GE to Mrs. William Augustus Tollemache, London, 21 May [1872]
Title
GE to Mrs. William Augustus Tollemache, London, 21 May [1872]
Title
GE to Mrs. William Augustus Tollemache, London, 21 May [1872]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. William Augustus Tollemache
Date(s)
- 1872-05-21
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. William Augustus Tollemache, London, 21 May [1872]
MS: Privately owned. Envelope: Mrs. Tollemache | Nutfield | Red Hill. Postmark: LONDON-N.W | 2 | MY 21 | 72. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
May 21.
My dear Mrs. Tollemache
Signs of remembrance from you will always be welcome to me. And the idea of inhabiting your house, rather than one belonging to strangers with tastes quite unlike our own, came to me very invitingly when Mrs. Cowper Temple 523 mentioned it as a possibility. But she too reflected that the clay soil and comparatively low position might not do for me as a matter of hygi'e8ne. Hence I did not entertain her suggestion as a hope. I fear your own experience lately has enabled you too well to imagine the miseries of sore throat and face -- ache always ready to torment one on the slightest pretext of chill, and with me they have often been accompanied by gastric discomfort. For this form of weakness I suppose that dry soil and air are all-important. But it is a pleasure for which I heartily thank you, to know that you would have liked me to sit in your rooms and see the objects which have been habitual to you.
Nearly a fortnight ago we decided on a house, and we are going to it on Friday morning. Our flight would have been made ten days ago, but for the discouraging weather, and a new cold of mine. I am very much in need, mentally as well as physically, of an absolute retreat from "the world" -- rather a magnificent phrase for my want of strength to enjoy the visits of friends new and old who are kind enough to wish to see me.
The house we have managed to get with some difficulty, owing to the earliness of our want, is as different as possible from what I imagine yours to be. You will understand that, when I say that I have begged for the removal of all "ornaments" into a store room.
Mr. Lewes begs to be remembered by you and Mr. Tollemache, and we both hope that the future may hold other meetings for us which will confirm our impressions of sympathy. Always, my dear Mrs. Tollemache
Yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
MS: Privately owned. Envelope: Mrs. Tollemache | Nutfield | Red Hill. Postmark: LONDON-N.W | 2 | MY 21 | 72. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
May 21.
My dear Mrs. Tollemache
Signs of remembrance from you will always be welcome to me. And the idea of inhabiting your house, rather than one belonging to strangers with tastes quite unlike our own, came to me very invitingly when Mrs. Cowper Temple 523 mentioned it as a possibility. But she too reflected that the clay soil and comparatively low position might not do for me as a matter of hygi'e8ne. Hence I did not entertain her suggestion as a hope. I fear your own experience lately has enabled you too well to imagine the miseries of sore throat and face -- ache always ready to torment one on the slightest pretext of chill, and with me they have often been accompanied by gastric discomfort. For this form of weakness I suppose that dry soil and air are all-important. But it is a pleasure for which I heartily thank you, to know that you would have liked me to sit in your rooms and see the objects which have been habitual to you.
Nearly a fortnight ago we decided on a house, and we are going to it on Friday morning. Our flight would have been made ten days ago, but for the discouraging weather, and a new cold of mine. I am very much in need, mentally as well as physically, of an absolute retreat from "the world" -- rather a magnificent phrase for my want of strength to enjoy the visits of friends new and old who are kind enough to wish to see me.
The house we have managed to get with some difficulty, owing to the earliness of our want, is as different as possible from what I imagine yours to be. You will understand that, when I say that I have begged for the removal of all "ornaments" into a store room.
Mr. Lewes begs to be remembered by you and Mr. Tollemache, and we both hope that the future may hold other meetings for us which will confirm our impressions of sympathy. Always, my dear Mrs. Tollemache
Yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. William Augustus Tollemache, London, 21 May [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/93712