GE to Bessie Rayner Parkes, London, 12 July 1853
Title
GE to Bessie Rayner Parkes, London, 12 July 1853
Title
GE to Bessie Rayner Parkes, London, 12 July 1853
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Bessie Rayner Parkes
Date(s)
- 1853-07-12
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Bessie Rayner Parkes, London, 12 July 1853
MS: Countess of Iddesleigh. Envelope: Miss Parkes Post Office Bournemouth Poole | Dorsetshire. Postmarks: Strand c 13 JY 1853; BOURNEMOUTH JY 13 1853 A; POOLE JY 13 1853 B. Hitherto unpublished.
Strand July 12. 1853.
Dear Bessie
A few fibres of my brain in another place and I should have been on the Rhine by this time. The Combes 345 asked me to go with them and stay in Switzerland until September, but the reasons contra prevailed -- by virtue of the locality of said fibres. (I know you like materialism, so I talk it to indulge you.)
Sir James Clark 346 says that I have a perfectly sound constitution -- lungs and heart all right -- but that I am a soft pulpy individual, certainly not fit for a Strand life.
Heaven preserve me from reading Miss Hume's Poems! There was a high panegyric on them in the Morning Advertiser 347 -- but I was quite cowed by their first extract and had not courage to proceed. But I will read as many verses of your "Poem preparing for the press" as you like to send me. Miss Hennell and I were heartily amused by your specimen. 348
Would Bournemouth be any less pleasant to you for my being in it, supposing I felt in want of the neighbourhood of dear, brave women friends?
Tell your Barbara -- whom I love -- that I shall write to her 'e0 propos of her letter when I am inspired. Meanwhile I treasure it as a true word from a true human being. Tell her, too, that I am quite straight with good, clear-eyed Mr. Atkinson. I happened to say to her that he had been mysteriously silent to me of late. In haste, ever, dear Bessie,
Your loving
Marian.
MS: Countess of Iddesleigh. Envelope: Miss Parkes Post Office Bournemouth Poole | Dorsetshire. Postmarks: Strand c 13 JY 1853; BOURNEMOUTH JY 13 1853 A; POOLE JY 13 1853 B. Hitherto unpublished.
Strand July 12. 1853.
Dear Bessie
A few fibres of my brain in another place and I should have been on the Rhine by this time. The Combes 345 asked me to go with them and stay in Switzerland until September, but the reasons contra prevailed -- by virtue of the locality of said fibres. (I know you like materialism, so I talk it to indulge you.)
Sir James Clark 346 says that I have a perfectly sound constitution -- lungs and heart all right -- but that I am a soft pulpy individual, certainly not fit for a Strand life.
Heaven preserve me from reading Miss Hume's Poems! There was a high panegyric on them in the Morning Advertiser 347 -- but I was quite cowed by their first extract and had not courage to proceed. But I will read as many verses of your "Poem preparing for the press" as you like to send me. Miss Hennell and I were heartily amused by your specimen. 348
Would Bournemouth be any less pleasant to you for my being in it, supposing I felt in want of the neighbourhood of dear, brave women friends?
Tell your Barbara -- whom I love -- that I shall write to her 'e0 propos of her letter when I am inspired. Meanwhile I treasure it as a true word from a true human being. Tell her, too, that I am quite straight with good, clear-eyed Mr. Atkinson. I happened to say to her that he had been mysteriously silent to me of late. In haste, ever, dear Bessie,
Your loving
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Bessie Rayner Parkes, London, 12 July 1853, 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/92051