GE to John Blackwood, London, 2 September 1876
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 2 September 1876
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 2 September 1876
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1876-09-02
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, London, 2 September 1876
MS: National Library of Scotland. Published: Cross, III, 287-289.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
September 2. 76.
My dear Mr. Blackwood
We reached home only last night. After we left Ragatz our wanderings became too changeful and uncertain in their direction for me to venture on writing to you with any indication of our coming whereabout, and since the beginning of August our Son has been taking his holiday in the country, so that we arrive as strangers and foreigners to all home affairs, the fortunes of D. D. included.
We had scarcely taken our much-needed dinner before a parcel was brought in which proved to be D. D. in the four bound volumes, 515 and various letters with other "missiles" as an acquaintance of mine once (quite na'efvely) called his own favours to his correspondents -- which have at present only gone to swell a heap that I mean to make acquaintance with very slowly. Mr. Lewes, however, is more eager than I, and he has just brought up to me a letter which has certainly gratified me more than anything else of the sort I ever received. It is from Dr. Hermann Adler, 516 the Chief Rabbi here, expressing his "warm appreciation of the fidelity with which some of the best traits of the Jewish character have been depicted by" etc. etc. I think this will gratify you too.
We are both the better for our journey, and I consider myself in as good case as I can even reasonably expect. We can't be made young again and must not be surprized that infirmities recur in spite of mineral waters and air 3000 feet above the sea-level. After Ragatz we stayed at Stachelberg and Kl'f6nthal -- two lovely places where an English face is seldom seen. Another delicious spot, where the air is fit for the gods of Epicurus, is St. Blasien in the Schwarz-wald, where also we saw no English or American visitors, except such as "'fcbernachten" there and pass on. Amidst all the loveliness of forest and mountain, Mr. Lewes has had frequent attacks of headache and severe cramp: still, he is stronger than he was, and we have done exploits in walking, usually taking four or five hours of it daily.
I hope that you and yours have kept well, and have enjoyed the heat rather than suffered from it. I confess myself glad to think that this planet has not become hopelessly chilly. Draughts and chills are my enemies, and but for them I should hardly ever be ailing. The last delightful effect of a draught has been to cause me a ridiculously swelled eyelid, so that I get up in the morning with a piteous, dropsical aspect, and am rather alarmed lest one eye should get into the habit of being smaller than the other -- not liking to offend the prejudices of my fellow-creatures in that way.
The four volumes look very handsome on the outside. Please thank Mr. William Blackwood for many kind notes he wrote me in the days of M.S. and proofs -- not one of which I ever answered or took notice of except for my own behoof.
Always yours truly
M. E. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Published: Cross, III, 287-289.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
September 2. 76.
My dear Mr. Blackwood
We reached home only last night. After we left Ragatz our wanderings became too changeful and uncertain in their direction for me to venture on writing to you with any indication of our coming whereabout, and since the beginning of August our Son has been taking his holiday in the country, so that we arrive as strangers and foreigners to all home affairs, the fortunes of D. D. included.
We had scarcely taken our much-needed dinner before a parcel was brought in which proved to be D. D. in the four bound volumes, 515 and various letters with other "missiles" as an acquaintance of mine once (quite na'efvely) called his own favours to his correspondents -- which have at present only gone to swell a heap that I mean to make acquaintance with very slowly. Mr. Lewes, however, is more eager than I, and he has just brought up to me a letter which has certainly gratified me more than anything else of the sort I ever received. It is from Dr. Hermann Adler, 516 the Chief Rabbi here, expressing his "warm appreciation of the fidelity with which some of the best traits of the Jewish character have been depicted by" etc. etc. I think this will gratify you too.
We are both the better for our journey, and I consider myself in as good case as I can even reasonably expect. We can't be made young again and must not be surprized that infirmities recur in spite of mineral waters and air 3000 feet above the sea-level. After Ragatz we stayed at Stachelberg and Kl'f6nthal -- two lovely places where an English face is seldom seen. Another delicious spot, where the air is fit for the gods of Epicurus, is St. Blasien in the Schwarz-wald, where also we saw no English or American visitors, except such as "'fcbernachten" there and pass on. Amidst all the loveliness of forest and mountain, Mr. Lewes has had frequent attacks of headache and severe cramp: still, he is stronger than he was, and we have done exploits in walking, usually taking four or five hours of it daily.
I hope that you and yours have kept well, and have enjoyed the heat rather than suffered from it. I confess myself glad to think that this planet has not become hopelessly chilly. Draughts and chills are my enemies, and but for them I should hardly ever be ailing. The last delightful effect of a draught has been to cause me a ridiculously swelled eyelid, so that I get up in the morning with a piteous, dropsical aspect, and am rather alarmed lest one eye should get into the habit of being smaller than the other -- not liking to offend the prejudices of my fellow-creatures in that way.
The four volumes look very handsome on the outside. Please thank Mr. William Blackwood for many kind notes he wrote me in the days of M.S. and proofs -- not one of which I ever answered or took notice of except for my own behoof.
Always yours truly
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, London, 2 September 1876, 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/92633