GHL to James R. Quirk, Wandsworth, [20 August 1859]
Title
GHL to James R. Quirk, Wandsworth, [20 August 1859]
Title
GHL to James R. Quirk, Wandsworth, [20 August 1859]
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
James R. Quirk
Date(s)
- 1859-08-20
Place
Wandsworth
Letter Content
GHL to James R. Quirk, Wandsworth, [20 August 1859]
Text: Copy owned by Mrs. Michael Womersley. The date is supplied from another copy in the possession of Miss Dorothy Evans. Hitherto unpublished.
Holly Lodge | Wimbledon Park | Wandsworth | 19 August 1859.
Revd Sir
Mrs. Lewes -- formerly Miss Marian Evans, has received a letter from you, which under ordinary circumstances would have been left unanswered -- since I am sure you will perceive on reflection that it oversteps the bounds of etiquette in such matters; but as the friend of her late sister you have an extra claim upon her courtesy. 269
I am not aware that Mr. Liggins has ever positively stated himself to be the author of "Scenes of Clerical Life" or "Adam Bede"; but if he has done so -- if he has deliberately and knowingly caused it to be believed that he in any way contributed a single sentence to those works, I, who am perfectly cognizant of the whole history of their authorship, have no hesitation in saying he is an impostor. Nay, even on the supposition that Mr. Liggins had positively claimed the authorship, it would be clear to most minds that the positive and explicit denial of his claim made by honorable and respectable men like the Messrs. Blackwood, would suffice to settle the question.
I remain, Revd Sir
Your Obedient Servant
G. H. Lewes.
To the Revd J. R. Quirk.
Text: Copy owned by Mrs. Michael Womersley. The date is supplied from another copy in the possession of Miss Dorothy Evans. Hitherto unpublished.
Holly Lodge | Wimbledon Park | Wandsworth | 19 August 1859.
Revd Sir
Mrs. Lewes -- formerly Miss Marian Evans, has received a letter from you, which under ordinary circumstances would have been left unanswered -- since I am sure you will perceive on reflection that it oversteps the bounds of etiquette in such matters; but as the friend of her late sister you have an extra claim upon her courtesy. 269
I am not aware that Mr. Liggins has ever positively stated himself to be the author of "Scenes of Clerical Life" or "Adam Bede"; but if he has done so -- if he has deliberately and knowingly caused it to be believed that he in any way contributed a single sentence to those works, I, who am perfectly cognizant of the whole history of their authorship, have no hesitation in saying he is an impostor. Nay, even on the supposition that Mr. Liggins had positively claimed the authorship, it would be clear to most minds that the positive and explicit denial of his claim made by honorable and respectable men like the Messrs. Blackwood, would suffice to settle the question.
I remain, Revd Sir
Your Obedient Servant
G. H. Lewes.
To the Revd J. R. Quirk.
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to James R. Quirk, Wandsworth, [20 August 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/94574