GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [10 July 1854]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [10 July 1854]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [10 July 1854]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1854-07-10
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [10 July 1854]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: July 10. 1854. H. Spencer. Extracts published: Cross, 1, 325.
Cambridge St. | Monday.
Dear Sara
It seems very ungracious to say so, but it is the fact, that I am vexed Feuerbach has been noticed in the Herald, and especially that anything has been said about me.
As to Mr. Noel's criticism, 493 I must reply, in the first place, that as the book has been advertised under that title for a year and he has frequently seen me and spoken of Feuerbach within that time, it is rather extraordinary that he should have reserved his criticism until the book has appeared. In the second place, it is quite true that Feuerbach's work might justly be called a Natural History of Christianity, but it is not true that that is what he means by Wesen. "Essence" is perfectly correct both as a translation of that word and as a representation of the gist of the book. Moreover, anyone who has read Feuerbach, which depend upon it Mr. N. has not, will be aware that this title corresponds perfectly or rather uniquely to the author's mode of statement.
I am going to pack up the Hebrew Grammar, the Apocryphal Gospels, and your pretty Titian, to be sent to you. Shall I despatch them by Rail or deposit them with Mr. Chapman to be asked for by Mr.
Bray when he comes to town? I shall soon send you a good bye, for I am preparing to go to "Labassecour." 494
This morning I feel very much as I (suppose) I should if I had been standing on my head for an hour, having paid for a visit to the Crystal Palace 495 and the luxury of French Chocolate by a headache yesterday. What a creation it is! (The C.P. not the headache). Shakspeare, our Navy and the Crystal Palace are the three most eigenth'fcmliche things we have produced.
Herbert Spencer's article on the Genesis of Science 496 is a grand one. You must read it. He will stand in the Biographical Dictionaries of 1954 as "Spencer, Herbert, an original and profound philosophical writer, especially known by his great work x x x which gave a new impulse to psychology and has mainly contributed to the present advanced position of that science, compared with that which it had attained in the middle of the last century. The life of this philosopher, like that of the great Kant, offers little material for the narrator. Born in the year 1820 etc."
Vivian's head is not likely to be up to the pitch of Feuerbach, so it will fall to the lot of some other non-leading attach'e9 of the Leader. 497 I have not had a copy yet!
Ever your affectionate
Pollian.
The Cosmogonical Principal was in the advertisement.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: July 10. 1854. H. Spencer. Extracts published: Cross, 1, 325.
Cambridge St. | Monday.
Dear Sara
It seems very ungracious to say so, but it is the fact, that I am vexed Feuerbach has been noticed in the Herald, and especially that anything has been said about me.
As to Mr. Noel's criticism, 493 I must reply, in the first place, that as the book has been advertised under that title for a year and he has frequently seen me and spoken of Feuerbach within that time, it is rather extraordinary that he should have reserved his criticism until the book has appeared. In the second place, it is quite true that Feuerbach's work might justly be called a Natural History of Christianity, but it is not true that that is what he means by Wesen. "Essence" is perfectly correct both as a translation of that word and as a representation of the gist of the book. Moreover, anyone who has read Feuerbach, which depend upon it Mr. N. has not, will be aware that this title corresponds perfectly or rather uniquely to the author's mode of statement.
I am going to pack up the Hebrew Grammar, the Apocryphal Gospels, and your pretty Titian, to be sent to you. Shall I despatch them by Rail or deposit them with Mr. Chapman to be asked for by Mr.
Bray when he comes to town? I shall soon send you a good bye, for I am preparing to go to "Labassecour." 494
This morning I feel very much as I (suppose) I should if I had been standing on my head for an hour, having paid for a visit to the Crystal Palace 495 and the luxury of French Chocolate by a headache yesterday. What a creation it is! (The C.P. not the headache). Shakspeare, our Navy and the Crystal Palace are the three most eigenth'fcmliche things we have produced.
Herbert Spencer's article on the Genesis of Science 496 is a grand one. You must read it. He will stand in the Biographical Dictionaries of 1954 as "Spencer, Herbert, an original and profound philosophical writer, especially known by his great work x x x which gave a new impulse to psychology and has mainly contributed to the present advanced position of that science, compared with that which it had attained in the middle of the last century. The life of this philosopher, like that of the great Kant, offers little material for the narrator. Born in the year 1820 etc."
Vivian's head is not likely to be up to the pitch of Feuerbach, so it will fall to the lot of some other non-leading attach'e9 of the Leader. 497 I have not had a copy yet!
Ever your affectionate
Pollian.
The Cosmogonical Principal was in the advertisement.
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [10 July 1854], 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/93933