GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 16 October 1863
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 16 October 1863
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 16 October 1863
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1863-10-16
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 16 October 1863
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, II, 365-366.
Blandford Sq. | October 16. 63.
Dear Sara
If I wait to write until I have anything very profitable to say, you will have time to think that I have forgotten you or else to forget me -- and both consequences would be unpleasant to me.
Well, our poor boy Thornie parted from us today and set out on his voyage to Natal. I say "poor" as one does about all beings that are gone away from us for a long while. But he went in excellent spirits with a large packet of recommendatory letters to all sorts of people, and with what he cares much more for -- a first-rate rifle and revolver -- and already with a smattering of Dutch and Zulu picked up from his grammars and dictionaries.
You will be sorry to hear that Miss Nannie Smith, Mrs. Bodichon's sister, is seriously out of health, obliged to lie on the sofa continually. She is going to Rome for the winter however, with a devoted friend (Miss Blythe) 195 to take care of her. It is sad to see a young woman who wants to work at art and other good things, and who has great advantages of fortune, reduced to find the support of her life in resignation. But the doctors tell her she is to be better in a year.
I was grieved to hear from Miss Marshall the other day that her summer has been spent in anxious nursing without the relief of any change. Yet I thought her looking better than I have sometimes seen her. She told us that the Sydenham House is tenantless again, and until I hear from you that it is let, I shall think of it with some concern. But you are so good in always telling me what you know I care about, that I shall be sure of hearing any good news. I don't quite like the arrangement about the paper, but perhaps if I knew the case more fully, I should see that nothing better could be done.
What are you working at, I wonder? Cara says you are writing, and though I desire not to ask prying questions I should feel much joy in your being able to tell me that you are at work on something which gives you a life apart from circumstantial things. Do tell me a little about your "inwards" whenever you can.
I am taking a deep bath of other peoples' thoughts, and all doings of my own seem a long way off me. But my bath will be sorely interrupted soon by the miserable details of removal from one house to another. Happily Mr. Owen Jones 196 has undertaken the ornamentation of our drawing room and will prescribe all about chairs, etc. I think, after all, I like a clean kitchen better than any other room.
We are far on in correcting the proofs of the new edition of the "Goethe" 197 and are about to begin the printing of the Aristotle which is to appear at Christmas or Easter. But Mr. Lewes is even now retouching it -- always finding something to add or to modify. 198 I hope he will have some thorough peace now, for he has been a good deal harassed. Best love to all, and many thanks to Cara for her last letter.
Ever, dear Sara
Yours
Pollian.
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, II, 365-366.
Blandford Sq. | October 16. 63.
Dear Sara
If I wait to write until I have anything very profitable to say, you will have time to think that I have forgotten you or else to forget me -- and both consequences would be unpleasant to me.
Well, our poor boy Thornie parted from us today and set out on his voyage to Natal. I say "poor" as one does about all beings that are gone away from us for a long while. But he went in excellent spirits with a large packet of recommendatory letters to all sorts of people, and with what he cares much more for -- a first-rate rifle and revolver -- and already with a smattering of Dutch and Zulu picked up from his grammars and dictionaries.
You will be sorry to hear that Miss Nannie Smith, Mrs. Bodichon's sister, is seriously out of health, obliged to lie on the sofa continually. She is going to Rome for the winter however, with a devoted friend (Miss Blythe) 195 to take care of her. It is sad to see a young woman who wants to work at art and other good things, and who has great advantages of fortune, reduced to find the support of her life in resignation. But the doctors tell her she is to be better in a year.
I was grieved to hear from Miss Marshall the other day that her summer has been spent in anxious nursing without the relief of any change. Yet I thought her looking better than I have sometimes seen her. She told us that the Sydenham House is tenantless again, and until I hear from you that it is let, I shall think of it with some concern. But you are so good in always telling me what you know I care about, that I shall be sure of hearing any good news. I don't quite like the arrangement about the paper, but perhaps if I knew the case more fully, I should see that nothing better could be done.
What are you working at, I wonder? Cara says you are writing, and though I desire not to ask prying questions I should feel much joy in your being able to tell me that you are at work on something which gives you a life apart from circumstantial things. Do tell me a little about your "inwards" whenever you can.
I am taking a deep bath of other peoples' thoughts, and all doings of my own seem a long way off me. But my bath will be sorely interrupted soon by the miserable details of removal from one house to another. Happily Mr. Owen Jones 196 has undertaken the ornamentation of our drawing room and will prescribe all about chairs, etc. I think, after all, I like a clean kitchen better than any other room.
We are far on in correcting the proofs of the new edition of the "Goethe" 197 and are about to begin the printing of the Aristotle which is to appear at Christmas or Easter. But Mr. Lewes is even now retouching it -- always finding something to add or to modify. 198 I hope he will have some thorough peace now, for he has been a good deal harassed. Best love to all, and many thanks to Cara for her last letter.
Ever, dear Sara
Yours
Pollian.
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 16 October 1863, 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/94000