GHL to John Blackwood, Richmond, [15 November 1856]
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, Richmond, [15 November 1856]
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, Richmond, [15 November 1856]
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1856-11-15
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GHL to John Blackwood, Richmond, [15 November 1856]
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: Cross, I, 421.
Park Shot | Saturday.
My dear Sir
I have communicated your letter to my clerical friend, who, though somewhat discouraged by it, has taken my advice and will submit the second story to you when it is written. At present he has only written what he sent you. His avocations, he informs me, will prevent his setting to work for the next three weeks or so; but as soon as he is at liberty he will begin. 763
I rate the story much higher than you appear to do from certain expressions in your note, though you too appreciate the humour and pathos and the happy turn of expression. It struck me as being fresher than any story I have read for a long while, and as exhibiting in a high degree that faculty which I find to be the rarest of all, viz. the dramatic ventriloquism. At the same time I told him that I perfectly understood your editorial caution in not accepting from an unknown hand a series on the strength of one specimen.
I have another paper sent to me by another friend -- the Rev. George Tugwell -- who is mentioned in Sea-Side Studies as the gentleman so honorably known to the Anemones of Devonshire, and whose recent book on Sea Anemones is much praised by the critics. 764 He is a pleasant writer and might I think be a contributor you would approve. Perhaps you read a paper of his I sent to Frazer a little while since on Science at the Sea-Side?
His present paper is "Wanderings on Exmoor." It is very slight, but agreeably written; contains some descriptions, three legends, and discursive reflections. I do not feel sufficient confidence in it to send it to you without hearing that you would like to see it. If I were an editor I think I should ask the writer to try again; and perhaps on that ground you might like to see it, or shall I suggest to him to try again, proprio Marte?
Ever faithfully yours
G. H. Lewes.
My paper won't be ready for this number.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: Cross, I, 421.
Park Shot | Saturday.
My dear Sir
I have communicated your letter to my clerical friend, who, though somewhat discouraged by it, has taken my advice and will submit the second story to you when it is written. At present he has only written what he sent you. His avocations, he informs me, will prevent his setting to work for the next three weeks or so; but as soon as he is at liberty he will begin. 763
I rate the story much higher than you appear to do from certain expressions in your note, though you too appreciate the humour and pathos and the happy turn of expression. It struck me as being fresher than any story I have read for a long while, and as exhibiting in a high degree that faculty which I find to be the rarest of all, viz. the dramatic ventriloquism. At the same time I told him that I perfectly understood your editorial caution in not accepting from an unknown hand a series on the strength of one specimen.
I have another paper sent to me by another friend -- the Rev. George Tugwell -- who is mentioned in Sea-Side Studies as the gentleman so honorably known to the Anemones of Devonshire, and whose recent book on Sea Anemones is much praised by the critics. 764 He is a pleasant writer and might I think be a contributor you would approve. Perhaps you read a paper of his I sent to Frazer a little while since on Science at the Sea-Side?
His present paper is "Wanderings on Exmoor." It is very slight, but agreeably written; contains some descriptions, three legends, and discursive reflections. I do not feel sufficient confidence in it to send it to you without hearing that you would like to see it. If I were an editor I think I should ask the writer to try again; and perhaps on that ground you might like to see it, or shall I suggest to him to try again, proprio Marte?
Ever faithfully yours
G. H. Lewes.
My paper won't be ready for this number.
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to John Blackwood, Richmond, [15 November 1856], 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/94720