GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 20 March 1875
Title
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 20 March 1875
Title
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 20 March 1875
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Francois D'Albert-Durade
Date(s)
- 1875-03-20
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 20 March 1875
Text: Copy by D'Albert-Durade in Tinker Collection, Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory | 21 North Bank | Regent's Park | March 20. 1875.
My dear Friend
Your words of affectionate remembrance are very sweet to me and rouse vivid pictures of that long past time 225 when I made my first severe acquaintance with sledge travelling, and when your admirable portrait of "Maman" won the agents of the Douane to a gracious behaviour. The March wind was less formidable to me then, and I had no fear of neuralgia from a moment's draught of air.
Your letter arrives propitiously in every way, except that it asks about my health at a moment when I happen to be unusually ailing. I had got through the harsh winter unusually well till about five weeks ago, when a state of malaise began which found its climax in sharp attacks of pain, attributed by my physician to gravel in the kidney.
The attacks have ceased, 226 but I am still out of health with occasional interruptions from headache.
I rejoice to know that dear Maman has an unclouded mind in the midst of her bodily feebleness. The sense that your life is passed beneficently for her and the others immediately around you must help to sustain you under the monotony and restriction which you enable me to imagine. I wish you happened to like whist, for in that case it would be a sedative for you equivalent to the cigar on which many men rely as a solace under all earthly trouble.
I heard of your son Alphonse from a Mrs. Sartoris who saw him at Vichy -- perhaps two or three years ago. 227 She was Adelaide Kemble -- a remarkable singer, who married after her first season -- the daughter of Charles Kemble and niece of Mrs. Siddons. Your handsome Italian-looking son seems to have struck her agreeably. But she, poor thing, has been beaten down by the sorrow of losing her son, who was brought home dead from hunting. 228 Sorrow and age are too strong for wealth and homage of which she has abundantly.
Mr. Lewes is very busy and happy in his writing and our happiness in common seems to grow continually in spite of bodily feebleness. I am also writing, but my work "hangs fire" just now.
I write this morning immediately on receiving your letter lest anything should happen to retard my answer if I deferred it to the uncertain morrow. Whenever you are wondering at my long silence, pray imagine me with claims that fill up my days and still leave me a defaulter. Writing notes is an occupation which I am disposed to reduce as much as possible, and well-meaning Americans who are ever and anon asking me for my autograph probably think me the most churlish of celebrities, for I systematically leave their requests unanswered.
Mr. Lewes begs you and Madame D'Albert to accept his warm regards and best wishes. Assure Maman of my unfailing affectionate remembrance and believe me
Yours with faithful friendship
M. E. Lewes.
Our son Charles is highly prosperous and blessed with two dear little girls as well as with one of the best wives in the world. He advances both in worldly position and in intellectual capabilities. Lately he has been promoted to a post of much responsibility in connection with the telegraphs which our government has now taken in hand. Our son in Africa is also happily married, but we hear bad accounts of his health.
Text: Copy by D'Albert-Durade in Tinker Collection, Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory | 21 North Bank | Regent's Park | March 20. 1875.
My dear Friend
Your words of affectionate remembrance are very sweet to me and rouse vivid pictures of that long past time 225 when I made my first severe acquaintance with sledge travelling, and when your admirable portrait of "Maman" won the agents of the Douane to a gracious behaviour. The March wind was less formidable to me then, and I had no fear of neuralgia from a moment's draught of air.
Your letter arrives propitiously in every way, except that it asks about my health at a moment when I happen to be unusually ailing. I had got through the harsh winter unusually well till about five weeks ago, when a state of malaise began which found its climax in sharp attacks of pain, attributed by my physician to gravel in the kidney.
The attacks have ceased, 226 but I am still out of health with occasional interruptions from headache.
I rejoice to know that dear Maman has an unclouded mind in the midst of her bodily feebleness. The sense that your life is passed beneficently for her and the others immediately around you must help to sustain you under the monotony and restriction which you enable me to imagine. I wish you happened to like whist, for in that case it would be a sedative for you equivalent to the cigar on which many men rely as a solace under all earthly trouble.
I heard of your son Alphonse from a Mrs. Sartoris who saw him at Vichy -- perhaps two or three years ago. 227 She was Adelaide Kemble -- a remarkable singer, who married after her first season -- the daughter of Charles Kemble and niece of Mrs. Siddons. Your handsome Italian-looking son seems to have struck her agreeably. But she, poor thing, has been beaten down by the sorrow of losing her son, who was brought home dead from hunting. 228 Sorrow and age are too strong for wealth and homage of which she has abundantly.
Mr. Lewes is very busy and happy in his writing and our happiness in common seems to grow continually in spite of bodily feebleness. I am also writing, but my work "hangs fire" just now.
I write this morning immediately on receiving your letter lest anything should happen to retard my answer if I deferred it to the uncertain morrow. Whenever you are wondering at my long silence, pray imagine me with claims that fill up my days and still leave me a defaulter. Writing notes is an occupation which I am disposed to reduce as much as possible, and well-meaning Americans who are ever and anon asking me for my autograph probably think me the most churlish of celebrities, for I systematically leave their requests unanswered.
Mr. Lewes begs you and Madame D'Albert to accept his warm regards and best wishes. Assure Maman of my unfailing affectionate remembrance and believe me
Yours with faithful friendship
M. E. Lewes.
Our son Charles is highly prosperous and blessed with two dear little girls as well as with one of the best wives in the world. He advances both in worldly position and in intellectual capabilities. Lately he has been promoted to a post of much responsibility in connection with the telegraphs which our government has now taken in hand. Our son in Africa is also happily married, but we hear bad accounts of his health.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 20 March 1875, 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/92350