John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 28 November 1859
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 28 November 1859
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 28 November 1859
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1859-11-28
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 28 November 1859
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | November 28/59.
My Dear Madam
In reply to your note I beg to say that I cannot recollect any expression of mine which implied anything like disinclination to continue to act as your publisher and the expectation of not continuing to do so arose from your recent letter 407 which changed both my brother's mind and my own.
I am glad you have written this note as it shows there has been some misapprehension on your part and it gives me the opportunity of trying to put an end to it as also of being frank with you.
I was very much annoyed or rather, I should say, hurt at the tone in which my offer for the new novel was replied to and also at the very dry way in which our conduct in doubling the purchase money of Adam Bede was acknowledged.
In regard to the new Novel other people may take a more sanguine view than I do of what it will produce and to secure a great popular author may offer a sum such as I would neither think it right nor prudent to give. If such offer has been made, I would be the very last man who would wish for a moment to stand in the way of your doing what you thought best for yourself, but I think I should have been told so frankly instead of having my offer treated as if it were not worth consideration at all.
As to the withdrawal of the incognito, you know how much I have been opposed to it all along. It may prove a disadvantage and in the eyes of many it will, but my opinion of your genius and confidence in the truly good, honest, religious, and moral tone of all you have written or will write is such that I think you will overcome any possible detriment from the withdrawal of the mystery which has so far taken place. Believe me
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | November 28/59.
My Dear Madam
In reply to your note I beg to say that I cannot recollect any expression of mine which implied anything like disinclination to continue to act as your publisher and the expectation of not continuing to do so arose from your recent letter 407 which changed both my brother's mind and my own.
I am glad you have written this note as it shows there has been some misapprehension on your part and it gives me the opportunity of trying to put an end to it as also of being frank with you.
I was very much annoyed or rather, I should say, hurt at the tone in which my offer for the new novel was replied to and also at the very dry way in which our conduct in doubling the purchase money of Adam Bede was acknowledged.
In regard to the new Novel other people may take a more sanguine view than I do of what it will produce and to secure a great popular author may offer a sum such as I would neither think it right nor prudent to give. If such offer has been made, I would be the very last man who would wish for a moment to stand in the way of your doing what you thought best for yourself, but I think I should have been told so frankly instead of having my offer treated as if it were not worth consideration at all.
As to the withdrawal of the incognito, you know how much I have been opposed to it all along. It may prove a disadvantage and in the eyes of many it will, but my opinion of your genius and confidence in the truly good, honest, religious, and moral tone of all you have written or will write is such that I think you will overcome any possible detriment from the withdrawal of the mystery which has so far taken place. Believe me
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. Lewes.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 28 November 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/95254