GE to Frederic Harrison, London, 12 January 1866
Title
GE to Frederic Harrison, London, 12 January 1866
Title
GE to Frederic Harrison, London, 12 January 1866
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Frederic Harrison
Date(s)
- 1866-01-12
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Frederic Harrison, London, 12 January 1866
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale. Envelope: Frederic Harrison, Esq | 7 New Square | Lincoln's Inn. Postmarks: LONDON-N.W | 5 | JA 12 | 66. LONDON-W.C | KN | JA 12 | 66. Extracts published: Cross, II, 420.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
January 12. 1866.
My dear Mr. Harrison
The ample and clear statement you have sent me with kind promptness has put me in high spirits -- as high spirits as can belong to an unhopeful author suffering from a bilious attack. Your hypothetical case of a settlement suits my needs surprisingly well. I shall be thankful to let Sugden alone and throw myself entirely on your goodness, especially as what I want is simply a basis of legal possibilities and not any command of details. I want to be sure that my chords will not offend a critic accomplished in Thorough Bass -- not at all to present an Exercise in Thorough Bass.
I was going to write you a long story, but on consideration, it seems to me that I should tax your time less, and arrive more readily at a resolution of my doubts on various points not yet mentioned to you, if you could let me speak, instead of writing to you.
If you could let me know beforehand when it would be possible and convenient to you to give me an hour or two (I think I need not ask for more than one hour) whether in the afternoon or evening, I would take care to be disengaged.
On Wednesday afternoons I am always alone, 404 but on any other day when I could be sure of your coming, I would set everything aside for the sake of a consultation so valuable to me. After next week there is danger of our being out of town, as Mr. Lewes's state of health urges us to try whether he can find any additional strength in extra-London air.
Yours most gratefully
M. E. Lewes.
Frederic Harrison Esq.
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale. Envelope: Frederic Harrison, Esq | 7 New Square | Lincoln's Inn. Postmarks: LONDON-N.W | 5 | JA 12 | 66. LONDON-W.C | KN | JA 12 | 66. Extracts published: Cross, II, 420.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
January 12. 1866.
My dear Mr. Harrison
The ample and clear statement you have sent me with kind promptness has put me in high spirits -- as high spirits as can belong to an unhopeful author suffering from a bilious attack. Your hypothetical case of a settlement suits my needs surprisingly well. I shall be thankful to let Sugden alone and throw myself entirely on your goodness, especially as what I want is simply a basis of legal possibilities and not any command of details. I want to be sure that my chords will not offend a critic accomplished in Thorough Bass -- not at all to present an Exercise in Thorough Bass.
I was going to write you a long story, but on consideration, it seems to me that I should tax your time less, and arrive more readily at a resolution of my doubts on various points not yet mentioned to you, if you could let me speak, instead of writing to you.
If you could let me know beforehand when it would be possible and convenient to you to give me an hour or two (I think I need not ask for more than one hour) whether in the afternoon or evening, I would take care to be disengaged.
On Wednesday afternoons I am always alone, 404 but on any other day when I could be sure of your coming, I would set everything aside for the sake of a consultation so valuable to me. After next week there is danger of our being out of town, as Mr. Lewes's state of health urges us to try whether he can find any additional strength in extra-London air.
Yours most gratefully
M. E. Lewes.
Frederic Harrison Esq.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Frederic Harrison, London, 12 January 1866, 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/92397