George Combe to John Chapman, Edinburgh, 7 December 1851
Title
George Combe to John Chapman, Edinburgh, 7 December 1851
Title
George Combe to John Chapman, Edinburgh, 7 December 1851
Sender
George Combe
Recipient
John Chapman
Date(s)
- 1851-12-07
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
George Combe to John Chapman, Edinburgh, 7 December 1851
Text: Copy in the hand of Robert Cox, unsigned, National Library of Scotland.
Edinburgh | 7th December 1851.
John Chapman, Esq.
My dear Sir
I have been knocked up by cold at Manchester, and employ Mr. Robert Cox 54 as my amanuensis. I inclose for your perusal a letter dated 8th instant which I have considered it necessary to write to Mr. Lombe. Be so good as read it and seal it with a seal different from your own; and send it to the post office without delay.
In announcing the names of the Subscribers to the Review you looked at the matter only from your own point of view, and did not consider how the announcement might affect your supporters. The Review has the reputation of being the organ of infidelity, and at an evening party in Edinburgh last week, a lady called out to Mrs. Combe, "So Mr. Combe has subscribed 'a320 to the Westminster Review!" This could do me no harm; but Mr. Robert Chambers, 55 if he had subscribed, might have been seriously injured by the announcement of his name as the saints are watching every opportunity of convicting him of a leaning to infidelity. My conviction is that several others of my friends have been deterred from coming forward by the announcement of the names. Now, however, that the error has been committed, I advise you before taking any further step in relation to the subscribers, to wait till you see the effect of your letter and mine on Mr. Lombe.
I would again very respectfully recommend to you to use Miss Evans's tact and judgment as an aid to your own. She has certain organs large in her brain which are not so fully developed in yours, and she will judge more correctly of the influence upon other persons of what you write and do, than you will do yourself.
I return the copy of your letter to Mr. Lombe, which I think is quite correct, and called for.
[No signature]
Text: Copy in the hand of Robert Cox, unsigned, National Library of Scotland.
Edinburgh | 7th December 1851.
John Chapman, Esq.
My dear Sir
I have been knocked up by cold at Manchester, and employ Mr. Robert Cox 54 as my amanuensis. I inclose for your perusal a letter dated 8th instant which I have considered it necessary to write to Mr. Lombe. Be so good as read it and seal it with a seal different from your own; and send it to the post office without delay.
In announcing the names of the Subscribers to the Review you looked at the matter only from your own point of view, and did not consider how the announcement might affect your supporters. The Review has the reputation of being the organ of infidelity, and at an evening party in Edinburgh last week, a lady called out to Mrs. Combe, "So Mr. Combe has subscribed 'a320 to the Westminster Review!" This could do me no harm; but Mr. Robert Chambers, 55 if he had subscribed, might have been seriously injured by the announcement of his name as the saints are watching every opportunity of convicting him of a leaning to infidelity. My conviction is that several others of my friends have been deterred from coming forward by the announcement of the names. Now, however, that the error has been committed, I advise you before taking any further step in relation to the subscribers, to wait till you see the effect of your letter and mine on Mr. Lombe.
I would again very respectfully recommend to you to use Miss Evans's tact and judgment as an aid to your own. She has certain organs large in her brain which are not so fully developed in yours, and she will judge more correctly of the influence upon other persons of what you write and do, than you will do yourself.
I return the copy of your letter to Mr. Lombe, which I think is quite correct, and called for.
[No signature]
Citation
George Combe, George Combe to John Chapman, Edinburgh, 7 December 1851, 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/94246