GE to Maria Lewis, Foleshill, 28 April 1841
Title
GE to Maria Lewis, Foleshill, 28 April 1841
Title
GE to Maria Lewis, Foleshill, 28 April 1841
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Maria Lewis
Date(s)
- 1841-04-28
Place
FOLESHILL
Letter Content
GE to Maria Lewis, Foleshill, 28 April 1841
MS: Yale. Address: Miss Lewis | The Revd L. Harper's | Burton Latimer | near Kettering. Postmark: COVENTRY | A 28 | 1841. Extract published: Cross, 1, 87-88.
Foleshill Road, | April 28th 1841.
My dear Veronica,
No errors are strictly speaking retrievable, but those of omission more frequently appear to be so than the actual class -- if we have let the early seed time pass unimproved, we may have a late crop by relenting diligence, but when shall we cleanse our ground if we sow tares? After the proposition and illustration comes the practical application, namely that by a prompt reply to your kindly anxious enquiry I may possibly obtain your pardon, and repair the loss of speculating energy which my leaving you in doubt as to my health etc. has occasioned you. I have to be grateful for a greater degree of bodily strength than I had enjoyed for many months previous to my leaving Griff, 307 and this blessing I attribute to copious doses of Quinine as an instrument. Why then you will say did you not spend some of your newly acquired strength in thanking an affectionate friend for her letter and dissipating her undeserved fears? One of the penalties women must pay for modern deference to their intellect is I suppose that they must give reasons for their conduct after the fashion of men. The days are past for pleading a woman's reason. Well then my dear Veronica the truth is that the hindrances to my writing have been like the little waves of the brooks that look so lovely just now -- they have arisen one after another close to my side, but when I have looked back I have found the ripples too insignificant to be marked in the distance. My Father's longer séjours at home than formerly and multiplied acquaintances and engagements are really valid excuses for me hitherto, but I do not intend to need them in future; I hope to be a "snapper up of unconsidered" 308 moments.
I have just been interrupted by a visit from a lass of 14 who has despoiled me of half an hour, and I am going out to dinner, so that I cannot follow the famous advice [Hasten slowly.] I suppose you framed your note on the principle that a sharp and sudden sound is the most rousing, but there are addenda about yourself that I want to know though I dare not ask for them. I do not feel settled enough to write more at present -- this worthless sheet I send to assure you my dear Veronica that I am well and not less than ever
Your true and affectionate
Clematis.
MS: Yale. Address: Miss Lewis | The Revd L. Harper's | Burton Latimer | near Kettering. Postmark: COVENTRY | A 28 | 1841. Extract published: Cross, 1, 87-88.
Foleshill Road, | April 28th 1841.
My dear Veronica,
No errors are strictly speaking retrievable, but those of omission more frequently appear to be so than the actual class -- if we have let the early seed time pass unimproved, we may have a late crop by relenting diligence, but when shall we cleanse our ground if we sow tares? After the proposition and illustration comes the practical application, namely that by a prompt reply to your kindly anxious enquiry I may possibly obtain your pardon, and repair the loss of speculating energy which my leaving you in doubt as to my health etc. has occasioned you. I have to be grateful for a greater degree of bodily strength than I had enjoyed for many months previous to my leaving Griff, 307 and this blessing I attribute to copious doses of Quinine as an instrument. Why then you will say did you not spend some of your newly acquired strength in thanking an affectionate friend for her letter and dissipating her undeserved fears? One of the penalties women must pay for modern deference to their intellect is I suppose that they must give reasons for their conduct after the fashion of men. The days are past for pleading a woman's reason. Well then my dear Veronica the truth is that the hindrances to my writing have been like the little waves of the brooks that look so lovely just now -- they have arisen one after another close to my side, but when I have looked back I have found the ripples too insignificant to be marked in the distance. My Father's longer séjours at home than formerly and multiplied acquaintances and engagements are really valid excuses for me hitherto, but I do not intend to need them in future; I hope to be a "snapper up of unconsidered" 308 moments.
I have just been interrupted by a visit from a lass of 14 who has despoiled me of half an hour, and I am going out to dinner, so that I cannot follow the famous advice [Hasten slowly.] I suppose you framed your note on the principle that a sharp and sudden sound is the most rousing, but there are addenda about yourself that I want to know though I dare not ask for them. I do not feel settled enough to write more at present -- this worthless sheet I send to assure you my dear Veronica that I am well and not less than ever
Your true and affectionate
Clematis.
Signature
Clematis.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Maria Lewis, Foleshill, 28 April 1841, 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/92884