GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Wandsworth, 21 May [1859]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Wandsworth, 21 May [1859]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Wandsworth, 21 May [1859]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1859-05-21
Place
Wandsworth
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Wandsworth, 21 May [1859]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: 1859. Extracts published: Cross, II, 110-111.
Holly Lodge | May 21.
Dear Sara,
That is a very charming plan -- for you to have country lodgings near us. I think it is possible you might get them at Wimbledon, which is within half an hour's delicious walk of us. I don't think there is a single case of "Apartments to let" in South Fields: I should be more sorry for that, if I thought the quarter would suit you for the railway; but it is a fatiguing ugly walk to the Wandsworth station from us -- we always go to Putney, when we can. It would not do to write and ask the Congreves about letting you their house for a week. Mr. Congreve is not at all a man to be free and easy with: he internally resents everything like a freedom, looking very benignant all the while.
I see the Rehearsal takes place on the 18th, so I suppose you will not want your lodgings till the last week in June? When does the bon'e2 fide festival 138 begin? The Wimbledon lodgings could not be taken long beforehand, I dare say, but we will look round the village and see and inquire. The Wimbledon station lies conveniently, and I fancy you will be at Sydenham in 5 or 10 minutes from it. Wouldn't that be just the thing? I'm so glad the Festival happens just at the time we shall be at home again. We are waiting now for some business interviews, and then, after next week, when we may reasonably hope that it will not be still raining, we are going for a long country ramble by the river side.
I lay in bed with wet towels on my head yesterday while Mr. Lewes spelt out your letter to me. This morning I am brisk again. You see, we take it in turns to be ailing and nurse each other -- so our life is pleasantly varied. You all seem to be well in health, and that is more than the half of happiness, in spite of "wenches" and printers. Dr. Chapman writes that he saw Mr. Bray the other day looking "wonderfully well," -- certainly an enviable mode of exciting the world's wonder.
But I do enter into Cara's worry all the more, because I shall hardly find it in my heart to rejoice in the Wimbledon lodgings or anything else, if she fails to come. I should like to see her once more on this side Jordan, and as I am not likely ever to visit Coventry again, her flight hither is my only chance. It is surely nearly six years since I saw her!
We don't think of going to the Festival, not for want of power to enjoy Handel -- there are few things that I care for more in the way of music than his choruses performed by a grand orchestra -- but because we are neither of us fit to encounter the physical exertion and inconveniences. Are there any reserved seats at the Festival -- i.e. any purchasable by us canaille? We are going on Wednesday evening to hear Acis and Galatea 139 -- our first attempt at a musical treat since we came back to England. It is a cruel thing, the difficulty and dearness of getting any music in England -- concerted music, which is the only music I care for much now. At Dresden we could hear thoroughly enjoyable instrumental music every evening for two-pence, and I owed so many thoughts and inspirations of feeling to that stimulus.
Mr. Lewes's Physiology of Common Life has sold 7000 a number already, which is a great encouragement and happiness to him, and he has had pleasant letters from people thanking him for it. Such things, even when mitigated by dyspepsia, make life worth living.
Let us know anything that we can do for you, in the way of getting lodgings -- or in any other way. Affectionate feelings to you all from
Yours always
Marian E. Lewes.
Have you an autograph of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell's? I think it worth keeping for those who keep any.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: 1859. Extracts published: Cross, II, 110-111.
Holly Lodge | May 21.
Dear Sara,
That is a very charming plan -- for you to have country lodgings near us. I think it is possible you might get them at Wimbledon, which is within half an hour's delicious walk of us. I don't think there is a single case of "Apartments to let" in South Fields: I should be more sorry for that, if I thought the quarter would suit you for the railway; but it is a fatiguing ugly walk to the Wandsworth station from us -- we always go to Putney, when we can. It would not do to write and ask the Congreves about letting you their house for a week. Mr. Congreve is not at all a man to be free and easy with: he internally resents everything like a freedom, looking very benignant all the while.
I see the Rehearsal takes place on the 18th, so I suppose you will not want your lodgings till the last week in June? When does the bon'e2 fide festival 138 begin? The Wimbledon lodgings could not be taken long beforehand, I dare say, but we will look round the village and see and inquire. The Wimbledon station lies conveniently, and I fancy you will be at Sydenham in 5 or 10 minutes from it. Wouldn't that be just the thing? I'm so glad the Festival happens just at the time we shall be at home again. We are waiting now for some business interviews, and then, after next week, when we may reasonably hope that it will not be still raining, we are going for a long country ramble by the river side.
I lay in bed with wet towels on my head yesterday while Mr. Lewes spelt out your letter to me. This morning I am brisk again. You see, we take it in turns to be ailing and nurse each other -- so our life is pleasantly varied. You all seem to be well in health, and that is more than the half of happiness, in spite of "wenches" and printers. Dr. Chapman writes that he saw Mr. Bray the other day looking "wonderfully well," -- certainly an enviable mode of exciting the world's wonder.
But I do enter into Cara's worry all the more, because I shall hardly find it in my heart to rejoice in the Wimbledon lodgings or anything else, if she fails to come. I should like to see her once more on this side Jordan, and as I am not likely ever to visit Coventry again, her flight hither is my only chance. It is surely nearly six years since I saw her!
We don't think of going to the Festival, not for want of power to enjoy Handel -- there are few things that I care for more in the way of music than his choruses performed by a grand orchestra -- but because we are neither of us fit to encounter the physical exertion and inconveniences. Are there any reserved seats at the Festival -- i.e. any purchasable by us canaille? We are going on Wednesday evening to hear Acis and Galatea 139 -- our first attempt at a musical treat since we came back to England. It is a cruel thing, the difficulty and dearness of getting any music in England -- concerted music, which is the only music I care for much now. At Dresden we could hear thoroughly enjoyable instrumental music every evening for two-pence, and I owed so many thoughts and inspirations of feeling to that stimulus.
Mr. Lewes's Physiology of Common Life has sold 7000 a number already, which is a great encouragement and happiness to him, and he has had pleasant letters from people thanking him for it. Such things, even when mitigated by dyspepsia, make life worth living.
Let us know anything that we can do for you, in the way of getting lodgings -- or in any other way. Affectionate feelings to you all from
Yours always
Marian E. Lewes.
Have you an autograph of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell's? I think it worth keeping for those who keep any.
Signature
Marian E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Wandsworth, 21 May [1859], 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/94132