GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 13 April 1861
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 13 April 1861
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 13 April 1861
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1861-04-13
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 13 April 1861
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, II, 297-298.
Blandford Sq. | April 13. 61.
Dear Sara
I was going to write you a farewell before our departure for Italy. We start on the 19th and shall be away two months or perhaps less. Our route will not extend beyond 'abFlorence'bb Tuscany, and we shall come back through Switzerland, to see Bertie, who is now brotherless in his school life. Charles, meanwhile, will keep house here, and work like a nigger at his music, as we are going to give him the privilege of having lessons from Brindley Richards 740 while we are away.
We went to hear Beethoven's Mass in D last night, 741 and on Wednesday to hear Mendelssohn's Walpurgis Nacht and Beethoven's Symphony in Bb 742 so that we have had two musical treats this week; but the enjoyment of such things is much diminished by the gas and bad air. Mr. Lewes and I both feel that London privileges of this sort are not worth the purchase to easily perturbed people like ourselves. Indeed our long addiction to a quiet life in which our daily walk amongst the still grass and trees was a f'eate to us, has unfitted us for the sacrifices that London demands. But, for everything except health, I can answer your possible questions comprehensively by saying that we have all sorts of blessings.
I thought Holyoake 743 had renounced the term "Atheist" long, long ago: I have often [heard] Mr. Lewes speak of his having done so.
Mr. Spencer is gone to Derby for a month or two to give some companionship to his father, who has been much out of health lately. He has bought a microscope, and is going to work at it, which I hope will be an agreeable variety in his brain labour.
Major Robert Noel tells us that his brother 744 is expected from
Greece. I trust Cara and Mr. Bray are able to look forward with some pleasure to seeing their old friend, in spite of clouding anxieties.
Don't think about reading Silas Marner, just because it is come out. I hate obligato reading and obligato talk about my books. I never send them to any one and never wish to be spoken to about them, except by an unpremeditated spontaneous prompting. They are written out of my deepest belief, and as well as I can, for the great public -- and every sincere strong word will find its mark in that public. Perhaps the annoyance I suffered from Mr. Bracebridge and Co. has made me rather morbid on such points, but apart from my own weaknesses, I think the less an author hears about himself the better. Don't mistake me -- I am writing a general explanation -- not anything applicable to you.
God bless you. Love and goodby to all.
Pollian.
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, II, 297-298.
Blandford Sq. | April 13. 61.
Dear Sara
I was going to write you a farewell before our departure for Italy. We start on the 19th and shall be away two months or perhaps less. Our route will not extend beyond 'abFlorence'bb Tuscany, and we shall come back through Switzerland, to see Bertie, who is now brotherless in his school life. Charles, meanwhile, will keep house here, and work like a nigger at his music, as we are going to give him the privilege of having lessons from Brindley Richards 740 while we are away.
We went to hear Beethoven's Mass in D last night, 741 and on Wednesday to hear Mendelssohn's Walpurgis Nacht and Beethoven's Symphony in Bb 742 so that we have had two musical treats this week; but the enjoyment of such things is much diminished by the gas and bad air. Mr. Lewes and I both feel that London privileges of this sort are not worth the purchase to easily perturbed people like ourselves. Indeed our long addiction to a quiet life in which our daily walk amongst the still grass and trees was a f'eate to us, has unfitted us for the sacrifices that London demands. But, for everything except health, I can answer your possible questions comprehensively by saying that we have all sorts of blessings.
I thought Holyoake 743 had renounced the term "Atheist" long, long ago: I have often [heard] Mr. Lewes speak of his having done so.
Mr. Spencer is gone to Derby for a month or two to give some companionship to his father, who has been much out of health lately. He has bought a microscope, and is going to work at it, which I hope will be an agreeable variety in his brain labour.
Major Robert Noel tells us that his brother 744 is expected from
Greece. I trust Cara and Mr. Bray are able to look forward with some pleasure to seeing their old friend, in spite of clouding anxieties.
Don't think about reading Silas Marner, just because it is come out. I hate obligato reading and obligato talk about my books. I never send them to any one and never wish to be spoken to about them, except by an unpremeditated spontaneous prompting. They are written out of my deepest belief, and as well as I can, for the great public -- and every sincere strong word will find its mark in that public. Perhaps the annoyance I suffered from Mr. Bracebridge and Co. has made me rather morbid on such points, but apart from my own weaknesses, I think the less an author hears about himself the better. Don't mistake me -- I am writing a general explanation -- not anything applicable to you.
God bless you. Love and goodby to all.
Pollian.
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 13 April 1861, 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/93988