GE to the Editor of the Times, [Wandsworth], 25 June 1859
Title
GE to the Editor of the Times, [Wandsworth], 25 June 1859
Title
GE to the Editor of the Times, [Wandsworth], 25 June 1859
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
the Edi
Date(s)
- 1859-06-25
Place
[Wandsworth]
Letter Content
GE to the Editor of the Times, [Wandsworth], 25 June 1859
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: June 25th 1859. Envelope: George Eliot's letter to the Editor of the Times. Not published. Hitherto unpublished.
To the Editor of the "Times."
Sir,
Will you kindly admit one final effort on my part to save benevolent persons from imposture?
In spite of all that has been affirmed on the word of honourable gentlemen, like Messrs. Blackwood, there are still numbers who believe that the "Scenes of Clerical Life" and "Adam Bede" were written by a Mr. Joseph Liggins; and I hear from various well-informed persons, interested in the matter, that money has actually been accepted by Mr. Liggins, as their author; nay more, I hear that many persons profess to have seen his MSS. of one or other of these works.
Thus, the matter is becoming serious, and some energetic means of settling it are called for. Mr. Liggins is, I know, perfectly aware of the delusion which exists concerning his claim to the authorship and aware of the efforts made by myself and publishers to dispel it. Common honesty, one would think, would lead him to use every effort to undeceive his neighbours and supporters. Has he done anything towards it? If what I hear is not altogether wrong, Mr. Liggins has by no means exerted himself in this way. What he may have done to abet and keep up the delusion, I cannot say, but this I am forced, in justice, to say: That if Mr. Liggins, or any one bearing a name at all resembling Liggins, 169 has in any way stated, or suggested, or by implication of smile, shrug, or tone, allowed any one to believe that he wrote the "Scenes of Clerical Life" or "Adam Bede" -- or even contributed a single detail to those works -- or ever saw a page of the MS. -- he is an impostor. And if he received money knowing at the time the money was intended for the author of those works -- he is a swindler.
This language is intentionally strong; for as I suppose no one will believe that a man would publicly announce himself as an impostor and a swindler; nor allow any one else to brand him with those epithets if they are unmerited; my letter must have the effect of forcing Mr. Liggins to clear himself at once from the suspicions to which his silence lays him open, and from the suspicion of his being the writer of the works in question.
Should he still remain silent, every one will know what to think, and some will know how to act; and if there are persons who will continue to believe in his authorship after this letter, they must be willing dupes. I can do no more to undeceive them.
Yours etc.
George Eliot.
June 25th 1859.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: June 25th 1859. Envelope: George Eliot's letter to the Editor of the Times. Not published. Hitherto unpublished.
To the Editor of the "Times."
Sir,
Will you kindly admit one final effort on my part to save benevolent persons from imposture?
In spite of all that has been affirmed on the word of honourable gentlemen, like Messrs. Blackwood, there are still numbers who believe that the "Scenes of Clerical Life" and "Adam Bede" were written by a Mr. Joseph Liggins; and I hear from various well-informed persons, interested in the matter, that money has actually been accepted by Mr. Liggins, as their author; nay more, I hear that many persons profess to have seen his MSS. of one or other of these works.
Thus, the matter is becoming serious, and some energetic means of settling it are called for. Mr. Liggins is, I know, perfectly aware of the delusion which exists concerning his claim to the authorship and aware of the efforts made by myself and publishers to dispel it. Common honesty, one would think, would lead him to use every effort to undeceive his neighbours and supporters. Has he done anything towards it? If what I hear is not altogether wrong, Mr. Liggins has by no means exerted himself in this way. What he may have done to abet and keep up the delusion, I cannot say, but this I am forced, in justice, to say: That if Mr. Liggins, or any one bearing a name at all resembling Liggins, 169 has in any way stated, or suggested, or by implication of smile, shrug, or tone, allowed any one to believe that he wrote the "Scenes of Clerical Life" or "Adam Bede" -- or even contributed a single detail to those works -- or ever saw a page of the MS. -- he is an impostor. And if he received money knowing at the time the money was intended for the author of those works -- he is a swindler.
This language is intentionally strong; for as I suppose no one will believe that a man would publicly announce himself as an impostor and a swindler; nor allow any one else to brand him with those epithets if they are unmerited; my letter must have the effect of forcing Mr. Liggins to clear himself at once from the suspicions to which his silence lays him open, and from the suspicion of his being the writer of the works in question.
Should he still remain silent, every one will know what to think, and some will know how to act; and if there are persons who will continue to believe in his authorship after this letter, they must be willing dupes. I can do no more to undeceive them.
Yours etc.
George Eliot.
June 25th 1859.
Signature
George Eliot.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to the Editor of the Times, [Wandsworth], 25 June 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/94147