GE to John Blackwood, St. M'e4rgen, 7 July 1868
Title
GE to John Blackwood, St. M'e4rgen, 7 July 1868
Title
GE to John Blackwood, St. M'e4rgen, 7 July 1868
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1868-07-07
Place
St. M'e4rgen
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, St. M'e4rgen, 7 July 1868
MS: National Library of Scotland. Mostly published: Cross, III, 52-54.
St. M'e4rgen | July 7. 1868.
My dear Sir
We got your letter yesterday here among the peaceful mountain tops. After ascending gradually (in a carriage) for nearly four hours, we found ourselves in a region of grass, corn, and pine-woods, so beautifully varied that we seem to be walking in a great park laid out for our special delight. 785 The monks as usual found out the friendly solitude, and this place of St. M'e4rgen was originally nothing but an Augustinian monastery. About three miles off is another place of like origin, called St. Peter's, formerly a Benedictine monastery, and still used as a place of preparation for the Catholic priesthood. The Monks have all vanished, but the people are devout Catholics. At every half mile by the roadside is a carefully kept crucifix, and last night as we were having our supper in the common room of the inn we suddenly heard sounds that seemed to me like those of an accordion. "Is that a zittern?" said Mr. Lewes to the German lady by his side. "No, it is prayer." The servants, by themselves -- the host and hostess were in the same room with us -- were saying their evening prayers, men's and women's voices blending in unsually correct harmony. The same loud prayer is heard at morning noon and evening from the shepherds and workers in the fields. We suppose that the believers in Mr. Home 786 and in Madame Rachel would pronounce these people "grossly superstitious." The land is cultivated by rich peasant proprietors, and the people here as in Petersthal look healthy and contented. This really adds to one's pleasure in seeing natural beauties. In North Germany, at Ilmenau, we were a[lways] pained by meeting peasants who looked underfed and miserable.
Unhappily the weather is too cold and damp, and our accommodations are too scanty under such circumstances, for us to remain here and enjoy the endless walks and the sunsets that would make up for other negatives in fine warm weather. We return to Freiburg tomorrow, and from thence we shall go on by easy stages through Switzerland by Thun and Vevay to Geneva, where I want to see my old friends once more. We shall be so constantly on the move, that it might be a vain trouble on your part to shoot another letter after such flying birds. We shall probably be at home by the end of the month, and will immediately write to let you know of our arrival, when you may be sure we shall be glad to have a letter from you.
As to the poem I should have been dispirited if you had not sent me Mr. Paterson's letter as well as the news of a steady sale. His letter shows that he at least has received the impression of a whole, with parts wrought in subordination to that preconceived whole.
We dine here at the primitive hour of 12'bd, and the hour is come. Mr. Lewes unites with me in kindest regards and thanks for your letter.
Always yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Mostly published: Cross, III, 52-54.
St. M'e4rgen | July 7. 1868.
My dear Sir
We got your letter yesterday here among the peaceful mountain tops. After ascending gradually (in a carriage) for nearly four hours, we found ourselves in a region of grass, corn, and pine-woods, so beautifully varied that we seem to be walking in a great park laid out for our special delight. 785 The monks as usual found out the friendly solitude, and this place of St. M'e4rgen was originally nothing but an Augustinian monastery. About three miles off is another place of like origin, called St. Peter's, formerly a Benedictine monastery, and still used as a place of preparation for the Catholic priesthood. The Monks have all vanished, but the people are devout Catholics. At every half mile by the roadside is a carefully kept crucifix, and last night as we were having our supper in the common room of the inn we suddenly heard sounds that seemed to me like those of an accordion. "Is that a zittern?" said Mr. Lewes to the German lady by his side. "No, it is prayer." The servants, by themselves -- the host and hostess were in the same room with us -- were saying their evening prayers, men's and women's voices blending in unsually correct harmony. The same loud prayer is heard at morning noon and evening from the shepherds and workers in the fields. We suppose that the believers in Mr. Home 786 and in Madame Rachel would pronounce these people "grossly superstitious." The land is cultivated by rich peasant proprietors, and the people here as in Petersthal look healthy and contented. This really adds to one's pleasure in seeing natural beauties. In North Germany, at Ilmenau, we were a[lways] pained by meeting peasants who looked underfed and miserable.
Unhappily the weather is too cold and damp, and our accommodations are too scanty under such circumstances, for us to remain here and enjoy the endless walks and the sunsets that would make up for other negatives in fine warm weather. We return to Freiburg tomorrow, and from thence we shall go on by easy stages through Switzerland by Thun and Vevay to Geneva, where I want to see my old friends once more. We shall be so constantly on the move, that it might be a vain trouble on your part to shoot another letter after such flying birds. We shall probably be at home by the end of the month, and will immediately write to let you know of our arrival, when you may be sure we shall be glad to have a letter from you.
As to the poem I should have been dispirited if you had not sent me Mr. Paterson's letter as well as the news of a steady sale. His letter shows that he at least has received the impression of a whole, with parts wrought in subordination to that preconceived whole.
We dine here at the primitive hour of 12'bd, and the hour is come. Mr. Lewes unites with me in kindest regards and thanks for your letter.
Always yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, St. M'e4rgen, 7 July 1868, 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/92728