GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 18 January 1856
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 18 January 1856
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 18 January 1856
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1856-01-18
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 18 January 1856
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, I, 389-390.
Park Shot | January 18. 56.
Dear Sara
Thank you for your kind attention in sending us the Herald containing your notice of the "Goethe." 658 I am glad to see that the paper is "lengthening its cords and strengthening its stakes," as the dissenters say when their chapels are enlarged. I see too that Mr. Bray is, as usual, manfully fighting for what he believes to be the right against magnates and friends. 659
Miss Leigh Smith has sent me a copy of a Petition 660 to be presented to Parliament praying that married women may have a legal right to their own earnings, as a counteractive to wife-beating and other evils. I don't know whether you and Cara will think the object worth attention, but if you do, I will send the paper for your signature. The petition is well and soberly drawn up, and has been signed by Mrs. Gaskell, Harriet Martineau, Mrs. Jameson and the et ceteras. So you will be in good company, if you care about that. I dare say Eleanor Cash 661 and some other friends of yours will be willing to sign.
Apropos of Harriet Martineau, have you seen that she has brought out a pamphlet on the Factory question fiercely vituperating Dickens? 662 It was intended originally as an article for the Westminster, but Mr. Chapman was obliged to reject it on account of its personality. I hope this will not prevent her from writing again in the W.R., for her articles are generally valuable. Do you see the National Review? The article on Atheism 663 takes up, in a gingerly way, Herbert Spencer's book, with an acknowledgement of its power.
I believe there have been at least a thousand copies of the [Goethe] sold -- which is a wonderfully good sale in less than three months for a 30s. book. We have a charming collection of letters, both from remarkable acquaintances and remarkable non-acquaintances expressing enthusiastic delight in the book -- letters all the more delightful because they are quite spontaneous and spring from a generous wish to let the author know how highly the writers value his work. But alas! when one has the headache, nothing seems delightful, and we are both half dead with it today. Nevertheless I have been doing a morning's work, and I can't be contented to shut up my desk without writing to you, begging you to make due allowances for a note written under difficulties.
I was so glad to hear of your successful Bazaar, and quite able to understand how it had absorbed you. If you want some idle reading, get "The Shaving of Shagpat," which I think you will say deserves all the praise I gave it in the Leader 664 -- if indeed you have not already had it.
I wish I could think of news, but my head obstinately refuses to suggest anything worth telling, so accept the will -- that miserable assignat -- instead of the deed.
Ever yours
Marian.
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, I, 389-390.
Park Shot | January 18. 56.
Dear Sara
Thank you for your kind attention in sending us the Herald containing your notice of the "Goethe." 658 I am glad to see that the paper is "lengthening its cords and strengthening its stakes," as the dissenters say when their chapels are enlarged. I see too that Mr. Bray is, as usual, manfully fighting for what he believes to be the right against magnates and friends. 659
Miss Leigh Smith has sent me a copy of a Petition 660 to be presented to Parliament praying that married women may have a legal right to their own earnings, as a counteractive to wife-beating and other evils. I don't know whether you and Cara will think the object worth attention, but if you do, I will send the paper for your signature. The petition is well and soberly drawn up, and has been signed by Mrs. Gaskell, Harriet Martineau, Mrs. Jameson and the et ceteras. So you will be in good company, if you care about that. I dare say Eleanor Cash 661 and some other friends of yours will be willing to sign.
Apropos of Harriet Martineau, have you seen that she has brought out a pamphlet on the Factory question fiercely vituperating Dickens? 662 It was intended originally as an article for the Westminster, but Mr. Chapman was obliged to reject it on account of its personality. I hope this will not prevent her from writing again in the W.R., for her articles are generally valuable. Do you see the National Review? The article on Atheism 663 takes up, in a gingerly way, Herbert Spencer's book, with an acknowledgement of its power.
I believe there have been at least a thousand copies of the [Goethe] sold -- which is a wonderfully good sale in less than three months for a 30s. book. We have a charming collection of letters, both from remarkable acquaintances and remarkable non-acquaintances expressing enthusiastic delight in the book -- letters all the more delightful because they are quite spontaneous and spring from a generous wish to let the author know how highly the writers value his work. But alas! when one has the headache, nothing seems delightful, and we are both half dead with it today. Nevertheless I have been doing a morning's work, and I can't be contented to shut up my desk without writing to you, begging you to make due allowances for a note written under difficulties.
I was so glad to hear of your successful Bazaar, and quite able to understand how it had absorbed you. If you want some idle reading, get "The Shaving of Shagpat," which I think you will say deserves all the praise I gave it in the Leader 664 -- if indeed you have not already had it.
I wish I could think of news, but my head obstinately refuses to suggest anything worth telling, so accept the will -- that miserable assignat -- instead of the deed.
Ever yours
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 18 January 1856, 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/94090