini 764 the great, very great, player on the double bass. That we heard last night, and when Bottesini himself played twice on his instrument, the sound of which was like the harmonious plaint of imprisoned angels, Mutter in her perspiring delight exclaimed "Oh! how I wish our dear boy were here!" and indeed that juvenile would have enjoyed it greatly. As to the opera, new it may be, but we have heard it all before often, and do not desire to hear it again.
Our daily programme is this. Up at 7. Breakfast (tea!) cigar and read. Our rooms are two, the sitting room very cheerful, -- though rather strong in the way of satin and gold, and looking glasses and other ornamental inutilies 765 -- 'ablooks'bb opens on to a broad terrace overlooking the Arno, and giving a charming view of part of the city, the bridges, and the distant mountains. After cigar we trot out, visit a church or two, or a picture gallery, look over bookstalls, and poke into the curiosities of old Florence. Then we go to the Magliabecchian Library (a sort of British Museum) open to the public (and a very small public cares to enter) where with great facility we get what books we desire, and read them in peace and comfort. You should see the Mutter turning over the old books with love! Then we ramble home; dine at 2; siesta till 5 or 6, and then out to drive or ramble and watch sunset effects, or else to opera where as I said we have been twice, but where we shall hardly go again.
More good news about Silas! Mudie has again taken 250 copies -- making 3,000 in all; and Blackwood writes in great spirits about it. We had a letter from Thornie the other day, rambling, and full of enjoyment. I presume you give Grandmama, Mama and Nursie full true and particular accounts of our journey.
[In GE's hand.]
Pater takes up my work of reading a catalogue, and I come back to chat with the Larva who is to become one day a splendid "angelica Farfalla" 766 -- when he has fed long enough on our love and literature and Grace's puddings. -- Your second thought was right -- to send M. D'Albert's letter; for we have some thought of seeing them on our way home, and I wanted to know exactly what he had said. If Bertie should write, let us know what he says too. It is very pretty of Mr. Pigott to ask you to go and see him so often: take care and show him that you feel his kindness, but when you don't want to go because you have things to do -- practising etc. -- just say that simply, instead of feigning a headache, because he would understand that now you are taking lessons your time is valuable.
Tell Grace I am very sorry to hear of her loss, but I thought she was quite too sharp a person to be open to such misfortunes. She must give up having the new shawl, and I dare say I have some garment which will look quite as well on her shoulders if not better. The best of all securities against being robbed is to carry no money in one's pocket, and it is to this excellent recipe that I attribute my own freedom from that accident. My best wishes to her and Amelia. -- It was quite right of you to use that self-denial of leaving William Tell at the end of the 3d act, and I kiss you for it -- you are at liberty to imagine a kiss from me, or else to accept a note for it payable at sight. They don't give P.O's for such payments here. 767
I'm very glad you have had some companionship with Empson. I forget whether you like Walter Young much; but the music, at least, is a link. Don't neglect writing a little, so that there may be some Gombosition 768 for us to read when we get home. How we shall enjoy meeting again! I feel very full of thankfulness for all the creatures I have got to love, all the beautiful and great things that are given me to know, and I feel, too, much younger and more hopeful, as if a great deal of life and work were still before me. Pater and I have had great satisfaction in finding our impressions of admiration more than renewed in returning to Florence: the things we cared about when we were here before, seem even more worthy than they did in our memories. -- We have had delightful weather since the cold winds abated, and the evening lights on the Arno, the bridges and the quaint houses are a treat that we think of beforehand.
Your letters, too, are thought of beforehand. We long for them, and when they come, they don't disappoint us: they tell us everything and make us feel at home with you after a fashion. I confess to some dread of Blandford Square in the abstract. I fear London will seem more odious to me than ever; but I think I shall bear it with more fortitude. After all, that is the best place to live in where one has a strong reason for living. -- We are going out now for our evening's exploration, so I will leave off, though we seem to have told you very little. But we shall make up for it when we get home. The things we have to say, will keep; whereas your details would evaporate if you didn't make haste and send them. Love to Grandmama and congratulations on her peace and quietness. God bless our boy. Mutter sums up all her wishes for him in that little sentence. Pater says, Write again immediately on the receipt of this; else we may be gone away on an expedition. Address Poste Restante.
Citation
George Eliot, George Henry Lewes, GE and GHL to Charles Lee Lewes, Florence, 17 May 1861, 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/91856