GE to Mrs. Nassau John Senior, London, 24 January 1873
Title
GE to Mrs. Nassau John Senior, London, 24 January 1873
Title
GE to Mrs. Nassau John Senior, London, 24 January 1873
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. Nassau John Senior
Date(s)
- 1873-01-24
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. Nassau John Senior, London, 24 January 1873
Text: Copy at Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
January 24. 73.
Dear Friend,
We had already been told something, though inaccurately, of the good news, 718 before your letter came; and we had felt it as a New Year's gift to us. Our joy is without misgiving, we feel sure that your work will be done well. May all blessings attend you in it, over and above the affectionate wishes of your friends, wishes which you will carry with you like a host of encouraging guardian spirits.
The influence of one woman's life on the lot of other women is getting greater and greater with the quickening spread of all influences. One likes to think, though, that two thousand years ago Euripides made Iphigenia count it a reason for facing her sacrifice bravely that thereby she might help to save Greek women (from a wrong like Helen's) in the time to come. There is no knife at your throat, happily. You have only got to be a good faithful woman such as you have always been, and then the very thought of you will help to mend things. Take it as a sign of that, when I tell you that you have entered into my more cheerful beliefs, and made them stronger, because of the glimpses I have had of your character and life.
I don't wonder at your not being able to come just now, but you know that we are always glad when you can manage to get to us.
Mr. Lewes is better than usual, but I have been tormented with inflamed throat and gums ever since Christmas, and this very morning I have been to have two teeth out.
We are much interested just now in Octavia's new work of buying a public house to have it under good control. 719 I daresay you know all about it. Please offer our best regards to Mr. Senior, and believe me, dear friend,
Yours with sincere affection
M. E. Lewes.
Text: Copy at Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
January 24. 73.
Dear Friend,
We had already been told something, though inaccurately, of the good news, 718 before your letter came; and we had felt it as a New Year's gift to us. Our joy is without misgiving, we feel sure that your work will be done well. May all blessings attend you in it, over and above the affectionate wishes of your friends, wishes which you will carry with you like a host of encouraging guardian spirits.
The influence of one woman's life on the lot of other women is getting greater and greater with the quickening spread of all influences. One likes to think, though, that two thousand years ago Euripides made Iphigenia count it a reason for facing her sacrifice bravely that thereby she might help to save Greek women (from a wrong like Helen's) in the time to come. There is no knife at your throat, happily. You have only got to be a good faithful woman such as you have always been, and then the very thought of you will help to mend things. Take it as a sign of that, when I tell you that you have entered into my more cheerful beliefs, and made them stronger, because of the glimpses I have had of your character and life.
I don't wonder at your not being able to come just now, but you know that we are always glad when you can manage to get to us.
Mr. Lewes is better than usual, but I have been tormented with inflamed throat and gums ever since Christmas, and this very morning I have been to have two teeth out.
We are much interested just now in Octavia's new work of buying a public house to have it under good control. 719 I daresay you know all about it. Please offer our best regards to Mr. Senior, and believe me, dear friend,
Yours with sincere affection
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. Nassau John Senior, London, 24 January 1873, 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/93564