GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, Wandsworth, 18 September 1860
Title
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, Wandsworth, 18 September 1860
Title
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, Wandsworth, 18 September 1860
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Francois D'Albert-Durade
Date(s)
- 1860-09-18
Place
Wandsworth
Letter Content
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, Wandsworth, 18 September 1860
Text: Copy by D'Albert-Durade, Tinker Collection, Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Holly Lodge | Wandsworth | September 18. 60.
Dear Friend
I was really relieved to see your handwriting, for, remembering the wish you had expressed to send me a copy of your translation, 632 I feared that either a parcel from you might have miscarried, or that you might have supposed me neglectful because I had not yet written you word of our new address. I thought that no publishers and printers, out of Germany, would be so slow as yours at Geneva seem to be. A propos -- I have had requests for permission to translate the "Mill on the Floss" from France, in one case the proposed publisher was Hetzel. 633 Perhaps if you have not yet concluded your bargain with your Genevese publisher, 634 you may make use of this fact.
I could not write earlier, because we have always been thinking ourselves on the eve of a decision as to our future residence, and yet have never decided until today. At last I can tell you that our next address, probably for six months, will be 10 Harewood Square, London. We have taken a furnished house there, in order to try the experience of how far a town life will be endurable to us, since that seems on the whole the most desirable thing for Charles, who has a good place in the Post Office, after passing a government examination with high credit. His working hours are from 10 till 4, and of course we are anxious to provide a home for him that shall be the best moral education in the critical years between seventeen and twenty one. Thornton, the second boy, is coming from Hofwyl in a fortnight, to be immediately placed at Edinburgh. I quite understood the difficulty you were under, in your expensive house, with the inability to receive many boarders at once. At first it was a great regret to me that Thornton should not be placed with you; 635 but our observation of Charles, since he came home, has convinced us that, as we hope Thornton will be able to pass an examination for the Indian service, it will be best for him to be prepared in the routine of English teaching. The English methods, especially in mathematics, are not the best; but a boy whose intelligence is really more cultivated than that of the average, is still under a disadvantage in his native country, if native words and practices are not the readiest to him.
I hope you and dear Maman have had some comfort from your journey to Carlsruhe, and that your Charles 636 is making progress of a satisfactory kind. Our Charles is very precious to us. I think he must be quite an exceptional boy -- he is wonderfully sweet and gentle in disposition without any want of force and manliness; he is particularly tender and good to me and adds greatly to our happiness. Indeed, there can hardly be a woman in the world who has more blessings, outside herself, than I have. The leaf of ivy 637 will be duly treasured, dear friend. I have not yet seen Heidelberg, but Mr. Lewes has, in days long gone by. I like to think of your having enjoyed a holiday, after so long a time of uninterrupted labour -- and I like to think, too, that you have [had?] me in mind in the midst of that beautiful Rhine country.
Alas! for the harvest, and for the poor people whose lot is so deeply affected by its failure. Here, after two or three weeks of sunshine, in which, I trust, a good deal of corn has been gathered in, we have again wet, wet, wet! I feel for Maman in the irritation of nerves that painful teeth must cause her! Assure her of my deep and constant gratitude and affection, and believe me, dear friend, yours ever, with cherished memories,
M. E. Evans.
Mr. Lewes sends his very kind remembrances to you and Maman.
Text: Copy by D'Albert-Durade, Tinker Collection, Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Holly Lodge | Wandsworth | September 18. 60.
Dear Friend
I was really relieved to see your handwriting, for, remembering the wish you had expressed to send me a copy of your translation, 632 I feared that either a parcel from you might have miscarried, or that you might have supposed me neglectful because I had not yet written you word of our new address. I thought that no publishers and printers, out of Germany, would be so slow as yours at Geneva seem to be. A propos -- I have had requests for permission to translate the "Mill on the Floss" from France, in one case the proposed publisher was Hetzel. 633 Perhaps if you have not yet concluded your bargain with your Genevese publisher, 634 you may make use of this fact.
I could not write earlier, because we have always been thinking ourselves on the eve of a decision as to our future residence, and yet have never decided until today. At last I can tell you that our next address, probably for six months, will be 10 Harewood Square, London. We have taken a furnished house there, in order to try the experience of how far a town life will be endurable to us, since that seems on the whole the most desirable thing for Charles, who has a good place in the Post Office, after passing a government examination with high credit. His working hours are from 10 till 4, and of course we are anxious to provide a home for him that shall be the best moral education in the critical years between seventeen and twenty one. Thornton, the second boy, is coming from Hofwyl in a fortnight, to be immediately placed at Edinburgh. I quite understood the difficulty you were under, in your expensive house, with the inability to receive many boarders at once. At first it was a great regret to me that Thornton should not be placed with you; 635 but our observation of Charles, since he came home, has convinced us that, as we hope Thornton will be able to pass an examination for the Indian service, it will be best for him to be prepared in the routine of English teaching. The English methods, especially in mathematics, are not the best; but a boy whose intelligence is really more cultivated than that of the average, is still under a disadvantage in his native country, if native words and practices are not the readiest to him.
I hope you and dear Maman have had some comfort from your journey to Carlsruhe, and that your Charles 636 is making progress of a satisfactory kind. Our Charles is very precious to us. I think he must be quite an exceptional boy -- he is wonderfully sweet and gentle in disposition without any want of force and manliness; he is particularly tender and good to me and adds greatly to our happiness. Indeed, there can hardly be a woman in the world who has more blessings, outside herself, than I have. The leaf of ivy 637 will be duly treasured, dear friend. I have not yet seen Heidelberg, but Mr. Lewes has, in days long gone by. I like to think of your having enjoyed a holiday, after so long a time of uninterrupted labour -- and I like to think, too, that you have [had?] me in mind in the midst of that beautiful Rhine country.
Alas! for the harvest, and for the poor people whose lot is so deeply affected by its failure. Here, after two or three weeks of sunshine, in which, I trust, a good deal of corn has been gathered in, we have again wet, wet, wet! I feel for Maman in the irritation of nerves that painful teeth must cause her! Assure her of my deep and constant gratitude and affection, and believe me, dear friend, yours ever, with cherished memories,
M. E. Evans.
Mr. Lewes sends his very kind remembrances to you and Maman.
Signature
M. E. Evans.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, Wandsworth, 18 September 1860, 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/92376