GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [12 October 1867]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [12 October 1867]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [12 October 1867]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1867-10-12
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [12 October 1867]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: Oct. 12. Extract published: Cross, III, 22-23.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
Saturday.
Dear Sara
Mr. Lewes will take the first opportunity of inquiring about the Railway Shareholders' Association, and I will let you know any result immediately.
Before I got your letter I was about to write to you and direct your attention to an article in the forthcoming (October) number of the Quarterly Review, on the Talmud. 670 You really must go out of your way to read it. It is written by one of the greatest Oriental scholars, the man among living men who probably knows the most about the Talmud, and you will appreciate the pregnancy of the article. There are also beautiful soul-cheering things selected for quotation.
This being said, I proceed to scold you a little for undertaking to canvass on the Women's Suffrage question. Why should you burthen yourself in that way, for an extremely doubtful good? I love and honour my friend Mrs. Taylor, but it is impossible that she can judge beforehand of the proportionate toil and interruption such labours cause to women whose habits and duties differ so much from her own. She would have understood the case if you could have briefly explained it.
I hope the separation from the undesirable Mr. Taunton has been achieved without anything very unpleasant. Best love,
Thine ever
Pollian.
It just occurs to me that Mr. Charles Potter (he clearly not being Mr. T. B. Potter) is Mr. Herbert Spencer's friend, 671 a man of high moral character. I will ask the immortal philosopher, whom I am sure to see shortly, perhaps tomorrow.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: Oct. 12. Extract published: Cross, III, 22-23.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
Saturday.
Dear Sara
Mr. Lewes will take the first opportunity of inquiring about the Railway Shareholders' Association, and I will let you know any result immediately.
Before I got your letter I was about to write to you and direct your attention to an article in the forthcoming (October) number of the Quarterly Review, on the Talmud. 670 You really must go out of your way to read it. It is written by one of the greatest Oriental scholars, the man among living men who probably knows the most about the Talmud, and you will appreciate the pregnancy of the article. There are also beautiful soul-cheering things selected for quotation.
This being said, I proceed to scold you a little for undertaking to canvass on the Women's Suffrage question. Why should you burthen yourself in that way, for an extremely doubtful good? I love and honour my friend Mrs. Taylor, but it is impossible that she can judge beforehand of the proportionate toil and interruption such labours cause to women whose habits and duties differ so much from her own. She would have understood the case if you could have briefly explained it.
I hope the separation from the undesirable Mr. Taunton has been achieved without anything very unpleasant. Best love,
Thine ever
Pollian.
It just occurs to me that Mr. Charles Potter (he clearly not being Mr. T. B. Potter) is Mr. Herbert Spencer's friend, 671 a man of high moral character. I will ask the immortal philosopher, whom I am sure to see shortly, perhaps tomorrow.
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [12 October 1867], 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/93938