GE to Thomas Henry Huxley, London, 2 January 1871
Title
GE to Thomas Henry Huxley, London, 2 January 1871
Title
GE to Thomas Henry Huxley, London, 2 January 1871
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Thomas Henry Huxley
Date(s)
- 1871-01-02
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Thomas Henry Huxley, London, 2 January 1871
MS: Imperial College of Science, London.
The Priory | 21 North Bank
January 2. 71.
Dear Mr. Huxley
I trouble you with this letter for the sake of a very good, sweet woman -- Mrs. Nassau Senior. 1 It is true that her goodness is not a sufficient reason for her husband's appointment to the chief secretaryship of the Educational Board. But you, I imagine, are especially bound to regard it as a presumption in a man's favour, and a becoming background to his other advantages, that he has chosen an excellent wife. So far as real qualifications for the post in question are concerned, I only know that Mr. Senior has had all the experience implied in having been Secretary of Commissions for four years under three Chancellors, and I have reason -- chiefly in the unsought indirect testimony of those who know him intimately -- to believe that he has some of the moral qualities which help to make a good public servant and fellow-worker.
If your judgment is already satisfied as to the person who ought to be appointed, you will, I trust, pardon this ignorant letter of mine. It is not intended as more than a pencil-mark by the side of a name in a list of candidates, on the supposition that you may be looking at such a list with a mind not yet decided. Such a mark, from whatever hand it might come, would give a little emphasis to your attention. I feel sure that you will not suspect me of presuming further. I remain,
Yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
MS: Imperial College of Science, London.
The Priory | 21 North Bank
January 2. 71.
Dear Mr. Huxley
I trouble you with this letter for the sake of a very good, sweet woman -- Mrs. Nassau Senior. 1 It is true that her goodness is not a sufficient reason for her husband's appointment to the chief secretaryship of the Educational Board. But you, I imagine, are especially bound to regard it as a presumption in a man's favour, and a becoming background to his other advantages, that he has chosen an excellent wife. So far as real qualifications for the post in question are concerned, I only know that Mr. Senior has had all the experience implied in having been Secretary of Commissions for four years under three Chancellors, and I have reason -- chiefly in the unsought indirect testimony of those who know him intimately -- to believe that he has some of the moral qualities which help to make a good public servant and fellow-worker.
If your judgment is already satisfied as to the person who ought to be appointed, you will, I trust, pardon this ignorant letter of mine. It is not intended as more than a pencil-mark by the side of a name in a list of candidates, on the supposition that you may be looking at such a list with a mind not yet decided. Such a mark, from whatever hand it might come, would give a little emphasis to your attention. I feel sure that you will not suspect me of presuming further. I remain,
Yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Thomas Henry Huxley, London, 2 January 1871, 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/94165