Henry George Bohn to GHL, London, 18 June 1856
Title
Henry George Bohn to GHL, London, 18 June 1856
Title
Henry George Bohn to GHL, London, 18 June 1856
Sender
Henry George Bohn
Recipient
George Henry Lewes
Date(s)
- 1856-06-18
Place
London
Letter Content
Henry George Bohn to GHL, London, 18 June 1856
MS: Yale.
4, 5, & 6, York Street, Covent Garden.
June 18th 1856.
Sir
My letter was not insulting, or intended to be so, nor am I accustomed to have my word disbelieved by honest men, having never intentionally uttered anything which I could not verify, although knaves would willingly have it otherwise. When you can prove anything to the contrary I will present you with all I have.
If after a delay of two years in producing your volume I have forgotten the particulars of a memorandum drawn up by my son, and of which I have no copy, there is not much to be wondered at, and you have no right to take offence at my wishing to see it. I never proposed to deny an agreement between us, but meant to see it, telling you at the same time that I should conform to it although not signed.
There could be no use whatever in written agreements if they are not to be consulted in case of doubt. As a literary man I should have been glad for the honor of the fraternity that your letter had been couched in more gentlemanly phrase. The manuscript has been sent as you directed, to 352 Strand.
Yours respectfully,
Henry G. Bohn.
G. H. Lewis, Esq.
MS: Yale.
4, 5, & 6, York Street, Covent Garden.
June 18th 1856.
Sir
My letter was not insulting, or intended to be so, nor am I accustomed to have my word disbelieved by honest men, having never intentionally uttered anything which I could not verify, although knaves would willingly have it otherwise. When you can prove anything to the contrary I will present you with all I have.
If after a delay of two years in producing your volume I have forgotten the particulars of a memorandum drawn up by my son, and of which I have no copy, there is not much to be wondered at, and you have no right to take offence at my wishing to see it. I never proposed to deny an agreement between us, but meant to see it, telling you at the same time that I should conform to it although not signed.
There could be no use whatever in written agreements if they are not to be consulted in case of doubt. As a literary man I should have been glad for the honor of the fraternity that your letter had been couched in more gentlemanly phrase. The manuscript has been sent as you directed, to 352 Strand.
Yours respectfully,
Henry G. Bohn.
G. H. Lewis, Esq.
Signature
Henry G. Bohn.
Citation
Henry George Bohn, Henry George Bohn to GHL, London, 18 June 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/95123