GE to Mrs. Mark Pattison, London, 3 January 1875
Title
GE to Mrs. Mark Pattison, London, 3 January 1875
Title
GE to Mrs. Mark Pattison, London, 3 January 1875
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. Mark Pattison
Date(s)
- 1875-01-03
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. Mark Pattison, London, 3 January 1875
MS: British Museum. Brief extract published: C. W. Dilke, The Book of the Spiritual Life, 1905, p. 40.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
January 3. 75.
My dear Goddaughter
A happy new year to you in the most prosperous industry! It was very dear of you to remember me and write me an interesting letter.
But first about the "Isaac Casaubon." Mr. Lewes and I both cry out against the omission of that final chapter which must be needed as a spire to the edifice. 179 And it is unfair to those who buy the first edition, that such an advantage should be reserved for the second. But I suppose our crying out is in vain now. You should have called in a body of remonstrants before it was too late. What is the use of adapting good books to bad readers? Your picture of Mr. Heslop is really striking and has set me trying to imagine his strangely blended life. I should like to be able to put in the exact background and know how St. Bees' 180 looks.
We are uncommonly well -- have got through the severe time without colds and are altogether as happy as two imperfect and worn mortals can be. Mr. Lewes's proofs of his second volume are to be all in by the 11th 181 and he is already busy mustering his stores for the psychological part of his work.
I enter into the Rector's weariness under his proof and revise reading. All writing seems to me worse in the state of proof than in any other form. In manuscript one's own wisdom is rather remarkable to one, but in proof it has the effect of one's private furniture repeated in the shop windows. And then there is the sense that the worst errors will go to press unnoticed!
I am glad to hear that you are so far on your way in your useful book. 182 Let us all consider ourselves privileged persons to be surviving in comfort while our fellow-men are shattered in railways and burnt at sea. Were there ever such horrors accumulated about one Christmas? 183
Please, when you see Miss E. Smith, offer her my best remembrances and believe me
Always your affectionate
M. E. Lewes.
MS: British Museum. Brief extract published: C. W. Dilke, The Book of the Spiritual Life, 1905, p. 40.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
January 3. 75.
My dear Goddaughter
A happy new year to you in the most prosperous industry! It was very dear of you to remember me and write me an interesting letter.
But first about the "Isaac Casaubon." Mr. Lewes and I both cry out against the omission of that final chapter which must be needed as a spire to the edifice. 179 And it is unfair to those who buy the first edition, that such an advantage should be reserved for the second. But I suppose our crying out is in vain now. You should have called in a body of remonstrants before it was too late. What is the use of adapting good books to bad readers? Your picture of Mr. Heslop is really striking and has set me trying to imagine his strangely blended life. I should like to be able to put in the exact background and know how St. Bees' 180 looks.
We are uncommonly well -- have got through the severe time without colds and are altogether as happy as two imperfect and worn mortals can be. Mr. Lewes's proofs of his second volume are to be all in by the 11th 181 and he is already busy mustering his stores for the psychological part of his work.
I enter into the Rector's weariness under his proof and revise reading. All writing seems to me worse in the state of proof than in any other form. In manuscript one's own wisdom is rather remarkable to one, but in proof it has the effect of one's private furniture repeated in the shop windows. And then there is the sense that the worst errors will go to press unnoticed!
I am glad to hear that you are so far on your way in your useful book. 182 Let us all consider ourselves privileged persons to be surviving in comfort while our fellow-men are shattered in railways and burnt at sea. Were there ever such horrors accumulated about one Christmas? 183
Please, when you see Miss E. Smith, offer her my best remembrances and believe me
Always your affectionate
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. Mark Pattison, London, 3 January 1875, 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/93550