John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 14 November 1867
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 14 November 1867
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 14 November 1867
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1867-11-14
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 14 November 1867
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
George Street | Edinburgh.
November 14/67.
My Dear Madam
As far as I can remember nothing has ever leaked out from our Printing Office and the chances of publicity being given to the birth of Fidalma by a portion of her being put into type is hardly worth considering when the advantages on the other side are so obvious. There will always be rumours about what you are doing and I cannot tell you how often I have heard of your being engaged upon different works, and my simple statement of "Well I think I would have heard of it" is looked upon as a publisher's diplomatic utterance.
My advice is in favour of getting what you have ready of Fidalma into type -- then we can all coolly judge. The Printers will have no difficulty in setting the duplicate versions of occasional passages. They were I think distinctly marked in the M.S. but it may be as well to put the second of any of these alternative passages with "or" before it. In the Printing Office at present I have two more volumes of Kinglake 683 in type, and with Fidalma too the office would really be big with fate. Kinglake is wonderful and will I think make as much row as his first volumes. His style is enchanting and he does paint a picture.
I am excessively anxious that you should do an Address to the Working Men as I am thoroughly convinced that no one could do it so well. When the new Reform Bill comes into operation the working man will be on his trial and if he misconducts himself it will go hard with the country, but at all events his class would be the greatest sufferers. My own impression is that whatever swaps 684 and blockheads may have the suffrage there is intelligence and power of wealth enough to keep the country pretty straight. Do consider the matter and I shall be really obliged if you can give me an Address to the Working Man with which to begin the January number.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
George Street | Edinburgh.
November 14/67.
My Dear Madam
As far as I can remember nothing has ever leaked out from our Printing Office and the chances of publicity being given to the birth of Fidalma by a portion of her being put into type is hardly worth considering when the advantages on the other side are so obvious. There will always be rumours about what you are doing and I cannot tell you how often I have heard of your being engaged upon different works, and my simple statement of "Well I think I would have heard of it" is looked upon as a publisher's diplomatic utterance.
My advice is in favour of getting what you have ready of Fidalma into type -- then we can all coolly judge. The Printers will have no difficulty in setting the duplicate versions of occasional passages. They were I think distinctly marked in the M.S. but it may be as well to put the second of any of these alternative passages with "or" before it. In the Printing Office at present I have two more volumes of Kinglake 683 in type, and with Fidalma too the office would really be big with fate. Kinglake is wonderful and will I think make as much row as his first volumes. His style is enchanting and he does paint a picture.
I am excessively anxious that you should do an Address to the Working Men as I am thoroughly convinced that no one could do it so well. When the new Reform Bill comes into operation the working man will be on his trial and if he misconducts himself it will go hard with the country, but at all events his class would be the greatest sufferers. My own impression is that whatever swaps 684 and blockheads may have the suffrage there is intelligence and power of wealth enough to keep the country pretty straight. Do consider the matter and I shall be really obliged if you can give me an Address to the Working Man with which to begin the January number.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. Lewes.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 14 November 1867, 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/95188