GE to Mrs. Bell, Venice, 8 June 1860
Title
GE to Mrs. Bell, Venice, 8 June 1860
Title
GE to Mrs. Bell, Venice, 8 June 1860
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. Bell
Date(s)
- 1860-06-08
Place
Venice
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. Bell, Venice, 8 June 1860
MS: Mr. W. M. Matthews. Envelope: Mrs. Bell | Holly Lodge | Wandsworth | London S.W. | Inghilterra. Postmarks: VENEZIA | 9 | 6; LONDON | DN | JU 14 | 1860. Hitherto unpublished.
Venice June 8. 60.
Dear Mrs. Bell
It seems to me a long while since I wrote to you from Rome -- much longer, I dare say, than it seems to you, who have been leading a quiet monotonous life that leaves little trace in the mind. I hope it has been in no way an unpleasant life to you; indeed Mrs. Congreve has written me word that your report of your health was "very well for you" and that Martha has been very good -- news which it was a comfort to me to know.
The unfortunate letter you dispatched to Rome 556 has not reached us, but you need be in no trouble on that account, for if, as I imagine, you observed that the letter had been previously addressed to Smith and Elder with the intimation "To be forwarded," it is probably a letter of no importance from some person who did not know Mr. Lewes's address.
I am thankful to tell you that at last Mr. Lewes seems really the better for our holiday: there is no remnant of deafness, and he is certainly stronger in head and stomach. Our journey has been a continually increasing enjoyment to us both, and I hope will have good results for mind and body. We shall hardly manage to reach home before the end of this month, but of course I shall write again to let you know, as soon as possible after we know it ourselves, the exact day if not hour of our return to Holly Lodge.
In the mean time if you have not thought of it already, will you please see that the outside Spanish blind is put up over the drawing room window. Nicholson, 557 the builder, will be the best person to apply to. He has more than once sent carpenters to do work for us. And at the same time let it be seen that all the blinds are in order as to their rollers and cords. If the windows want cleaning, Nicholson will send men for that also. I think I mentioned that the muslin curtains should be put up in both rooms.
We shall be at Berne about the twentieth, so that if you or Mrs. Congreve should have any thing to say to me before our return, a letter to the Poste Restante, Berne, will not miss me.
Give my best love to Mrs. Congreve, and thank her for her last letter. I trust to her goodness not to demand another letter from me; for we are out of the house so continually during the day time, and I am so fatigued at night, that writing by candlelight is an oppressive prospect to me.
You have never sent us a word of news about Pug! 558 I hope no tragedy awaits us on our return. We have seen a pair of puppies -- brother and sister -- here at Venice that made us long to carry them home as companions for our very slow child.
The weather seems made on purpose for us. It is constantly brilliant, and yet not excessively warm, so that we have the pleasures of Venice in perfection -- without mosquitoes, and without head-scorching in our gondola. Remember me kindly to Martha, and believe me always
Your sincere friend
Marian Evans Lewes.
Pray think of everything within reach that will make Charles's room look comfortable and, if possible, pretty. Especially beg Martha to scrub away at the dirty paint, which is one of the dreariest things in a bed-room. Remember that the View of Scilly, over the drawing-room door, was to be put up in Charles's room.
MS: Mr. W. M. Matthews. Envelope: Mrs. Bell | Holly Lodge | Wandsworth | London S.W. | Inghilterra. Postmarks: VENEZIA | 9 | 6; LONDON | DN | JU 14 | 1860. Hitherto unpublished.
Venice June 8. 60.
Dear Mrs. Bell
It seems to me a long while since I wrote to you from Rome -- much longer, I dare say, than it seems to you, who have been leading a quiet monotonous life that leaves little trace in the mind. I hope it has been in no way an unpleasant life to you; indeed Mrs. Congreve has written me word that your report of your health was "very well for you" and that Martha has been very good -- news which it was a comfort to me to know.
The unfortunate letter you dispatched to Rome 556 has not reached us, but you need be in no trouble on that account, for if, as I imagine, you observed that the letter had been previously addressed to Smith and Elder with the intimation "To be forwarded," it is probably a letter of no importance from some person who did not know Mr. Lewes's address.
I am thankful to tell you that at last Mr. Lewes seems really the better for our holiday: there is no remnant of deafness, and he is certainly stronger in head and stomach. Our journey has been a continually increasing enjoyment to us both, and I hope will have good results for mind and body. We shall hardly manage to reach home before the end of this month, but of course I shall write again to let you know, as soon as possible after we know it ourselves, the exact day if not hour of our return to Holly Lodge.
In the mean time if you have not thought of it already, will you please see that the outside Spanish blind is put up over the drawing room window. Nicholson, 557 the builder, will be the best person to apply to. He has more than once sent carpenters to do work for us. And at the same time let it be seen that all the blinds are in order as to their rollers and cords. If the windows want cleaning, Nicholson will send men for that also. I think I mentioned that the muslin curtains should be put up in both rooms.
We shall be at Berne about the twentieth, so that if you or Mrs. Congreve should have any thing to say to me before our return, a letter to the Poste Restante, Berne, will not miss me.
Give my best love to Mrs. Congreve, and thank her for her last letter. I trust to her goodness not to demand another letter from me; for we are out of the house so continually during the day time, and I am so fatigued at night, that writing by candlelight is an oppressive prospect to me.
You have never sent us a word of news about Pug! 558 I hope no tragedy awaits us on our return. We have seen a pair of puppies -- brother and sister -- here at Venice that made us long to carry them home as companions for our very slow child.
The weather seems made on purpose for us. It is constantly brilliant, and yet not excessively warm, so that we have the pleasures of Venice in perfection -- without mosquitoes, and without head-scorching in our gondola. Remember me kindly to Martha, and believe me always
Your sincere friend
Marian Evans Lewes.
Pray think of everything within reach that will make Charles's room look comfortable and, if possible, pretty. Especially beg Martha to scrub away at the dirty paint, which is one of the dreariest things in a bed-room. Remember that the View of Scilly, over the drawing-room door, was to be put up in Charles's room.
Signature
Marian Evans Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. Bell, Venice, 8 June 1860, 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/93197