GE to John Chapman, London, 29 April 1855
Title
GE to John Chapman, London, 29 April 1855
Title
GE to John Chapman, London, 29 April 1855
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Chapman
Date(s)
- 1855-04-29
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to John Chapman, London, 29 April 1855
MS: Capt. Frank Lester Pleadwell. Hitherto unpublished.
Victoria Grove Terrace | April 29. 55.
Dear Friend
Mr. Lewes desires me to say that he agrees to your proposal about his article 585 and will have it in readiness for the July number, to be inserted then or in October, according to your convenience.
As to the Kingsley article, 586 perhaps, since you cannot have it in July when "Westward ho!" would belong to the publications of the quarter and thus present an obvious occasion for taking up the subject, it would be unwise to produce it in October when it would look like a belated article, and though the criticism might be of a different order from what would have appeared in newspapers and other periodicals, yet it would come, at the very best, like a course of ham after several courses of bacon. It is true that I should only treat "Westward ho!" in the same proportion as the other works, but on the whole perhaps it would be well to defer the subject till the echoes of the Westward ho! criticisms have died out, and substitute Dr. Cumming 587 (if you like) for October. I refer the matter to your reconsideration.
I was very sorry to hear from Mrs. Hennell that you were unable to go to business after Thursday evening. I fear your kindness in coming so far to return late may have done your body harm, though, like all good nature, it must have done your soul good. For "within narrow limits" -- but only narrow ones -- the soul can prosper on the body's harm.
I thought it was very good of Mrs. Hennell to call on me, and I respect her for it.
Yours very truly
Marian Evans.
MS: Capt. Frank Lester Pleadwell. Hitherto unpublished.
Victoria Grove Terrace | April 29. 55.
Dear Friend
Mr. Lewes desires me to say that he agrees to your proposal about his article 585 and will have it in readiness for the July number, to be inserted then or in October, according to your convenience.
As to the Kingsley article, 586 perhaps, since you cannot have it in July when "Westward ho!" would belong to the publications of the quarter and thus present an obvious occasion for taking up the subject, it would be unwise to produce it in October when it would look like a belated article, and though the criticism might be of a different order from what would have appeared in newspapers and other periodicals, yet it would come, at the very best, like a course of ham after several courses of bacon. It is true that I should only treat "Westward ho!" in the same proportion as the other works, but on the whole perhaps it would be well to defer the subject till the echoes of the Westward ho! criticisms have died out, and substitute Dr. Cumming 587 (if you like) for October. I refer the matter to your reconsideration.
I was very sorry to hear from Mrs. Hennell that you were unable to go to business after Thursday evening. I fear your kindness in coming so far to return late may have done your body harm, though, like all good nature, it must have done your soul good. For "within narrow limits" -- but only narrow ones -- the soul can prosper on the body's harm.
I thought it was very good of Mrs. Hennell to call on me, and I respect her for it.
Yours very truly
Marian Evans.
Signature
Marian Evans.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Chapman, London, 29 April 1855, 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/92793