John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 27 February 1857
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 27 February 1857
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 27 February 1857
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1857-02-27
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 27 February 1857
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | February 27/57.
Dear George Eliot
I have the pleasure of inclosing a cheque £21. in acknowledgment of the first part of Mr. Gilfil's Love Story. Having written to Lewes and you so recently I need not repeat my laudations of Mr. Gilfil.
Yesterday afternoon I read over the proof of part two which I now send to you. I am truly happy to say that it seems to me admirable. When I first read the M.S. the night was so far advanced that my eyes as I drew towards the end were beginning to get weary, and although
I arrived substantially at the same opinion of the merits of Part 2 as I now entertain, I do not know that I fully appreciated all the excellences and beauties of this portion of the Story. On the proof I have marked one or two trifling points for your consideration. very truly yours
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
P.S. The cheque will require Lewes' signature.
Of your two adverse critics to whom I alluded before -- Hamley adheres to his first opinion but admits that as far as he can judge the public agree with me, of which he is very glad. Aytoun, 810 the other, has not said much but I think he begins to be of opinion that I was right. One of his reasons for not liking Amos was comical enough. "Confound you, you had praised it so much before I saw it that I could not be otherwise than disappointed." There is a good deal in the feeling he alludes to, and I do not know how I was so injudicious as to raise his expectations so highly.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | February 27/57.
Dear George Eliot
I have the pleasure of inclosing a cheque £21. in acknowledgment of the first part of Mr. Gilfil's Love Story. Having written to Lewes and you so recently I need not repeat my laudations of Mr. Gilfil.
Yesterday afternoon I read over the proof of part two which I now send to you. I am truly happy to say that it seems to me admirable. When I first read the M.S. the night was so far advanced that my eyes as I drew towards the end were beginning to get weary, and although
I arrived substantially at the same opinion of the merits of Part 2 as I now entertain, I do not know that I fully appreciated all the excellences and beauties of this portion of the Story. On the proof I have marked one or two trifling points for your consideration. very truly yours
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
P.S. The cheque will require Lewes' signature.
Of your two adverse critics to whom I alluded before -- Hamley adheres to his first opinion but admits that as far as he can judge the public agree with me, of which he is very glad. Aytoun, 810 the other, has not said much but I think he begins to be of opinion that I was right. One of his reasons for not liking Amos was comical enough. "Confound you, you had praised it so much before I saw it that I could not be otherwise than disappointed." There is a good deal in the feeling he alludes to, and I do not know how I was so injudicious as to raise his expectations so highly.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 27 February 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/95245