GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Witley, 23 July 1879
Title
GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Witley, 23 July 1879
Title
GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Witley, 23 July 1879
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Charles Lee Lewes
Date(s)
- 1879-07-23
Place
Witley
Letter Content
GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Witley, 23 July 1879
MS: Mrs. Edward Hanson. Published: Paterson, pp. 196-198.
The Heights, Witley, | Nr. Godalming.
July 23. 79.
Dearest Boy
I will write to dear little Blanche, if not today, tomorrow.
No! I do not like your change of plan. I have no belief in the climate of Wales, and your Father and I were altogether disappointed with the places on the W. coast, Barmouth included. I am sure it would not be anything like so good for you as a foreign trip, and by you I mean emphatically Gertrude as well. I cannot bear to think of your being fixed for your one good holiday in rainy Wales, where the Methodists sing out of tune and there is a general aspect of moral dreariness.
As to me, you need not, I think, be in the least anxious. Taking the worst view of the case nothing sudden is to be apprehended -- I seem to be so thoroughly sound in the chief vital organs. And I am certainly in many respects better than I was. Besides when I am in pain the thought I most sustain myself with, and childishly utter aloud to my own ears alone, is, that the trouble does not interfere with other lives -- begins and ends in me. It would really grieve me if your holiday were interfered with on my account. You know, dear, any business at the Bank or with Mr. Warren, Mr. Cross will easily attend to, and he will order anything for me from town. And do not let any fear of a bad telegram haunt you, because as I said, there is no reasonable ground for apprehending anything sudden. It is possible that in a few weeks I may be well. My next neighbours, the Fosters, 300 sent me a message yesterday by Mr. Parson, saying that Mr. Foster would be glad to bring me anything or to furnish me with anything out of his cellar. Then in August the Hollands 301 will be here, and they are all kindness.
I am so glad, dear Gertrude, that you enjoyed the strawberries and wish I could send another basketful by some white magic. Blanche's letter is very pretty in its choice of things to say. Maud at the head of her class!
The news about 'abEliza'bb is of the dreariest -- especially the untruthfulness. I am alarmed still more to find that she has a notion of borrowing money, and since she seems disposed to throw the blame on you, would it not be better after all for me to write to her? The worst of it is, that in my present mood I could hardly help writing to her very severely. Don't take a tone of dissuasion about her going back to Natal or remaining. That effects nothing but harm.
These begging letters hurt me to read, but you were right in your answer. Mrs. Coddington is an offensive woman who gave me a great deal of annoyance a long time ago, and our correspondence ended with my giving her a rebuke which makes her application to me somewhat amazing -- if one could be amazed at anything. She says or said that she had many grand relations.
I have filled up one income-taxpaper for this district, in which I had to account for this house as well as other income. But I will fill up the St. John's Wood paper immediately. I hope it has not been lying too long.
Will you please call at the Priory and impress on Mrs. Gibson that she must send me everything in the form of a letter, whether circular or not -- only retaining things open at the ends? It is alarming that she should have put aside warrants. I was going to make a fuss about not having received the L. and N. W. R. warrant. 302
I got the Saturday Review. It is excellent in tone, but the criticism 303 is such as any instructed man could make on any theme, and does not come from a standpoint of theory or conviction. Still I am very grateful for it. It is notably different from the Pepinistic articles in its sympathetic impacts. I have said as much as I can manage today, having just got a sheet from Foster which requires a great deal of attention.
Love to all from
Mutter.
MS: Mrs. Edward Hanson. Published: Paterson, pp. 196-198.
The Heights, Witley, | Nr. Godalming.
July 23. 79.
Dearest Boy
I will write to dear little Blanche, if not today, tomorrow.
No! I do not like your change of plan. I have no belief in the climate of Wales, and your Father and I were altogether disappointed with the places on the W. coast, Barmouth included. I am sure it would not be anything like so good for you as a foreign trip, and by you I mean emphatically Gertrude as well. I cannot bear to think of your being fixed for your one good holiday in rainy Wales, where the Methodists sing out of tune and there is a general aspect of moral dreariness.
As to me, you need not, I think, be in the least anxious. Taking the worst view of the case nothing sudden is to be apprehended -- I seem to be so thoroughly sound in the chief vital organs. And I am certainly in many respects better than I was. Besides when I am in pain the thought I most sustain myself with, and childishly utter aloud to my own ears alone, is, that the trouble does not interfere with other lives -- begins and ends in me. It would really grieve me if your holiday were interfered with on my account. You know, dear, any business at the Bank or with Mr. Warren, Mr. Cross will easily attend to, and he will order anything for me from town. And do not let any fear of a bad telegram haunt you, because as I said, there is no reasonable ground for apprehending anything sudden. It is possible that in a few weeks I may be well. My next neighbours, the Fosters, 300 sent me a message yesterday by Mr. Parson, saying that Mr. Foster would be glad to bring me anything or to furnish me with anything out of his cellar. Then in August the Hollands 301 will be here, and they are all kindness.
I am so glad, dear Gertrude, that you enjoyed the strawberries and wish I could send another basketful by some white magic. Blanche's letter is very pretty in its choice of things to say. Maud at the head of her class!
The news about 'abEliza'bb is of the dreariest -- especially the untruthfulness. I am alarmed still more to find that she has a notion of borrowing money, and since she seems disposed to throw the blame on you, would it not be better after all for me to write to her? The worst of it is, that in my present mood I could hardly help writing to her very severely. Don't take a tone of dissuasion about her going back to Natal or remaining. That effects nothing but harm.
These begging letters hurt me to read, but you were right in your answer. Mrs. Coddington is an offensive woman who gave me a great deal of annoyance a long time ago, and our correspondence ended with my giving her a rebuke which makes her application to me somewhat amazing -- if one could be amazed at anything. She says or said that she had many grand relations.
I have filled up one income-taxpaper for this district, in which I had to account for this house as well as other income. But I will fill up the St. John's Wood paper immediately. I hope it has not been lying too long.
Will you please call at the Priory and impress on Mrs. Gibson that she must send me everything in the form of a letter, whether circular or not -- only retaining things open at the ends? It is alarming that she should have put aside warrants. I was going to make a fuss about not having received the L. and N. W. R. warrant. 302
I got the Saturday Review. It is excellent in tone, but the criticism 303 is such as any instructed man could make on any theme, and does not come from a standpoint of theory or conviction. Still I am very grateful for it. It is notably different from the Pepinistic articles in its sympathetic impacts. I have said as much as I can manage today, having just got a sheet from Foster which requires a great deal of attention.
Love to all from
Mutter.
Signature
Mutter.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Witley, 23 July 1879, 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/92240