GE to John Blackwood, London, 25 February 1879
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 25 February 1879
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 25 February 1879
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1879-02-25
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, London, 25 February 1879
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: Cross, III, 349-350.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
February 25. 79.
My dear Mr. Blackwood
Thank you for your letter with the supplementary proofs received this morning.
Pray do not announce [Theophrastus] in any way. It would be intolerable to my feelings to have a book of my writing brought out for a long while to come. What I wish to do is, to correct the sheets thoroughly and then have them struck off and laid by till the time of publication comes. One reason which prompted me to set about the proofs -- in addition to my scruple about occupying the type -- was that I was feeling so ill, I thought there was no time to be lost in getting done everything which no one else would do if I left it undone. But I am getting better, I think, and my doctors say there is nothing the matter with me to urge more haste than the common uncertainty of life urges on us all.
I have been looking into the last volume of the Cabinet Edition, to see if there were any errata in the poems printed from the M.S. without my correction. They are I think, generally right, but I have found two things which I should have corrected. Unhappily they are on two separate leaves in "Self and Life". I should be extremely obliged by having two new plates or other means of correction substituted before new copies are struck off. I enclose a note of the errata. 183
There is a great movement now among the Jews towards colonising Palestine, and bringing out the resources of the soil. Probably Mr. Oliphant is interested in the work, and will find his experience in the West not without applicability in the East. 184
Alas, we have a daughter-in-law and two little grandchildren (Bertie's children) in S. Africa, and I feel sadly the lack of quicker intercourse than can be got by packet. The promise of telegraphic communication is welcome, but far off fulfilment. I don't know what you think of Sir Bartle Frere's policy, but it seems to me that we cannot afford either morally or physically to reform semi-civilized people at every point of the compass with blood and iron. 185
I am sorry to hear that Mr. William, after his long imprisonment, is still suffering pain. The comfort is, that the limb has had no permanent injury. My kind regards to him.
It is a satisfaction to you, I hope, that your son is about to be initiated in George Street. I trust he will one day carry on the good tradition of the name [John Blackwood.]
Always truly yours
M. E. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: Cross, III, 349-350.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
February 25. 79.
My dear Mr. Blackwood
Thank you for your letter with the supplementary proofs received this morning.
Pray do not announce [Theophrastus] in any way. It would be intolerable to my feelings to have a book of my writing brought out for a long while to come. What I wish to do is, to correct the sheets thoroughly and then have them struck off and laid by till the time of publication comes. One reason which prompted me to set about the proofs -- in addition to my scruple about occupying the type -- was that I was feeling so ill, I thought there was no time to be lost in getting done everything which no one else would do if I left it undone. But I am getting better, I think, and my doctors say there is nothing the matter with me to urge more haste than the common uncertainty of life urges on us all.
I have been looking into the last volume of the Cabinet Edition, to see if there were any errata in the poems printed from the M.S. without my correction. They are I think, generally right, but I have found two things which I should have corrected. Unhappily they are on two separate leaves in "Self and Life". I should be extremely obliged by having two new plates or other means of correction substituted before new copies are struck off. I enclose a note of the errata. 183
There is a great movement now among the Jews towards colonising Palestine, and bringing out the resources of the soil. Probably Mr. Oliphant is interested in the work, and will find his experience in the West not without applicability in the East. 184
Alas, we have a daughter-in-law and two little grandchildren (Bertie's children) in S. Africa, and I feel sadly the lack of quicker intercourse than can be got by packet. The promise of telegraphic communication is welcome, but far off fulfilment. I don't know what you think of Sir Bartle Frere's policy, but it seems to me that we cannot afford either morally or physically to reform semi-civilized people at every point of the compass with blood and iron. 185
I am sorry to hear that Mr. William, after his long imprisonment, is still suffering pain. The comfort is, that the limb has had no permanent injury. My kind regards to him.
It is a satisfaction to you, I hope, that your son is about to be initiated in George Street. I trust he will one day carry on the good tradition of the name [John Blackwood.]
Always truly yours
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, London, 25 February 1879, 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/92657