GHL to John Blackwood, Gorey, [12 July 1857]
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, Gorey, [12 July 1857]
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, Gorey, [12 July 1857]
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1857-07-12
Place
Gorey
Letter Content
GHL to John Blackwood, Gorey, [12 July 1857]
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: John Blackwood, p. 39.
Rosa Cottage | Gorey, Jersey | Sunday.
My dear Blackwood
You want to know what I think of the Smith case. In one word I would say that it is very lucky for that miserable girl that her victim was a Frenchman and she a Scotchwoman. Under any other circumstances she must have been hanged. A more hideous case it would be difficult to find. I cannot feel the slightest approach to sympathy with her. I see absolutely no trace of goodness in her. From first to last she is utterly bad. As to Angelier's having corrupted her -- in the ordinary sense of the word, he did -- that is he gained her consent to what she seems far from reluctant in granting; but for all other [corruption] she seems to me more capable of corrupting him. Not that I have any sympathy with him. But he had good feelings. She has none.
While, however, the evidence against her is overwhelming and even the jury only returns a verdict of not proven 927 -- a moral condemnation though a legal acquittal -- I must say the masterly defense of the Dean 928 was enough to shake a jury. It is one of the finest specimens of forensic argument I remember. Admirable in tone as well as masterly in legal acuteness. From the first I feared lest the last proof could be adduced; and the Dean takes up a strong position in showing the absence of such proof.
The sympathy felt for this girl is to me thoroughly incomprehensible. I understand the profound sympathy felt for her family. But it is clear the Dean believed her guilty -- the judge summed up dead against her -- the evidence in her favor was of itself a tacit avowal -- yet the audience cheers her acquittal! Unless that cheer meant a condemnation of capital punishment altogether, it has a hideous sound in my ears.
Entre nous let me hint that unless you have any serious objection to make to Eliot's stories, don't make any. He is so easily discouraged, so diffident of himself, that not being prompted by necessity to write, he will close the series in the belief that his writing is not relished. I laugh at him for his diffidence and tell him it's a proof he is not an author. But he has passed the middle of life without writing at all, and will easily be made to give it up. Don't allude to this hint of mine. He wouldn't like my interfering.
Ever faithfully yours
G. H. Lewes.
By the way I have not had my copy of Maga this month. One came for G.E. which he carried off.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: John Blackwood, p. 39.
Rosa Cottage | Gorey, Jersey | Sunday.
My dear Blackwood
You want to know what I think of the Smith case. In one word I would say that it is very lucky for that miserable girl that her victim was a Frenchman and she a Scotchwoman. Under any other circumstances she must have been hanged. A more hideous case it would be difficult to find. I cannot feel the slightest approach to sympathy with her. I see absolutely no trace of goodness in her. From first to last she is utterly bad. As to Angelier's having corrupted her -- in the ordinary sense of the word, he did -- that is he gained her consent to what she seems far from reluctant in granting; but for all other [corruption] she seems to me more capable of corrupting him. Not that I have any sympathy with him. But he had good feelings. She has none.
While, however, the evidence against her is overwhelming and even the jury only returns a verdict of not proven 927 -- a moral condemnation though a legal acquittal -- I must say the masterly defense of the Dean 928 was enough to shake a jury. It is one of the finest specimens of forensic argument I remember. Admirable in tone as well as masterly in legal acuteness. From the first I feared lest the last proof could be adduced; and the Dean takes up a strong position in showing the absence of such proof.
The sympathy felt for this girl is to me thoroughly incomprehensible. I understand the profound sympathy felt for her family. But it is clear the Dean believed her guilty -- the judge summed up dead against her -- the evidence in her favor was of itself a tacit avowal -- yet the audience cheers her acquittal! Unless that cheer meant a condemnation of capital punishment altogether, it has a hideous sound in my ears.
Entre nous let me hint that unless you have any serious objection to make to Eliot's stories, don't make any. He is so easily discouraged, so diffident of himself, that not being prompted by necessity to write, he will close the series in the belief that his writing is not relished. I laugh at him for his diffidence and tell him it's a proof he is not an author. But he has passed the middle of life without writing at all, and will easily be made to give it up. Don't allude to this hint of mine. He wouldn't like my interfering.
Ever faithfully yours
G. H. Lewes.
By the way I have not had my copy of Maga this month. One came for G.E. which he carried off.
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to John Blackwood, Gorey, [12 July 1857], 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/94599