GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Dresden, 28 July 1858
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Dresden, 28 July 1858
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Dresden, 28 July 1858
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1858-07-28
Place
Dresden
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Dresden, 28 July 1858
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, II, 61-63.
Waisenhaus Gasse | Dresden! | July 28th 1858.
Dear Sara
Just received your letter, which by a quite miraculous inspiration of practicality in Bavarian officials, has been sent on to me here, though we omitted to leave any directions at the P.O. Since I wrote to you last I have lived through a great deal of exquisite pleasure. First, an attack of Cholerine during our last week at Munich -- which I reckon among my pleasures because I was nursed so tenderly. Then a fortnight's unspeakable journey to Salzburg, Ischl, Linz, Vienna, Prague, and finally Dresden, which is our last resting place before returning to Richmond, where we hope to be at the beginning of September. Dresden is a proper climax, for all other art seems only a preparation for feeling the superiority of the Madonna di San Sisto 1169 the more. We go three days a week to the gallery, and every day after looking at other pictures, we go to take a parting draught of delight at Titian's Zinngroschen and the Einzige Madonna. In other respects I am particularly enjoying our residence here -- we are so quiet, having determined to know no one, and give ourselves up to work. We both feel a happy change in our health from leaving Munich, though I am reconciled to our long stay there by the fact that Mr. Lewes gained so much by his intercourse with the men of science there -- especially Bischoff, v. Siebold, and Harless. I remembered your passion for autographs, and asked Liebig for his on your account. I shall send it you from Richmond. I was not sure that you would care enough about the handwriting of other luminaries, for there is such a thing as being European and yet obscure -- a fixed star visible only from observatories.
You will be interested to hear that I saw Strauss at Munich. He came for a week's visit before we left. I had a quarter of an hour's chat with him alone, and was very agreeably impressed by him. He looked much more serene, and his face had a far sweeter expression than when I saw him in that dumb way at Cologne. 1170 He speaks with very choice words, like a man strictly truthful in the use of language. Will you undertake to tell Mrs. Call from me that he begged me to give his kindest remembrances to her and to her father, 1171 of whom he spoke with much interest and regard as his earliest English friend. Or perhaps, I had better reserve the message until I write to her myself on my return to Richm[on]d.
I dare not begin to write about other things or people that I have seen in these crowded weeks. They must wait till I have you by my side again, which I hope will happen some day. We delight in your letter and all its news -- Mr. Lewes especially in your account of the Choral Festival 1172 -- I, in your account of Harriet. I make a charming picture of her out of your details. What a deep comfort it will be to you if she keeps happy in that way.
Your portrait of poor Dr. Chapman is sadly graphic, and recals to me what have often been my own impressions in meeting him during this last year. There is so much to respect and pity in him! We couldn't help smiling at the fate of your gentle efforts to speak about your own writing under a shower-bath of Medical reform. But I am glad you have stirred the subject of your writing for the W[estminster] R[eview]. Something may come of it, after all.
I am afraid to tell you how much I dislike the Reasoner, 1173 since you seem to have a friendly inclination towards it. It has always been matter of astonishment to me that so superior a man as Holyoake, who has written so well elsewhere, can't turn out something better than that imbecile paper. I should have thought the Reasoner could do no good to any good cause. But since you feel so differently, I hope I am wrong.
We shall probably leave here on the 30th or 31st of August. So don't write after then. Anything before that time will be gratefully received.
Your loving friend
Pollian.
Glad to hear Herbert Spencer's article 1174 is so good. We, of course, have not seen it.
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, II, 61-63.
Waisenhaus Gasse | Dresden! | July 28th 1858.
Dear Sara
Just received your letter, which by a quite miraculous inspiration of practicality in Bavarian officials, has been sent on to me here, though we omitted to leave any directions at the P.O. Since I wrote to you last I have lived through a great deal of exquisite pleasure. First, an attack of Cholerine during our last week at Munich -- which I reckon among my pleasures because I was nursed so tenderly. Then a fortnight's unspeakable journey to Salzburg, Ischl, Linz, Vienna, Prague, and finally Dresden, which is our last resting place before returning to Richmond, where we hope to be at the beginning of September. Dresden is a proper climax, for all other art seems only a preparation for feeling the superiority of the Madonna di San Sisto 1169 the more. We go three days a week to the gallery, and every day after looking at other pictures, we go to take a parting draught of delight at Titian's Zinngroschen and the Einzige Madonna. In other respects I am particularly enjoying our residence here -- we are so quiet, having determined to know no one, and give ourselves up to work. We both feel a happy change in our health from leaving Munich, though I am reconciled to our long stay there by the fact that Mr. Lewes gained so much by his intercourse with the men of science there -- especially Bischoff, v. Siebold, and Harless. I remembered your passion for autographs, and asked Liebig for his on your account. I shall send it you from Richmond. I was not sure that you would care enough about the handwriting of other luminaries, for there is such a thing as being European and yet obscure -- a fixed star visible only from observatories.
You will be interested to hear that I saw Strauss at Munich. He came for a week's visit before we left. I had a quarter of an hour's chat with him alone, and was very agreeably impressed by him. He looked much more serene, and his face had a far sweeter expression than when I saw him in that dumb way at Cologne. 1170 He speaks with very choice words, like a man strictly truthful in the use of language. Will you undertake to tell Mrs. Call from me that he begged me to give his kindest remembrances to her and to her father, 1171 of whom he spoke with much interest and regard as his earliest English friend. Or perhaps, I had better reserve the message until I write to her myself on my return to Richm[on]d.
I dare not begin to write about other things or people that I have seen in these crowded weeks. They must wait till I have you by my side again, which I hope will happen some day. We delight in your letter and all its news -- Mr. Lewes especially in your account of the Choral Festival 1172 -- I, in your account of Harriet. I make a charming picture of her out of your details. What a deep comfort it will be to you if she keeps happy in that way.
Your portrait of poor Dr. Chapman is sadly graphic, and recals to me what have often been my own impressions in meeting him during this last year. There is so much to respect and pity in him! We couldn't help smiling at the fate of your gentle efforts to speak about your own writing under a shower-bath of Medical reform. But I am glad you have stirred the subject of your writing for the W[estminster] R[eview]. Something may come of it, after all.
I am afraid to tell you how much I dislike the Reasoner, 1173 since you seem to have a friendly inclination towards it. It has always been matter of astonishment to me that so superior a man as Holyoake, who has written so well elsewhere, can't turn out something better than that imbecile paper. I should have thought the Reasoner could do no good to any good cause. But since you feel so differently, I hope I am wrong.
We shall probably leave here on the 30th or 31st of August. So don't write after then. Anything before that time will be gratefully received.
Your loving friend
Pollian.
Glad to hear Herbert Spencer's article 1174 is so good. We, of course, have not seen it.
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Dresden, 28 July 1858, 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/93888