John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 22 April 1866
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 22 April 1866
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 22 April 1866
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1866-04-22
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 22 April 1866
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Randolph Crescent | April 22/66.
My Dear Madam
The Telegraph will I hope have told you of the safe arrival of your M.S. I know you will be anxious and I cannot deny myself the pleasure of writing you a hasty line to say that I think I may congratulate you with all my heart although I have only been able to read about 80 pages. It is impossible to read it hurriedly but I shall "make a night of it."
The opening picture is perfectly beautiful and so distinct. The description of Transome Court 430 has the vivid power of an old ballad. One has a feeling of oppression as one walks up to the Hall door. The characters stand out like living individual beings and one dwells upon the descriptions to feel all their beauty. The first thing that made me burst out laughing was the parson's reflections after his nephew left him. 431
I am "breaking the Sabbath" but I think even a puritan would forgive me. I agree with the worthy old Scotch Clergyman, a devoted Curler, who after finishing the service said from the pulpit, "My bretheren, there is no more harm in saying than in thinking it; if the frost holds I'll be on the ice at 10 tomorrow."
I have a lot of Magazine work which I cannot possibly postpone tomorrow so I may probably not write until Tuesday.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Randolph Crescent | April 22/66.
My Dear Madam
The Telegraph will I hope have told you of the safe arrival of your M.S. I know you will be anxious and I cannot deny myself the pleasure of writing you a hasty line to say that I think I may congratulate you with all my heart although I have only been able to read about 80 pages. It is impossible to read it hurriedly but I shall "make a night of it."
The opening picture is perfectly beautiful and so distinct. The description of Transome Court 430 has the vivid power of an old ballad. One has a feeling of oppression as one walks up to the Hall door. The characters stand out like living individual beings and one dwells upon the descriptions to feel all their beauty. The first thing that made me burst out laughing was the parson's reflections after his nephew left him. 431
I am "breaking the Sabbath" but I think even a puritan would forgive me. I agree with the worthy old Scotch Clergyman, a devoted Curler, who after finishing the service said from the pulpit, "My bretheren, there is no more harm in saying than in thinking it; if the frost holds I'll be on the ice at 10 tomorrow."
I have a lot of Magazine work which I cannot possibly postpone tomorrow so I may probably not write until Tuesday.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. Lewes.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 22 April 1866, 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/95225