GE to Charles Bray, [London, 17 January 1853]
Title
GE to Charles Bray, [London, 17 January 1853]
Title
GE to Charles Bray, [London, 17 January 1853]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Charles Bray
Date(s)
- 1853-01-17
Place
[London]
Letter Content
GE to Charles Bray, [London, 17 January 1853]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: 1852. Hitherto unpublished.
Monday Morning.
Dearest Friend
One word before the work or the pleasure of the day begins. I can't tell you how thankful I am that things are for once better than your fears. Now do be stingy and industrious this next year and throw as much energy into your silk-buying and ribbon-making as you do into your fight with the "parsons."
You are a fine fellow to talk of supporting the Westminster -- for my sake too. Don't you know that the only thing you can do for my sake is to prosper and get comfortable the rest of your days? If you are to be grey and haggard and fretted "what good shall my life do me?" though I had the Westminster and the glory thereof all to myself. The reason I did not answer your last letter specially was, that having to write a [general epistle,] I seemed to have no inspiration for a particular one. But now I am sorry, for I see you think it a neglect.
And have you not "such a friend?" -- (as I, I suppose you mean). I am sure nobody cares for nobody more than I care for you, and as for having one's dearest friends under the same meridian with one, that would be to have two summa bona at once, which is clearly contrary to the law or method of nature.
I shall write to you all in a day or two, so I tell you no news. This is only to assure you that your little notes are very precious to me, whether I answer them or not. I am sorely disappointed when I have none of your handwriting. In short you are the dearest, oldest, stupidest, tiresomest, delightfullest, and never-to-be-forgotten-est of friends to me -- and I am ever
Your affectionate
Marian.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: 1852. Hitherto unpublished.
Monday Morning.
Dearest Friend
One word before the work or the pleasure of the day begins. I can't tell you how thankful I am that things are for once better than your fears. Now do be stingy and industrious this next year and throw as much energy into your silk-buying and ribbon-making as you do into your fight with the "parsons."
You are a fine fellow to talk of supporting the Westminster -- for my sake too. Don't you know that the only thing you can do for my sake is to prosper and get comfortable the rest of your days? If you are to be grey and haggard and fretted "what good shall my life do me?" though I had the Westminster and the glory thereof all to myself. The reason I did not answer your last letter specially was, that having to write a [general epistle,] I seemed to have no inspiration for a particular one. But now I am sorry, for I see you think it a neglect.
And have you not "such a friend?" -- (as I, I suppose you mean). I am sure nobody cares for nobody more than I care for you, and as for having one's dearest friends under the same meridian with one, that would be to have two summa bona at once, which is clearly contrary to the law or method of nature.
I shall write to you all in a day or two, so I tell you no news. This is only to assure you that your little notes are very precious to me, whether I answer them or not. I am sorely disappointed when I have none of your handwriting. In short you are the dearest, oldest, stupidest, tiresomest, delightfullest, and never-to-be-forgotten-est of friends to me -- and I am ever
Your affectionate
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Charles Bray, [London, 17 January 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/92082