GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, St. Mary's, 27 March 1857
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, St. Mary's, 27 March 1857
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, St. Mary's, 27 March 1857
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1857-03-27
Place
St. Mary's
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, St. Mary's, 27 March 1857
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
St. Mary's | Scilly Isles | March 27. 57.
Dear Sara
At last! After waiting all Wednesday with our things packed up, we were called at 6 yesterday morning, and went on board by the early sunlight, beautiful to see. I represent what followed by x x x x x x according to the approved method, and recommence my narrative at 1 o'clock p.m. when we landed under a bright midday sun -- the sea, blue as the Mediterranean, plashing quietly among little violet-coloured islands. St. Mary's is the largest of them -- just like what one fancies Ithaca. We expect at every turn to meet a priggish young Telemachus, only there is little chance of our "lifting up our hands to the richly prepared meal." 823 However, we have every comfort -- roomy, well furnished lodgings, a quiet accommodating landlady, who is moreover mistress of the Postoffice, and every prospect of finding what we came for -- zoophytes and molluscs and annelids -- for there are all sorts of coast, boulders and sands and creeks. The weather is delicious, and we are going out presently on our first expedition, armed with chisels and baskets. We enjoy the prospect of quiet work here immensely, and are not likely to move for the next month or five weeks. Send me a letter full of gossip -- all about family and house matters -- a picture of you all in the new home. I suppose you are in it by this time.
George is hurrying me to have done and get ready to go out, so no more to-day -- but another day, when we are quite experienced in Scilly life.
Ever your loving
Marian.
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
St. Mary's | Scilly Isles | March 27. 57.
Dear Sara
At last! After waiting all Wednesday with our things packed up, we were called at 6 yesterday morning, and went on board by the early sunlight, beautiful to see. I represent what followed by x x x x x x according to the approved method, and recommence my narrative at 1 o'clock p.m. when we landed under a bright midday sun -- the sea, blue as the Mediterranean, plashing quietly among little violet-coloured islands. St. Mary's is the largest of them -- just like what one fancies Ithaca. We expect at every turn to meet a priggish young Telemachus, only there is little chance of our "lifting up our hands to the richly prepared meal." 823 However, we have every comfort -- roomy, well furnished lodgings, a quiet accommodating landlady, who is moreover mistress of the Postoffice, and every prospect of finding what we came for -- zoophytes and molluscs and annelids -- for there are all sorts of coast, boulders and sands and creeks. The weather is delicious, and we are going out presently on our first expedition, armed with chisels and baskets. We enjoy the prospect of quiet work here immensely, and are not likely to move for the next month or five weeks. Send me a letter full of gossip -- all about family and house matters -- a picture of you all in the new home. I suppose you are in it by this time.
George is hurrying me to have done and get ready to go out, so no more to-day -- but another day, when we are quite experienced in Scilly life.
Ever your loving
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, St. Mary's, 27 March 1857, 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/94115