GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 28 October [1865]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 28 October [1865]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 28 October [1865]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1865-10-28
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 28 October [1865]
MS: Yale. Extract published: Cross, 11, 412-413.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
October 28.
Dear Sara
I am sorry to say that I cannot tell you anything of the Congreves. About a week or ten days ago, Mr. Congreve wrote to say, that they had a hope, and that he should let me know as soon as it was wise for Mrs. Congreve to see me. Since then I have heard nothing.
The best compensation for not seeing Cara is to know that a Tenant was the cause. With these "auction winds" 378 one is apt to think visiting at a stand-still and expect nobody. I dare say that in the open country you get a good deal of pleasure out of the autumnal tossing and leaf-shedding.
I have read Mr. Masson's book on "Recent Philosophy." 379 The earlier part is a useful and creditable survey, and the classification ingenious. The latter part I thought poor. If, by what he says of Positivism, you mean what he says at p. 246, I should answer, it is simply "stuff"; he might as well have written a dozen lines of jargon. There are a few observations about Comte scattered here and there, which are true and just enough. But it seems to me much better to read a man's own writings than to read what others say about him. Especially when the man is first-rate and the "others" are third-rate. As Goethe said long ago about Spinoza, "Ich immer vorzog, von dem Menschen zu erfahren wie er dachte, als von einem andern zu h'f6ren, wie er h'e4tte denken sollen." 380 However, I am not fond of expressing criticism or disapprobation. The difficulty is, to digest and live upon any valuable truth oneself.
The handsome volume, in its pretty green, is come to me. I am glad to have it in that portable form rather than in sheets, and I shall return to it with all the advantages of convenience. Always
Your affectionate
Pollian.
MS: Yale. Extract published: Cross, 11, 412-413.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
October 28.
Dear Sara
I am sorry to say that I cannot tell you anything of the Congreves. About a week or ten days ago, Mr. Congreve wrote to say, that they had a hope, and that he should let me know as soon as it was wise for Mrs. Congreve to see me. Since then I have heard nothing.
The best compensation for not seeing Cara is to know that a Tenant was the cause. With these "auction winds" 378 one is apt to think visiting at a stand-still and expect nobody. I dare say that in the open country you get a good deal of pleasure out of the autumnal tossing and leaf-shedding.
I have read Mr. Masson's book on "Recent Philosophy." 379 The earlier part is a useful and creditable survey, and the classification ingenious. The latter part I thought poor. If, by what he says of Positivism, you mean what he says at p. 246, I should answer, it is simply "stuff"; he might as well have written a dozen lines of jargon. There are a few observations about Comte scattered here and there, which are true and just enough. But it seems to me much better to read a man's own writings than to read what others say about him. Especially when the man is first-rate and the "others" are third-rate. As Goethe said long ago about Spinoza, "Ich immer vorzog, von dem Menschen zu erfahren wie er dachte, als von einem andern zu h'f6ren, wie er h'e4tte denken sollen." 380 However, I am not fond of expressing criticism or disapprobation. The difficulty is, to digest and live upon any valuable truth oneself.
The handsome volume, in its pretty green, is come to me. I am glad to have it in that portable form rather than in sheets, and I shall return to it with all the advantages of convenience. Always
Your affectionate
Pollian.
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 28 October [1865], 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/94043