GHL to John Blackwood, Richmond, [7 November 1857]
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, Richmond, [7 November 1857]
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, Richmond, [7 November 1857]
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1857-11-07
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GHL to John Blackwood, Richmond, [7 November 1857]
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: II, 395.
Park Shot | Saturday.
My dear Blackwood
Your suggestion about turning the paper on Phrenology into a Letter is very good and obviates all difficulties.
My knowledge of Chemistry is almost exclusively in the direction of Organic Chemistry, but as this is the ground occupied by Johnston 348 I feel able to undertake the editing of his book, so as to bring it up to the present state of Science. Pray observe that I construe the passage in your letter as a suggestion rather than a proposition on your part; and it is in that spirit I reply to it. I feel that, if called upon, I could do the work, and say so. But I should not like my name to appear. It is doubtful whether any but a very attractive name would be of much service to a book so popular and so respected; but it is certain that mine, not being that of a chemist, would be of no value whatever.
Having answered explicitly for myself, let me add that if you can alight upon a good man who will do the work well and put his name to it, there will be every reason to place it in his hands.
What number do you propose to print of "Seaside Studies,"? and at what price?
I am sorry to say "Thorndale" does not greatly interest me, in spite of my old regard for the author. Some years ago I dare say I should have read it with pleasure; but the age of doubt and vacillation has passed and I want something solid, or seeming solid whereon to stand and look about me. The book is charmingly written, but I think its structure a mistake. Don't tell him so, however. If the public likes it, he won't believe me; if the public doesn't like it, he will find out the mistake fast enough.
Ever faithfully yours
G. H. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: II, 395.
Park Shot | Saturday.
My dear Blackwood
Your suggestion about turning the paper on Phrenology into a Letter is very good and obviates all difficulties.
My knowledge of Chemistry is almost exclusively in the direction of Organic Chemistry, but as this is the ground occupied by Johnston 348 I feel able to undertake the editing of his book, so as to bring it up to the present state of Science. Pray observe that I construe the passage in your letter as a suggestion rather than a proposition on your part; and it is in that spirit I reply to it. I feel that, if called upon, I could do the work, and say so. But I should not like my name to appear. It is doubtful whether any but a very attractive name would be of much service to a book so popular and so respected; but it is certain that mine, not being that of a chemist, would be of no value whatever.
Having answered explicitly for myself, let me add that if you can alight upon a good man who will do the work well and put his name to it, there will be every reason to place it in his hands.
What number do you propose to print of "Seaside Studies,"? and at what price?
I am sorry to say "Thorndale" does not greatly interest me, in spite of my old regard for the author. Some years ago I dare say I should have read it with pleasure; but the age of doubt and vacillation has passed and I want something solid, or seeming solid whereon to stand and look about me. The book is charmingly written, but I think its structure a mistake. Don't tell him so, however. If the public likes it, he won't believe me; if the public doesn't like it, he will find out the mistake fast enough.
Ever faithfully yours
G. H. Lewes.
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to John Blackwood, Richmond, [7 November 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/94741