GHL to John Blackwood, London, 2 July 1861
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, London, 2 July 1861
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, London, 2 July 1861
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1861-07-02
Place
London
Letter Content
GHL to John Blackwood, London, 2 July 1861
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Blandford Square, | N.W.
July 1861.
My dear Blackwood
I couldn't help laughing at the passage in your letter relating to Mrs. Blackwood's priority. It is the way of wives! They will think our best thoughts before us. Mes hommages 'e0 Madame, et dites lui ou je me trompe fort, ou elle est bien capable d'avoir souvent de ces priorit'e9s l'e0.
It would indeed be a great gain to Thornie if he could catch something of Willie's savoir faire. He wants rounding.
Lucky people to be out of the smoke and in the country! But everything has its compensation and I reflect (with gratitude) that if I am in London -- I haven't a pile of '91contributions'92 to oppress me. Alas! the series 803 is quashed. I feared it would be so, and so it is.
Yes, I have already read the articles you refer to and think all three first rate. I didn't understand Thackeray's sneer 804 to apply to Aytoun; it is most untrue, as well as uncalled for, since it is notorious that Aytoun's greatest poet was Homer -- not I believe a gentleman of the Caledonian persuasion, though we don't know where he was raised. The fact is, Thackeray is so soured by the want of success which his writing of late has had, that he is sardonic and bitter against all who are successful -- even against his friend Trollope, I hear! -- I too have somewhat itched to '91remonstrate'92 with him, in the tone of the remonstrance with Dickens; but I fear it would be of no use. He has said his say and done his work; very admirable work too!
Mrs. Lewes continues very well and I continue very much autre chose. She is buried in the middle ages and I am yapping amid mad dogs.
Ever yours faithfully
G. H. Lewes.
John Blackwood Esq.
I shall send Du Chaillu 805 through Langford.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Blandford Square, | N.W.
July 1861.
My dear Blackwood
I couldn't help laughing at the passage in your letter relating to Mrs. Blackwood's priority. It is the way of wives! They will think our best thoughts before us. Mes hommages 'e0 Madame, et dites lui ou je me trompe fort, ou elle est bien capable d'avoir souvent de ces priorit'e9s l'e0.
It would indeed be a great gain to Thornie if he could catch something of Willie's savoir faire. He wants rounding.
Lucky people to be out of the smoke and in the country! But everything has its compensation and I reflect (with gratitude) that if I am in London -- I haven't a pile of '91contributions'92 to oppress me. Alas! the series 803 is quashed. I feared it would be so, and so it is.
Yes, I have already read the articles you refer to and think all three first rate. I didn't understand Thackeray's sneer 804 to apply to Aytoun; it is most untrue, as well as uncalled for, since it is notorious that Aytoun's greatest poet was Homer -- not I believe a gentleman of the Caledonian persuasion, though we don't know where he was raised. The fact is, Thackeray is so soured by the want of success which his writing of late has had, that he is sardonic and bitter against all who are successful -- even against his friend Trollope, I hear! -- I too have somewhat itched to '91remonstrate'92 with him, in the tone of the remonstrance with Dickens; but I fear it would be of no use. He has said his say and done his work; very admirable work too!
Mrs. Lewes continues very well and I continue very much autre chose. She is buried in the middle ages and I am yapping amid mad dogs.
Ever yours faithfully
G. H. Lewes.
John Blackwood Esq.
I shall send Du Chaillu 805 through Langford.
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to John Blackwood, London, 2 July 1861, 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/94685