GE to Charles Bray, Geneva, 27 July [1849]
Title
GE to Charles Bray, Geneva, 27 July [1849]
Title
GE to Charles Bray, Geneva, 27 July [1849]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Charles Bray
Date(s)
- 1849-07-27
Place
GENEVA
Letter Content
GE to Charles Bray, Geneva, 27 July [1849]
MS: Yale. Address: Charles Bray Esq. | Rosehill | Coventry | Angleterre | Voie de France. Postmarks: GENEVE | 28 JUIL | 49 | 11'bd M; COVENTRY | JY 31 | 1849 | D. Extracts published: Cross, I, 209-210.
Campagne Plongeon 799 | July 27th.
Dear Friend
We forgot the passport after all -- so I must give you the trouble of sending it by post as soon as you reach home. When shall I have done troubling you? One kind of trouble, however, I think I can put an end to -- anxiety about my comfort here. I find no disagreeables, and I have every physical comfort that I care about. The family seems well-ordered and happy. Mde. de Valli'e8re 800 is really a lady in feeling and language, evidently accustomed to the society of superior people. She is of the Pays de Vaud, where her husband still lives for the sake of a government appointment. She had an establishment in her own country very superior to this, but the political troubles of the Canton deprived her of the class of guests she was in the habit of receiving and she was fain to leave her husband behind and come here with her eight children. All this I heard from a young lady half French, half English, the cousin of the Austrian Baronne. 801 She has been staying here for some time and speaks very highly of Mde. de V.
I have made another friend, too -- an elderly English lady, 802 who used to live at Ryde, and who has been staying here about a month -- a pretty old lady with plenty of shrewdness and knowledge of the world. She began to say very kind things to me in rather a waspish tone yesterday morning at breakfast. I liked her better at dinner and tea, and today we are quite confidential. She has her little granddaughter with its nurse under her charge while the mamma is travelling. I only hope she will stay -- she is just the sort of person I shall like to have to speak to -- not at all "congenial" but with a character of her own. She has been quizzing the two American ladies who are here. One of them is the middle-aged lady whom you admired. She is kind, but silly -- the daughter silly, but not kind, and they both of them chatter the most execrable French with amazing volubility and self-complacency. They are very rich, very smart, and very vulgar -- just a specimen of Americanism according to the Tories. The daughter has been presented at Court and this was the way in which she contrived to convey the fact to Mrs. Locke (my nice elderly lady). Mrs. Locke observed that she thought the health of young ladies in England was deteriorated by their habits. Miss America replied, "I have been to court and the young ladies looked very healthy there!!" Oh, said Mrs. Locke, I belong to the gentry -- I know nothing about the nobility.
Madame la Marquise 803 is a very good-natured person evidently, but she has the voice almost of a market-woman. The tall, squinting man is the Marquis her husband. A grey-headed gentleman and a young lanky one 804 are their friends, and are occupying my room that is to be. There are besides these, the old Swiss lady 805 who has lived here several years -- and a really interesting-looking young German, 806 with a bright intelligent refined face and a huge benevolence. He is an ardent politician and so far as I can make out, a republican.
The going down to tea bores me, and I shall get out of it as soon as I can, unless I can manage to have the newspapers to read. The American lady embroiders slippers -- the Mamma looks on and does nothing. The Marquis and his friends play at whist -- the old ladies sew and Mde. Valli'e8re says things so true that they are insufferable. She is obliged to talk to all and cap their niaiseries with some suitable observation. She has been very kind and motherly to me. I believe she has found out already that I do not know how to look after my own interests -- but I am sure she is a straight forward person. I like her better every time I see her. I think this is a tolerable budget of good news considering that this is only the second day since I parted from you.
I have a charming tub of cold water to wash in, and the pretty rosy cheeked damsel smiles very kindly at me. I have quiet and comfort -- what more can I want to make me a healthy reasonable being once more? I will never go near a friend again until I can bring joy and peace in my heart and in my face -- but remember that friendship will be easy then. Dear Cara and dear Sara a thousand loves to you -- that is to say as much love as a thousand people could give you if they were not separated from you. Let me hear of your safe arrival.
Your affectionate
Pollian.
I am obliged to write very hastily because I want my letter to go at 6 o'clock tomorrow morning, and I did not know till just now that my passport would be wanted. I am going down to tea and stare.
MS: Yale. Address: Charles Bray Esq. | Rosehill | Coventry | Angleterre | Voie de France. Postmarks: GENEVE | 28 JUIL | 49 | 11'bd M; COVENTRY | JY 31 | 1849 | D. Extracts published: Cross, I, 209-210.
Campagne Plongeon 799 | July 27th.
Dear Friend
We forgot the passport after all -- so I must give you the trouble of sending it by post as soon as you reach home. When shall I have done troubling you? One kind of trouble, however, I think I can put an end to -- anxiety about my comfort here. I find no disagreeables, and I have every physical comfort that I care about. The family seems well-ordered and happy. Mde. de Valli'e8re 800 is really a lady in feeling and language, evidently accustomed to the society of superior people. She is of the Pays de Vaud, where her husband still lives for the sake of a government appointment. She had an establishment in her own country very superior to this, but the political troubles of the Canton deprived her of the class of guests she was in the habit of receiving and she was fain to leave her husband behind and come here with her eight children. All this I heard from a young lady half French, half English, the cousin of the Austrian Baronne. 801 She has been staying here for some time and speaks very highly of Mde. de V.
I have made another friend, too -- an elderly English lady, 802 who used to live at Ryde, and who has been staying here about a month -- a pretty old lady with plenty of shrewdness and knowledge of the world. She began to say very kind things to me in rather a waspish tone yesterday morning at breakfast. I liked her better at dinner and tea, and today we are quite confidential. She has her little granddaughter with its nurse under her charge while the mamma is travelling. I only hope she will stay -- she is just the sort of person I shall like to have to speak to -- not at all "congenial" but with a character of her own. She has been quizzing the two American ladies who are here. One of them is the middle-aged lady whom you admired. She is kind, but silly -- the daughter silly, but not kind, and they both of them chatter the most execrable French with amazing volubility and self-complacency. They are very rich, very smart, and very vulgar -- just a specimen of Americanism according to the Tories. The daughter has been presented at Court and this was the way in which she contrived to convey the fact to Mrs. Locke (my nice elderly lady). Mrs. Locke observed that she thought the health of young ladies in England was deteriorated by their habits. Miss America replied, "I have been to court and the young ladies looked very healthy there!!" Oh, said Mrs. Locke, I belong to the gentry -- I know nothing about the nobility.
Madame la Marquise 803 is a very good-natured person evidently, but she has the voice almost of a market-woman. The tall, squinting man is the Marquis her husband. A grey-headed gentleman and a young lanky one 804 are their friends, and are occupying my room that is to be. There are besides these, the old Swiss lady 805 who has lived here several years -- and a really interesting-looking young German, 806 with a bright intelligent refined face and a huge benevolence. He is an ardent politician and so far as I can make out, a republican.
The going down to tea bores me, and I shall get out of it as soon as I can, unless I can manage to have the newspapers to read. The American lady embroiders slippers -- the Mamma looks on and does nothing. The Marquis and his friends play at whist -- the old ladies sew and Mde. Valli'e8re says things so true that they are insufferable. She is obliged to talk to all and cap their niaiseries with some suitable observation. She has been very kind and motherly to me. I believe she has found out already that I do not know how to look after my own interests -- but I am sure she is a straight forward person. I like her better every time I see her. I think this is a tolerable budget of good news considering that this is only the second day since I parted from you.
I have a charming tub of cold water to wash in, and the pretty rosy cheeked damsel smiles very kindly at me. I have quiet and comfort -- what more can I want to make me a healthy reasonable being once more? I will never go near a friend again until I can bring joy and peace in my heart and in my face -- but remember that friendship will be easy then. Dear Cara and dear Sara a thousand loves to you -- that is to say as much love as a thousand people could give you if they were not separated from you. Let me hear of your safe arrival.
Your affectionate
Pollian.
I am obliged to write very hastily because I want my letter to go at 6 o'clock tomorrow morning, and I did not know till just now that my passport would be wanted. I am going down to tea and stare.
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Charles Bray, Geneva, 27 July [1849], 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/92117