GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 17 February 1874
Title
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 17 February 1874
Title
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 17 February 1874
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray
Date(s)
- 1874-02-17
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 17 February 1874
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
February 17. 74.
My dear Cara
I am thoroughly disappointed at this result of all your labour and long waiting. If it had been due to the behaviour of a single person or a firm, I should have said that you had been treated abominably, but I suppose that Christian Committees have no conscience, any more than other boards, and what their Secretary had said would have no binding power on them.
However, Mr. Lewes is not yet in despair, and I hope soon to write to you again. Meanwhile, revoke your very false conclusion that you "have no talent for this sort of thing." You have none, certainly, for enforcing such motives as the dread of devils and hell-fire -- a talent which might perhaps find a larger recognition. But the testimony of the Christian Knowledge reader should prove to you that your story seemed good enough to him to be recommended in spite of his objections to it.
That is depressing news about the "Humanity School Books," and is one of the many facts that are constantly turning up to check one's too hasty hopes about the improvement of public opinion. But we will not yet be quite downhearted about "Paul Bradly" at least, and I am sure that the book would interest boys and girls, if we could get it circulated.
Thank Sara for sending me the Coventry election news. I have been discussing it today with Mrs. Congreve, who was also puzzled as to the particular [Sam Carter] concerned and shared my identification of Mr. Jackson with the son of our old acquaintances. I remember hearing of Miss Jane Carter.
I am better now, and have not had any new attack of pain. With best love to all
Yours always
Marian.
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
February 17. 74.
My dear Cara
I am thoroughly disappointed at this result of all your labour and long waiting. If it had been due to the behaviour of a single person or a firm, I should have said that you had been treated abominably, but I suppose that Christian Committees have no conscience, any more than other boards, and what their Secretary had said would have no binding power on them.
However, Mr. Lewes is not yet in despair, and I hope soon to write to you again. Meanwhile, revoke your very false conclusion that you "have no talent for this sort of thing." You have none, certainly, for enforcing such motives as the dread of devils and hell-fire -- a talent which might perhaps find a larger recognition. But the testimony of the Christian Knowledge reader should prove to you that your story seemed good enough to him to be recommended in spite of his objections to it.
That is depressing news about the "Humanity School Books," and is one of the many facts that are constantly turning up to check one's too hasty hopes about the improvement of public opinion. But we will not yet be quite downhearted about "Paul Bradly" at least, and I am sure that the book would interest boys and girls, if we could get it circulated.
Thank Sara for sending me the Coventry election news. I have been discussing it today with Mrs. Congreve, who was also puzzled as to the particular [Sam Carter] concerned and shared my identification of Mr. Jackson with the son of our old acquaintances. I remember hearing of Miss Jane Carter.
I am better now, and have not had any new attack of pain. With best love to all
Yours always
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 17 February 1874, 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/93275