GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, London, 2 July [1869]
Title
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, London, 2 July [1869]
Title
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, London, 2 July [1869]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon
Date(s)
- 1869-07-02
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, London, 2 July [1869]
MS: Berg Collection, New York Public Library.
The Priory, | North Bank, | Regents Park.
Friday July 2.
Dearest Barbara
It is difficult to say how Thornie is. He varies greatly, sometimes remaining a day or two without pain, and then having severe returns and taking more and more morphia; 868 sometimes seeming torpid and full of indescribable uneasiness, and at other times looking bright and showing his old spirits. The doctors seem to be as much in the dark as we are, but they all -- Dr. Bastian, in addition to the others -- concur in saying that the glandular disorder is more serious than the spinal. My chief anxiety now is that Mr. Lewes should get into a calm and ordered way of life, such as will make the least evil for him of this long trouble. His health was so wretched last week that Paget said to him "You must go away." So Gertrude and Charlie took our places on Monday, and we went to Sevenoaks, hoping to stay the whole week. But the gloomy sky and cold wind drove us back yesterday. However, George is better, and I hope has recovered from the bodily disturbance which he needlessly brought on by taking a too large dose of podophillin 869 -- if you know that important-sounding name.
I felt sure you would like to know how the boy was going on, and so I determined to overcome the obstacle of having nothing new or definite to say about him. I feel hopeful as to his ultimate recovery because he shows surprizing revivals of force and spirits.
I fear that your country pleasures are diminished by the cold winds and cloudy skies.
Always yours lovingly
Marian.
I have read Mill's Book, 870 and think the second chapter excellent; the 3d and 4th not so strong and well argued as they ought to have been coming from him.
MS: Berg Collection, New York Public Library.
The Priory, | North Bank, | Regents Park.
Friday July 2.
Dearest Barbara
It is difficult to say how Thornie is. He varies greatly, sometimes remaining a day or two without pain, and then having severe returns and taking more and more morphia; 868 sometimes seeming torpid and full of indescribable uneasiness, and at other times looking bright and showing his old spirits. The doctors seem to be as much in the dark as we are, but they all -- Dr. Bastian, in addition to the others -- concur in saying that the glandular disorder is more serious than the spinal. My chief anxiety now is that Mr. Lewes should get into a calm and ordered way of life, such as will make the least evil for him of this long trouble. His health was so wretched last week that Paget said to him "You must go away." So Gertrude and Charlie took our places on Monday, and we went to Sevenoaks, hoping to stay the whole week. But the gloomy sky and cold wind drove us back yesterday. However, George is better, and I hope has recovered from the bodily disturbance which he needlessly brought on by taking a too large dose of podophillin 869 -- if you know that important-sounding name.
I felt sure you would like to know how the boy was going on, and so I determined to overcome the obstacle of having nothing new or definite to say about him. I feel hopeful as to his ultimate recovery because he shows surprizing revivals of force and spirits.
I fear that your country pleasures are diminished by the cold winds and cloudy skies.
Always yours lovingly
Marian.
I have read Mill's Book, 870 and think the second chapter excellent; the 3d and 4th not so strong and well argued as they ought to have been coming from him.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, London, 2 July [1869], 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/93042