GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, Cromer, 23 June 1870
Title
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, Cromer, 23 June 1870
Title
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, Cromer, 23 June 1870
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon
Date(s)
- 1870-06-23
Place
Cromer
Letter Content
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, Cromer, 23 June 1870
MS: Mr. Philip Leigh-Smith. Extracts published: Cross, III, 114.
Albert House | Cromer | June 23. 70.
My Dear Barbara
We have been driven away from home again by the state of Mr. Lewes's health, for which there seems to be no more special name than debility. Dr. Reynolds recommended the Yorkshire coast, but we wanted to know Cromer, and so we came here first for the sake of variety. We shall go on to Whitby at the end of the month, and shall probably stay there till the end of July, unless something unexpected should call us home. Our letters are sent on to us, so that if you have anything to say to me you can write to the Priory.
I am glad that you enjoyed your sketching journey, and that you are now comfortably settled at your cottage. To me the most desirable thing just now seems to be to have one home, and stay there till death comes to take one away. I get more and more disinclined to the perpetual makeshifts of a migratory life, and care more and more for the order and habitual objects of home. However there are many in the world whose whole existence is a makeshift, and perhaps the formula which would fit the largest numbers of lives is, "a doing-without more or less patiently."
The air just now is not very invigorating anywhere I imagine, and one begins to be very anxious about the nation generally on account of the threatening drought. But George is certainly a little the better even for the one week of change and idleness. I have been very ailing also, and am a poor piece of feminine flesh.
It is all the pleasanter to know that you and others are well. We are very "jolly," in spite of weak heads, stomachs, etc. and have more than our share of happiness.
I shall be delighted to have any details about you, when you are inclined to ask for a little sympathy. George unites in love, and I am always
Your true
M. E. L.
MS: Mr. Philip Leigh-Smith. Extracts published: Cross, III, 114.
Albert House | Cromer | June 23. 70.
My Dear Barbara
We have been driven away from home again by the state of Mr. Lewes's health, for which there seems to be no more special name than debility. Dr. Reynolds recommended the Yorkshire coast, but we wanted to know Cromer, and so we came here first for the sake of variety. We shall go on to Whitby at the end of the month, and shall probably stay there till the end of July, unless something unexpected should call us home. Our letters are sent on to us, so that if you have anything to say to me you can write to the Priory.
I am glad that you enjoyed your sketching journey, and that you are now comfortably settled at your cottage. To me the most desirable thing just now seems to be to have one home, and stay there till death comes to take one away. I get more and more disinclined to the perpetual makeshifts of a migratory life, and care more and more for the order and habitual objects of home. However there are many in the world whose whole existence is a makeshift, and perhaps the formula which would fit the largest numbers of lives is, "a doing-without more or less patiently."
The air just now is not very invigorating anywhere I imagine, and one begins to be very anxious about the nation generally on account of the threatening drought. But George is certainly a little the better even for the one week of change and idleness. I have been very ailing also, and am a poor piece of feminine flesh.
It is all the pleasanter to know that you and others are well. We are very "jolly," in spite of weak heads, stomachs, etc. and have more than our share of happiness.
I shall be delighted to have any details about you, when you are inclined to ask for a little sympathy. George unites in love, and I am always
Your true
M. E. L.
Signature
M. E. L.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, Cromer, 23 June 1870, 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/92985