GE to Francis Watts, Foleshill, [4 July 1842]
Title
GE to Francis Watts, Foleshill, [4 July 1842]
Title
GE to Francis Watts, Foleshill, [4 July 1842]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Francis Watts
Date(s)
- 1842-07-04
Place
FOLESHILL
Letter Content
GE to Francis Watts, Foleshill, [4 July 1842]
Text: Typewritten copy, National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Foleshill, Monday.
Rev. and dear Sir,
The sight of your handwriting was a welcome assurance that I had not lost one of the most valued among my good genii, and if you had seen my joyous looks on its reception you would readily believe that nothing but real impediments could prevent my sending a more prompt and complete response to your kind letter than the one I am now hastily completing.
My sister and her family are just paying us a farewell visit previous to a removal from their present residence to a more distant one, 437 and their presence demands and attracts my entire attention, so that I am only able hastily to copy a couple of chapters from Vinet, and to forward to you the whole of Guizot's Address, which is interesting throughout. As the latter is my only copy I shall be obliged if you will return it when it has effected your purpose. When my sister has left me, and she will do so on Saturday next, I shall be at leisure and will gladly translate a new section should you think it desirable, for I shall proceed con amore now that you encourage me to hope for the publication of the memoir. I confess my spirits were flagging at the idea of translating four hundred pages to no purpose. I am sorry to find, after waiting for a copy of Vinet's book for two months, that the work is out of print, and that I must consequently trespass on you for the use of yours, which I had hoped to return with the other volumes. I read Tholuck's Glaubw'fcrdigkeit with much interest, as well as Ullman's remarks, and I am indebted to both for some important thoughts. 438
I am afraid to begin to tell you of my gratitude to you for remembering me lest my extreme haste should cause me to convey a sadly inadequate notion of my feelings. A friend has given some admonitions that led me to fear I have misrepresented myself by my manner, and while conscious of no sentiments towards those who condescend to interest themselves on my behalf but those of admiration and thankfulness I have appeared too self-confident and indifferent to undeserved kindness. It gives me much pain to think that you should have received such an impression, and I entreat you to believe that the remembrance of you, your words and looks calls up, I will not say humble, but self-depreciating reflections and lively gratitude. I am always inclined to make a father-confessor of you, perhaps because I augur that you have no heart for inflicting heavy penances, though I fear even you will say that I deserve them when I tell you that my affections have been disturbing forces which have shaken my intellect from a steady direction to the object you and my better self would make my polestar, but this will not I trust shall not be so again.
I know not what I have written for I have merry voices round me that distract my thoughts. You give me a sad account of your health which I grieve to hear. I hope that the visit to Scotland is for its renovation, not for labour, and that you are cheered by the company of your home treasures, of which I have a picture in my imagination, whether a true one I cannot tell, but such a one as harmonizes in my thoughts with all I know of you. Pray pardon this hurried letter for which I hope some day to atone, and believe me, Revd and dear Sir
Yours with respect and esteem
Mary Ann Evans.
Text: Typewritten copy, National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Foleshill, Monday.
Rev. and dear Sir,
The sight of your handwriting was a welcome assurance that I had not lost one of the most valued among my good genii, and if you had seen my joyous looks on its reception you would readily believe that nothing but real impediments could prevent my sending a more prompt and complete response to your kind letter than the one I am now hastily completing.
My sister and her family are just paying us a farewell visit previous to a removal from their present residence to a more distant one, 437 and their presence demands and attracts my entire attention, so that I am only able hastily to copy a couple of chapters from Vinet, and to forward to you the whole of Guizot's Address, which is interesting throughout. As the latter is my only copy I shall be obliged if you will return it when it has effected your purpose. When my sister has left me, and she will do so on Saturday next, I shall be at leisure and will gladly translate a new section should you think it desirable, for I shall proceed con amore now that you encourage me to hope for the publication of the memoir. I confess my spirits were flagging at the idea of translating four hundred pages to no purpose. I am sorry to find, after waiting for a copy of Vinet's book for two months, that the work is out of print, and that I must consequently trespass on you for the use of yours, which I had hoped to return with the other volumes. I read Tholuck's Glaubw'fcrdigkeit with much interest, as well as Ullman's remarks, and I am indebted to both for some important thoughts. 438
I am afraid to begin to tell you of my gratitude to you for remembering me lest my extreme haste should cause me to convey a sadly inadequate notion of my feelings. A friend has given some admonitions that led me to fear I have misrepresented myself by my manner, and while conscious of no sentiments towards those who condescend to interest themselves on my behalf but those of admiration and thankfulness I have appeared too self-confident and indifferent to undeserved kindness. It gives me much pain to think that you should have received such an impression, and I entreat you to believe that the remembrance of you, your words and looks calls up, I will not say humble, but self-depreciating reflections and lively gratitude. I am always inclined to make a father-confessor of you, perhaps because I augur that you have no heart for inflicting heavy penances, though I fear even you will say that I deserve them when I tell you that my affections have been disturbing forces which have shaken my intellect from a steady direction to the object you and my better self would make my polestar, but this will not I trust shall not be so again.
I know not what I have written for I have merry voices round me that distract my thoughts. You give me a sad account of your health which I grieve to hear. I hope that the visit to Scotland is for its renovation, not for labour, and that you are cheered by the company of your home treasures, of which I have a picture in my imagination, whether a true one I cannot tell, but such a one as harmonizes in my thoughts with all I know of you. Pray pardon this hurried letter for which I hope some day to atone, and believe me, Revd and dear Sir
Yours with respect and esteem
Mary Ann Evans.
Signature
Mary Ann Evans.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Francis Watts, Foleshill, [4 July 1842], 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/92331