GHL to Alexander Main, Rickmansworth, 22 July 1875
Title
GHL to Alexander Main, Rickmansworth, 22 July 1875
Title
GHL to Alexander Main, Rickmansworth, 22 July 1875
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
Alexander Main
Date(s)
- 1875-07-22
Place
Rickmansworth
Letter Content
GHL to Alexander Main, Rickmansworth, 22 July 1875
MS: The late Arthur Pforzheimer. Hitherto unpublished.
The Elms | Rickmansworth, Herts. | 22 July 75.
My dear Main
We concluded from your silence that you were on your walking tour. 287 It was quite well that you hadn't my book 288 in your knapsack, for it would have been quite unworthy of its porterage. It is a mere trifle -- reprints of papers written between 1851-67.
You need not send me the [Theory of Knowing] (though thanks for the intention) the author sent it me on its publication. 289
In spite of the vile weather we have had during the last fortnight, the peace of our country life has had a most beneficial effect on Madonna, who begins to look like her own sweet self again, and is hard at work on a glorious book -- which she is as dejected over as usual! We see no one -- absolutely no one; but read, write, drive and ramble in sweet security and unvarying happiness.
I ran up to town the other day for a garden party at Lady Airlie's where I was to meet the Queen of Holland, who had expressed a wish to see me. The interview was flattering, of course; but not interesting. The cock having scratched up an uneatable pearl reflected that a simple grain of millet ferait mieux son affaire. I agreed with the cock -- a single ganglionic cell -- well isolated -- would have pleased me better than the biggest crown in christendom. I am hard at work on the [Physical basis of Mind,] with ever increasing clearness, and consequent enjoyment. We shall stay here till the end of September, and then most likely go somewhere to the coast as I have a few questions to put to the molluscs.
We were not a little startled and interested at the revelation of your chance phrase "my sisters" -- we had no suspicion of there being such tender belongings. How reticent you have been about yourself!
You may be interested to know that my son Charles has an article in the new number of the Edinburgh Review on the education of Pauper children. 290 To our great satisfaction he has not gone into feeble literature but from time to time has written in the Spectator and such on social subjects.
Madonna sends her kindest regards.
Ever your faithful
G. H. Lewes.
MS: The late Arthur Pforzheimer. Hitherto unpublished.
The Elms | Rickmansworth, Herts. | 22 July 75.
My dear Main
We concluded from your silence that you were on your walking tour. 287 It was quite well that you hadn't my book 288 in your knapsack, for it would have been quite unworthy of its porterage. It is a mere trifle -- reprints of papers written between 1851-67.
You need not send me the [Theory of Knowing] (though thanks for the intention) the author sent it me on its publication. 289
In spite of the vile weather we have had during the last fortnight, the peace of our country life has had a most beneficial effect on Madonna, who begins to look like her own sweet self again, and is hard at work on a glorious book -- which she is as dejected over as usual! We see no one -- absolutely no one; but read, write, drive and ramble in sweet security and unvarying happiness.
I ran up to town the other day for a garden party at Lady Airlie's where I was to meet the Queen of Holland, who had expressed a wish to see me. The interview was flattering, of course; but not interesting. The cock having scratched up an uneatable pearl reflected that a simple grain of millet ferait mieux son affaire. I agreed with the cock -- a single ganglionic cell -- well isolated -- would have pleased me better than the biggest crown in christendom. I am hard at work on the [Physical basis of Mind,] with ever increasing clearness, and consequent enjoyment. We shall stay here till the end of September, and then most likely go somewhere to the coast as I have a few questions to put to the molluscs.
We were not a little startled and interested at the revelation of your chance phrase "my sisters" -- we had no suspicion of there being such tender belongings. How reticent you have been about yourself!
You may be interested to know that my son Charles has an article in the new number of the Edinburgh Review on the education of Pauper children. 290 To our great satisfaction he has not gone into feeble literature but from time to time has written in the Spectator and such on social subjects.
Madonna sends her kindest regards.
Ever your faithful
G. H. Lewes.
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to Alexander Main, Rickmansworth, 22 July 1875, 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/94430