GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Weymouth, 4 September 1859
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Weymouth, 4 September 1859
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Weymouth, 4 September 1859
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1859-09-04
Place
Weymouth
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Weymouth, 4 September 1859
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
East Street | Weymouth!! | September 4. 59.
Dear Sara
Here we are at the other pole! The cold winds affected Mr. Lewes so unfavourably, that we scampered back from that northerly coast into a region of milder breezes. Happily we have found them, and sunshine along with them. The glimpse of beautiful Penmaenmawr and Conway Castle, and the more interesting-to-me sight of my nieces at Lichfield is all the harvest we got from that northern trip.
I fear the haste with which I had to write my answer to your letter may have led me into some misapprehension of your meaning in that sentence; which may have been fidgetting and tiresome to you. It occurred to me after my letter was gone that you might have meant by "truthfulness" the truthful state of mind which your brother brought to the investigation -- the clearness of moral vision which aids the intellectual clearness. (But my mistiness would indicate the need for some slight verbal change.) We can say a "truthful representation" and a "truthful exposition," but I think the strict meaning in that case is always, that the artist or expositor has no impulse to suppress or exaggerate or falsely colour the fact as apprehended by his knowing faculties.
Mr. Lewes said very emphatically that, as regarded the point of delicacy, he saw nothing whatever to object to in your notice of your brother's book as it stands. He is always an advocate for the personal form of statement as the least presumptuous. "I think so" is certainly preferable to "it is thought by the present writer." After all, assumption and arrogance lie in the tone of mind and not in the expression chiefly. If they exist, they will show themselves in spite of periphrasis: if not, pronouns will not suffice to convey the impression that they exist. So don't be too anxious about these small matters.
We are in the height of stewing, because our letters are not come -- fearing some mistake in consequence of this weathercock migration. No more now, for I must get to work.
Ever your affectionate
Marian.
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
East Street | Weymouth!! | September 4. 59.
Dear Sara
Here we are at the other pole! The cold winds affected Mr. Lewes so unfavourably, that we scampered back from that northerly coast into a region of milder breezes. Happily we have found them, and sunshine along with them. The glimpse of beautiful Penmaenmawr and Conway Castle, and the more interesting-to-me sight of my nieces at Lichfield is all the harvest we got from that northern trip.
I fear the haste with which I had to write my answer to your letter may have led me into some misapprehension of your meaning in that sentence; which may have been fidgetting and tiresome to you. It occurred to me after my letter was gone that you might have meant by "truthfulness" the truthful state of mind which your brother brought to the investigation -- the clearness of moral vision which aids the intellectual clearness. (But my mistiness would indicate the need for some slight verbal change.) We can say a "truthful representation" and a "truthful exposition," but I think the strict meaning in that case is always, that the artist or expositor has no impulse to suppress or exaggerate or falsely colour the fact as apprehended by his knowing faculties.
Mr. Lewes said very emphatically that, as regarded the point of delicacy, he saw nothing whatever to object to in your notice of your brother's book as it stands. He is always an advocate for the personal form of statement as the least presumptuous. "I think so" is certainly preferable to "it is thought by the present writer." After all, assumption and arrogance lie in the tone of mind and not in the expression chiefly. If they exist, they will show themselves in spite of periphrasis: if not, pronouns will not suffice to convey the impression that they exist. So don't be too anxious about these small matters.
We are in the height of stewing, because our letters are not come -- fearing some mistake in consequence of this weathercock migration. No more now, for I must get to work.
Ever your affectionate
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Weymouth, 4 September 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/94138