GE to George Combe, London, 25 January 1854
Title
GE to George Combe, London, 25 January 1854
Title
GE to George Combe, London, 25 January 1854
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
George Combe
Date(s)
- 1854-01-25
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to George Combe, London, 25 January 1854
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: London 25 Jany 1854 | Miss Evans.
1 Cambridge Street | January 25. 1854.
My dear Sir
I have been incapacitated for work by a bad headache for the last three days, otherwise I should not so long have delayed asking you the following questions. You say in your last letter that you wish me to send a proof of your pamphlet to Sir James Clark and Mr. Perry. 198 Will it not be better for me to correct the proof and supply the headings, to forward this corrected proof to you that you may add or cancel what you please, and then to send a revise to Sir James and Mr. Perry? Any suggestions of theirs can still be carried into effect before the sheets are struck off. Again, will it not be desirable to leave out of the Pamphlet the list of books which will be prefixed to the article in the Review? I will take care to supply the necessary references, and make the corresponding omissions in the text. I think the first page of the pamphlet will look more dignified on this plan.
I shall be much obliged if you will send me an answer to these questions by return of post. The pamphlet seems to me on the whole admirable, and as I never do things justice while they are in manuscript, I have no doubt that I shall think much better of it when I read it in print. I fear that numerous verbal alterations will be inevitable in the proof. Print is like broad daylight -- it shews specks which the twilight of manuscript allows to pass unnoticed. This will cause a little additional expense, which I must beg of you to excuse.
Pray let me know how you are. Better, I hope, on the strength of the milder weather. With kindest regards to Mrs. Combe, I am ever, my dear Sir,
Yours very truly
Marian Evans.
Alas! This greasy paper will annoy you as much as it does me.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: London 25 Jany 1854 | Miss Evans.
1 Cambridge Street | January 25. 1854.
My dear Sir
I have been incapacitated for work by a bad headache for the last three days, otherwise I should not so long have delayed asking you the following questions. You say in your last letter that you wish me to send a proof of your pamphlet to Sir James Clark and Mr. Perry. 198 Will it not be better for me to correct the proof and supply the headings, to forward this corrected proof to you that you may add or cancel what you please, and then to send a revise to Sir James and Mr. Perry? Any suggestions of theirs can still be carried into effect before the sheets are struck off. Again, will it not be desirable to leave out of the Pamphlet the list of books which will be prefixed to the article in the Review? I will take care to supply the necessary references, and make the corresponding omissions in the text. I think the first page of the pamphlet will look more dignified on this plan.
I shall be much obliged if you will send me an answer to these questions by return of post. The pamphlet seems to me on the whole admirable, and as I never do things justice while they are in manuscript, I have no doubt that I shall think much better of it when I read it in print. I fear that numerous verbal alterations will be inevitable in the proof. Print is like broad daylight -- it shews specks which the twilight of manuscript allows to pass unnoticed. This will cause a little additional expense, which I must beg of you to excuse.
Pray let me know how you are. Better, I hope, on the strength of the milder weather. With kindest regards to Mrs. Combe, I am ever, my dear Sir,
Yours very truly
Marian Evans.
Alas! This greasy paper will annoy you as much as it does me.
Signature
Marian Evans.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to George Combe, London, 25 January 1854, 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/92476