GHL to John Blackwood, St Mary's, [3 May 1857]
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, St Mary's, [3 May 1857]
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, St Mary's, [3 May 1857]
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1857-05-03
Place
St Mary's
Letter Content
GHL to John Blackwood, St Mary's, [3 May 1857]
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: June 1857. Hitherto unpublished.
Scilly Isles | Sunday.
My dear Blackwood
I am not at all sorry you deferred the article. 851 The sight of the proof and the extra time given for No. 2 are decided advantages. I shall cut out the objectionable faeces altogether. But you must confess it is an awful wet blanket on a writer's shoulders, that terror of lady readers, and what they will exclaim against. I am tempted to exclaim with Charles Lamb "Hang up the ladies! I will write for antiquity." 852 The passage you object to about giving way to desires was playful but I perceive it may be misinterpreted and shall change it altogether.
I have sent proof and letters to G.E. He will be much pleased with them. You cannot think how shy and diffident he is, and how much it takes to persuade him that what he writes is worth anything. Not a common failing with us scribes, is it?
I strike my tents on the 11th for Jersey. When settled there I will let you know.
Ever faithfully yours
G. H. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Endorsed: June 1857. Hitherto unpublished.
Scilly Isles | Sunday.
My dear Blackwood
I am not at all sorry you deferred the article. 851 The sight of the proof and the extra time given for No. 2 are decided advantages. I shall cut out the objectionable faeces altogether. But you must confess it is an awful wet blanket on a writer's shoulders, that terror of lady readers, and what they will exclaim against. I am tempted to exclaim with Charles Lamb "Hang up the ladies! I will write for antiquity." 852 The passage you object to about giving way to desires was playful but I perceive it may be misinterpreted and shall change it altogether.
I have sent proof and letters to G.E. He will be much pleased with them. You cannot think how shy and diffident he is, and how much it takes to persuade him that what he writes is worth anything. Not a common failing with us scribes, is it?
I strike my tents on the 11th for Jersey. When settled there I will let you know.
Ever faithfully yours
G. H. Lewes.
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to John Blackwood, St Mary's, [3 May 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/94768