GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, Redhill, 4 July 1872
Title
GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, Redhill, 4 July 1872
Title
GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, Redhill, 4 July 1872
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve
Date(s)
- 1872-07-04
Place
Redhill
Letter Content
GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, Redhill, 4 July 1872
Text: Cross, III, 163-164.
You were very good and dear to want to give me the pleasure of knowing that the news was good, instead of leaving me to my small stock of hopefulness. Ask Emily to care a little even now, with baby on her mind, that her old friends are the better for hearing that she is well. Four or five months ago it happens that I was writing some playfulness about a baby and baby's hair, which is now in print, to appear next month. 553 I am not afraid that Emily should be revolted by my blasphemy!
Mr Lewes had "a lovely time" from Saturday to Monday at Weybridge. He was feeling languid, and yet was tempted to sit at his desk. The little change has been very serviceable, and he is now bright.
Our first book, read aloud by me after we came down, was Wallace's [Eastern Archipelago,] 554 which, I think, you had spoken well of to Mr Lewes. It is delightful. The biography of the infant ourang-outang alone is worth getting the book for. We are now in the middle of Tylor's [Primitive Culture,] 555 which is worth studying, and useful for reference on special points, if you happen to want knowledge about the ideas of the savage tribes.
Our days go by in delicious peace, unbroken except by my little inward anxieties about all unfinished work.
Text: Cross, III, 163-164.
You were very good and dear to want to give me the pleasure of knowing that the news was good, instead of leaving me to my small stock of hopefulness. Ask Emily to care a little even now, with baby on her mind, that her old friends are the better for hearing that she is well. Four or five months ago it happens that I was writing some playfulness about a baby and baby's hair, which is now in print, to appear next month. 553 I am not afraid that Emily should be revolted by my blasphemy!
Mr Lewes had "a lovely time" from Saturday to Monday at Weybridge. He was feeling languid, and yet was tempted to sit at his desk. The little change has been very serviceable, and he is now bright.
Our first book, read aloud by me after we came down, was Wallace's [Eastern Archipelago,] 554 which, I think, you had spoken well of to Mr Lewes. It is delightful. The biography of the infant ourang-outang alone is worth getting the book for. We are now in the middle of Tylor's [Primitive Culture,] 555 which is worth studying, and useful for reference on special points, if you happen to want knowledge about the ideas of the savage tribes.
Our days go by in delicious peace, unbroken except by my little inward anxieties about all unfinished work.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Maria [Mrs. Richard] Congreve, Redhill, 4 July 1872, 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/93668