John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 27 April 1859
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 27 April 1859
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 27 April 1859
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1859-04-27
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 27 April 1859
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | April 27/59.
My Dear George Eliot
The sale of Adam goes on and the 750 are pretty well exhausted now. 500 more are being got ready 115 to supply the public appetite which it is to be hoped will continue healthy and good. We propose also to print at once an edition in two volumes small 8'b0ree; to sell for 12/. Let me know if you wish to make any alterations or corrections.
We did not write to the Times about the Liggins delusion, as we thought our doing so might be misinterpreted as a publishing dodge to reraise the discussion and stimulate curiosity. Also we did not think it wise, as some of the myrmidons of the press do not seem disposed to admit an author's right to privacy, and a sharp protest from us without any immediate call for it might further tempt the fellows to make your case the battle field of the question. That there is such a tendency you may see from the last number of the Leader and the Critic. 116 I think I see Lewes' astonishment and indignation when he read the Leader.
I wrote in the most distinct terms to "the auld sap at Hazlewood" 117 (Atherstone Hall) telling him that you were not Liggins and required assistance from no man. Of course he only shakes his foolish old head and says he knows better. 118
The inclosed came from Sir E. Lytton 119 today and will, I hope, please you. I think more of it than of any of the tributes you have met with, as no one can deny his experience and he is not given to extravagant laudation. He really is a great man, Sir Edward. He thinks and works so much and has such a head to think and work with.
Dallas writes to me 120 that a lot of little Tracts -- "The Fear of the Lord," "Repentance unto Life" etc. -- have come to him from Warwickshire as the Reviewer of Adam Bede. It is rather curious, as he is the writer of a paper in the present number on Tracts. 121
I am in daily expectation of the Tale.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
This note should have gone to you yesterday but I was interrupted by the conclusive War News 122 and could do nothing but look at maps and discuss and think of the contingencies for the rest of the day. Let me have back Bulwer's note; it is the first I have had from him since his illness.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | April 27/59.
My Dear George Eliot
The sale of Adam goes on and the 750 are pretty well exhausted now. 500 more are being got ready 115 to supply the public appetite which it is to be hoped will continue healthy and good. We propose also to print at once an edition in two volumes small 8'b0ree; to sell for 12/. Let me know if you wish to make any alterations or corrections.
We did not write to the Times about the Liggins delusion, as we thought our doing so might be misinterpreted as a publishing dodge to reraise the discussion and stimulate curiosity. Also we did not think it wise, as some of the myrmidons of the press do not seem disposed to admit an author's right to privacy, and a sharp protest from us without any immediate call for it might further tempt the fellows to make your case the battle field of the question. That there is such a tendency you may see from the last number of the Leader and the Critic. 116 I think I see Lewes' astonishment and indignation when he read the Leader.
I wrote in the most distinct terms to "the auld sap at Hazlewood" 117 (Atherstone Hall) telling him that you were not Liggins and required assistance from no man. Of course he only shakes his foolish old head and says he knows better. 118
The inclosed came from Sir E. Lytton 119 today and will, I hope, please you. I think more of it than of any of the tributes you have met with, as no one can deny his experience and he is not given to extravagant laudation. He really is a great man, Sir Edward. He thinks and works so much and has such a head to think and work with.
Dallas writes to me 120 that a lot of little Tracts -- "The Fear of the Lord," "Repentance unto Life" etc. -- have come to him from Warwickshire as the Reviewer of Adam Bede. It is rather curious, as he is the writer of a paper in the present number on Tracts. 121
I am in daily expectation of the Tale.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
This note should have gone to you yesterday but I was interrupted by the conclusive War News 122 and could do nothing but look at maps and discuss and think of the contingencies for the rest of the day. Let me have back Bulwer's note; it is the first I have had from him since his illness.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 27 April 1859, 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/95244