GE to Mrs. Peter Alfred Taylor, London, 1 February 1853
Title
GE to Mrs. Peter Alfred Taylor, London, 1 February 1853
Title
GE to Mrs. Peter Alfred Taylor, London, 1 February 1853
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. Peter Alfred Taylor
Date(s)
- 1853-02-01
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. Peter Alfred Taylor, London, 1 February 1853
Text: Cross, 1, 302-305.
My complaint, of which I am now happily rid, was rheumatism in the right arm -- a sufficient reason, you will see, for my employing a scribe to write that promise which I now fulfil. I am going into the country, perhaps for a fortnight, so that if you are kind enough to come here on Wednesday evening, I shall not have the pleasure of seeing you. All the more reason for writing to you, in spite of cold feet and the vilest pens in the world.
Francis Newman is likely to come once or twice in the season -- not more. He has, of course, a multitude of engagements, and many more attractive ones than a soir'e9e in the Strand. Never mention me to him in the character of Editress. I think -- at least I am told -- that he has no high esteem of woman's powers and functions. But let that pass. He is a very pure, noble being, and it is good only to look at such.
The article on Slavery, in the last number of the [Westminster] -- which I think the best article of them all -- is by W. E. Forster, a Yorkshire manufacturer, who married Dr Arnold's daughter. 269 He is a very earnest, independent thinker, and worth a gross of literary hacks who have the "trick" of writing. I hope you are interested in the Slavery question, and in America generally -- that cradle of the future. I used resolutely to turn away from American politics, and declare that the United States was the last region of the world I should care to visit. Even now I almost loathe the common American type of character. But I am converted to a profound interest in the history, the laws, the social and religious phases of North America, and long for some knowledge of them. Is it not cheering to think of the youthfulness of this little planet, and the immensely greater youthfulness of our race upon it? -- to think that the higher moral tendencies of human nature are yet only in their germ? I feel this more thoroughly when I think of that great Western Continent, with its infant cities, its huge uncleared forests, and its unamalgamated races.
I daresay you have guessed that the article on Ireland is Harriet Martineau's. Herbert Spencer did not contribute to the last number. Apropos of articles, do you see the [Prospective Review]? There is an admirable critique of Kingsley's [Phaethon] in it, by James Martineau. But perhaps you may not be as much in love with Kingsley's genius, and as much "riled" by his faults, as I am.
Of course you have read [Ruth] 270 by this time. Its style was a great refreshment to me, from its finish and fulness. How women have the courage to write and publishers the spirit to buy at a high price the false and feeble representations of life and character that most feminine novels give, is a constant marvel to me. [Ruth,] with all its merits, will not be an enduring or classical fiction -- will it? Mrs Gaskell seems to me to be constantly misled by a love of sharp contrasts -- of "dramatic" effects. She is not contented with the subdued colouring -- the half tints of real life. Hence she agitates one for the moment, but she does not secure one's lasting sympathy; her scenes and characters do not become typical. But how pretty and graphic are the touches of description! That little attic in the minister's house, for example, which, with its pure white dimity bed-curtains, its bright-green walls, and the rich brown of its stained floor, remind one of a snowdrop springing out of the soil. Then the rich humour of Sally, and the sly satire in the description of Mr Bradshaw. Mrs Gaskell has certainly a charming mind, and one cannot help loving her as one reads her books.
A notable book just come out is Wharton's [Summary of the Laws relating to Women.] 271 "Enfranchisement of women" only makes creeping progress; and that is best, for woman does not yet deserve a much better lot than man gives her.
I am writing to you the last thing, and am so tired that I am not quite sure whether I finish my sentences. But your divining power will supply their deficiencies.
Text: Cross, 1, 302-305.
My complaint, of which I am now happily rid, was rheumatism in the right arm -- a sufficient reason, you will see, for my employing a scribe to write that promise which I now fulfil. I am going into the country, perhaps for a fortnight, so that if you are kind enough to come here on Wednesday evening, I shall not have the pleasure of seeing you. All the more reason for writing to you, in spite of cold feet and the vilest pens in the world.
Francis Newman is likely to come once or twice in the season -- not more. He has, of course, a multitude of engagements, and many more attractive ones than a soir'e9e in the Strand. Never mention me to him in the character of Editress. I think -- at least I am told -- that he has no high esteem of woman's powers and functions. But let that pass. He is a very pure, noble being, and it is good only to look at such.
The article on Slavery, in the last number of the [Westminster] -- which I think the best article of them all -- is by W. E. Forster, a Yorkshire manufacturer, who married Dr Arnold's daughter. 269 He is a very earnest, independent thinker, and worth a gross of literary hacks who have the "trick" of writing. I hope you are interested in the Slavery question, and in America generally -- that cradle of the future. I used resolutely to turn away from American politics, and declare that the United States was the last region of the world I should care to visit. Even now I almost loathe the common American type of character. But I am converted to a profound interest in the history, the laws, the social and religious phases of North America, and long for some knowledge of them. Is it not cheering to think of the youthfulness of this little planet, and the immensely greater youthfulness of our race upon it? -- to think that the higher moral tendencies of human nature are yet only in their germ? I feel this more thoroughly when I think of that great Western Continent, with its infant cities, its huge uncleared forests, and its unamalgamated races.
I daresay you have guessed that the article on Ireland is Harriet Martineau's. Herbert Spencer did not contribute to the last number. Apropos of articles, do you see the [Prospective Review]? There is an admirable critique of Kingsley's [Phaethon] in it, by James Martineau. But perhaps you may not be as much in love with Kingsley's genius, and as much "riled" by his faults, as I am.
Of course you have read [Ruth] 270 by this time. Its style was a great refreshment to me, from its finish and fulness. How women have the courage to write and publishers the spirit to buy at a high price the false and feeble representations of life and character that most feminine novels give, is a constant marvel to me. [Ruth,] with all its merits, will not be an enduring or classical fiction -- will it? Mrs Gaskell seems to me to be constantly misled by a love of sharp contrasts -- of "dramatic" effects. She is not contented with the subdued colouring -- the half tints of real life. Hence she agitates one for the moment, but she does not secure one's lasting sympathy; her scenes and characters do not become typical. But how pretty and graphic are the touches of description! That little attic in the minister's house, for example, which, with its pure white dimity bed-curtains, its bright-green walls, and the rich brown of its stained floor, remind one of a snowdrop springing out of the soil. Then the rich humour of Sally, and the sly satire in the description of Mr Bradshaw. Mrs Gaskell has certainly a charming mind, and one cannot help loving her as one reads her books.
A notable book just come out is Wharton's [Summary of the Laws relating to Women.] 271 "Enfranchisement of women" only makes creeping progress; and that is best, for woman does not yet deserve a much better lot than man gives her.
I am writing to you the last thing, and am so tired that I am not quite sure whether I finish my sentences. But your divining power will supply their deficiencies.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. Peter Alfred Taylor, London, 1 February 1853, 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/93574