GE and GHL to John Blackwood, Berne, 23 June 1860
Title
GE and GHL to John Blackwood, Berne, 23 June 1860
Title
GE and GHL to John Blackwood, Berne, 23 June 1860
Sender
George Eliot, George Henry Lewes
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1860-06-23
Place
Berne
Letter Content
GE and GHL to John Blackwood, Berne, 23 June 1860
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: Cross, II, 251-252.
Berne, June 23. 60.
My dear Sir
We arrived here only a few hours ago, so that your letter has probably been awaiting me several days. It has just come to fill up my time agreeably while Mr. Lewes is gone to Hofwyl to fetch the boys. 561 Your letter to Florence reached me duly, and I feel as if I had been rather unconscionable in asking for another before our return, but to us who have been seeing new things every day, a month seems so long a space of time that we can't help fancying there must be a great accumulation of news for us at the end of it.
I am really vexed to think that you will have left London before our return, which can hardly be managed before the 29th or 30th -- the more vexed because it is likely to be so long before we have an opportunity of chatting together again. We had hoped to be at home by the 25th, but we were so enchanted with Venice, that we were seduced into staying there a whole week 562 instead of three or four days, and now we must not rob the boys of their two days' holiday with us.
We have had a wonderful journey. From Florence we went to Bologna, Ferrara, and Padua on our way to Venice, and from Venice we have come by Verona, Milan and Como, and across the Splugen to Zurich, where we spent yesterday chiefly in the company of Moleschott, the physiologist, -- an interview that has helped to sharpen Mr. Lewes's appetite for a return to his microscope and dissecting table. We ought to be forever ashamed of ourselves if we don't work the better for this great holiday. We both feel immensely enriched with new ideas and new veins of interest.
I don't think I can venture to tell you what my great project is by letter, for I am anxious to keep it a secret. It will require a great deal of study and labour, and I am athirst to begin.
As for "The Mill" I am in repose about it now I know it has found its way to the great public. Its comparative rank can only be decided after some years have passed, when the judgment upon it is no longer influenced by the recent enthusiasm about "Adam," and by the fact that it has the misfortune to be written by me instead of by Mr. Liggins. I shall like to see Bulwer's criticism, if you will be kind enough to send it me, but I particularly wish not to see any of the newspaper articles.
I will consult Mr. Lewes about the photograph. It would be a pleasure to me to meet a slight wish of yours; but I have rather a horror of photography. Mayall 563 took one a couple of years ago, and we have several copies of it on paper, but it is not thoroughly satisfactory. Lawrence, 564 the portrait painter, wished very much to take my portrait before we left England, but I had no time to give him the six (!) sittings he required. However, Mr. Lewes promised him that I should sit to him on our return. It is to be a chalk drawing, like his portrait of Thackeray, 565 which you know well.
I shall leave a page for Mr. Lewes in case he should have anything to add when he comes in.
Ever yours truly
Marian Evans Lewes.
John Blackwood Esq.
P.S. I heard good news of Pug this very day. He is in excellent spirits in spite of our absence, and has been heard to bark three times in the course of the three months. I dare say he won't know us again. Argus was certainly a more sentimental dog -- but then he was not so "well-smutted."
[In GHL's hand]
10 o'clock.
My dear Blackwood
Sono stato a Hofwyl, et me voil'e0! As for news I am like Carney's [?] Knifegrinder with his story. -- Yes, I have something. You say you have nothing to report about the Physiology. I have -- viz: Prof. Bischoff, a name of European celebrity, has attacked the book in the Allgemeine Zeitung. He is a great friend of Liebig's and fights Liebig's battle. It is true he fights badly, but it is a great compliment that he should consider it worth fighting.
Your anecdote of Forster is immense. "Good God! Leech this is a most tremendous recognition!" -- that was his salutation on meeting Leech in the Strand one day. What did he say to you?
Let me hope that some chance or mischance will detain you in London. You had better have your fill of it while you're about it and then we shall see you. If not, believe me
Yours
G. H. L.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: Cross, II, 251-252.
Berne, June 23. 60.
My dear Sir
We arrived here only a few hours ago, so that your letter has probably been awaiting me several days. It has just come to fill up my time agreeably while Mr. Lewes is gone to Hofwyl to fetch the boys. 561 Your letter to Florence reached me duly, and I feel as if I had been rather unconscionable in asking for another before our return, but to us who have been seeing new things every day, a month seems so long a space of time that we can't help fancying there must be a great accumulation of news for us at the end of it.
I am really vexed to think that you will have left London before our return, which can hardly be managed before the 29th or 30th -- the more vexed because it is likely to be so long before we have an opportunity of chatting together again. We had hoped to be at home by the 25th, but we were so enchanted with Venice, that we were seduced into staying there a whole week 562 instead of three or four days, and now we must not rob the boys of their two days' holiday with us.
We have had a wonderful journey. From Florence we went to Bologna, Ferrara, and Padua on our way to Venice, and from Venice we have come by Verona, Milan and Como, and across the Splugen to Zurich, where we spent yesterday chiefly in the company of Moleschott, the physiologist, -- an interview that has helped to sharpen Mr. Lewes's appetite for a return to his microscope and dissecting table. We ought to be forever ashamed of ourselves if we don't work the better for this great holiday. We both feel immensely enriched with new ideas and new veins of interest.
I don't think I can venture to tell you what my great project is by letter, for I am anxious to keep it a secret. It will require a great deal of study and labour, and I am athirst to begin.
As for "The Mill" I am in repose about it now I know it has found its way to the great public. Its comparative rank can only be decided after some years have passed, when the judgment upon it is no longer influenced by the recent enthusiasm about "Adam," and by the fact that it has the misfortune to be written by me instead of by Mr. Liggins. I shall like to see Bulwer's criticism, if you will be kind enough to send it me, but I particularly wish not to see any of the newspaper articles.
I will consult Mr. Lewes about the photograph. It would be a pleasure to me to meet a slight wish of yours; but I have rather a horror of photography. Mayall 563 took one a couple of years ago, and we have several copies of it on paper, but it is not thoroughly satisfactory. Lawrence, 564 the portrait painter, wished very much to take my portrait before we left England, but I had no time to give him the six (!) sittings he required. However, Mr. Lewes promised him that I should sit to him on our return. It is to be a chalk drawing, like his portrait of Thackeray, 565 which you know well.
I shall leave a page for Mr. Lewes in case he should have anything to add when he comes in.
Ever yours truly
Marian Evans Lewes.
John Blackwood Esq.
P.S. I heard good news of Pug this very day. He is in excellent spirits in spite of our absence, and has been heard to bark three times in the course of the three months. I dare say he won't know us again. Argus was certainly a more sentimental dog -- but then he was not so "well-smutted."
[In GHL's hand]
10 o'clock.
My dear Blackwood
Sono stato a Hofwyl, et me voil'e0! As for news I am like Carney's [?] Knifegrinder with his story. -- Yes, I have something. You say you have nothing to report about the Physiology. I have -- viz: Prof. Bischoff, a name of European celebrity, has attacked the book in the Allgemeine Zeitung. He is a great friend of Liebig's and fights Liebig's battle. It is true he fights badly, but it is a great compliment that he should consider it worth fighting.
Your anecdote of Forster is immense. "Good God! Leech this is a most tremendous recognition!" -- that was his salutation on meeting Leech in the Strand one day. What did he say to you?
Let me hope that some chance or mischance will detain you in London. You had better have your fill of it while you're about it and then we shall see you. If not, believe me
Yours
G. H. L.
Signature
G. H. L.
Citation
George Eliot, George Henry Lewes, GE and GHL to John Blackwood, Berne, 23 June 1860, 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/91858