GE to John Chapman, Coventry, 12 June 1851
Title
GE to John Chapman, Coventry, 12 June 1851
Title
GE to John Chapman, Coventry, 12 June 1851
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Chapman
Date(s)
- 1851-06-12
Place
COVENTRY
Letter Content
GE to John Chapman, Coventry, 12 June 1851
MS: L. W. Smith Collection, Washington's Headquarters, Morristown, New Jersey. Endorsed: Miss Evans. Excerpts published: I, 351.
Rosehill, June 12. 1851.
My dear Friend
I am chiefly concerned that you should have appeared to overlook Hickson's interest or have failed in etiquette towards him. If you had asked him for an introduction to J. S. Mill, it was clearly wrong to introduce yourself by letter. 38 I did not suspect the real state of the case. There is no remedy now but to be perfectly open with Hickson, and to drop any proceedings that may appear to him to be premature. Even if this were not "honour bright," which I hope is your first consideration, you know better than I, that any division of interest between you and him would be the most fatal thing for your proprietorship. You must of course not think of answering or of seeking any further communication with him apart from Hickson. I do not remember that you have written to any other old contributor except James Martineau. Your communications with Mr. Lombe are I suppose no secret to Hickson -- if they are, pray let them cease to be so, and honestly consult him about any steps you may think it necessary to take in the future.
I am quite willing to agree to your proposition about the nominal editorship, or to anything else really for the interest of the Review. On the whole I think with you as to the expediency of your plan. Perhaps it was better to send a written answer to James Martineau. You have done it very well &unknown;and more forcibly than&unknown; and it will have more force with him than a mere verbal explanation. You had a right to repel his disagreeable insinuation about your "commercial wisdom."
I heartily wish the Prospectus had been longer delayed and thought over before it was sent to any of the don[or]s. The right plan would have been to have written to Hickson telling him your intention to send out a confidential Prospectus and asking his concurrence -- then to have let it lie to be thoroughly discussed before printing it. Everything has been too hurried. But you will say "After meat, mustard" -- your wisdom comes too late. Still the moral is not useless -- Caution for the future.
I shall await Combe's letter and your account of Johnson and Co. 39 with interest. I know you will let me have them as soon as you can. I return Hickson's letter. Tell me if I am to return the copy of your answer to Martineau.
Yours faithfully
Marian Evans.
MS: L. W. Smith Collection, Washington's Headquarters, Morristown, New Jersey. Endorsed: Miss Evans. Excerpts published: I, 351.
Rosehill, June 12. 1851.
My dear Friend
I am chiefly concerned that you should have appeared to overlook Hickson's interest or have failed in etiquette towards him. If you had asked him for an introduction to J. S. Mill, it was clearly wrong to introduce yourself by letter. 38 I did not suspect the real state of the case. There is no remedy now but to be perfectly open with Hickson, and to drop any proceedings that may appear to him to be premature. Even if this were not "honour bright," which I hope is your first consideration, you know better than I, that any division of interest between you and him would be the most fatal thing for your proprietorship. You must of course not think of answering or of seeking any further communication with him apart from Hickson. I do not remember that you have written to any other old contributor except James Martineau. Your communications with Mr. Lombe are I suppose no secret to Hickson -- if they are, pray let them cease to be so, and honestly consult him about any steps you may think it necessary to take in the future.
I am quite willing to agree to your proposition about the nominal editorship, or to anything else really for the interest of the Review. On the whole I think with you as to the expediency of your plan. Perhaps it was better to send a written answer to James Martineau. You have done it very well &unknown;and more forcibly than&unknown; and it will have more force with him than a mere verbal explanation. You had a right to repel his disagreeable insinuation about your "commercial wisdom."
I heartily wish the Prospectus had been longer delayed and thought over before it was sent to any of the don[or]s. The right plan would have been to have written to Hickson telling him your intention to send out a confidential Prospectus and asking his concurrence -- then to have let it lie to be thoroughly discussed before printing it. Everything has been too hurried. But you will say "After meat, mustard" -- your wisdom comes too late. Still the moral is not useless -- Caution for the future.
I shall await Combe's letter and your account of Johnson and Co. 39 with interest. I know you will let me have them as soon as you can. I return Hickson's letter. Tell me if I am to return the copy of your answer to Martineau.
Yours faithfully
Marian Evans.
Signature
Marian Evans.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Chapman, Coventry, 12 June 1851, 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/92778