John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 4 July 1860
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 4 July 1860
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 4 July 1860
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1860-07-04
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 4 July 1860
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | July 4/60.
My Dear Madam
Your welcome letter from Berne only reached me on Sunday having, owing to the stupidity of mine host of the Cavendish, wandered about Derbyshire instead of coming direct here. Your note today and intelligence from Langford of Lewes' appearance in the Row gives me the pleasant news of your being again well and comfortable in your old quarters at Holly Lodge. I begin to regret that I did not wait in London until you returned as I should have liked a chat with you of all things.
If the grand secret cannot be trusted to writing, I shall still more regret not having had a pleasant converse and luncheon at Holly Lodge. Such a meeting would have refreshed me after five weeks of London turmoil, which is to me nowadays very tiresome.
I inclose Sir Edward's letter. 577 I did not see much of him when I was in Town as he was chiefly at Knebworth and I was unfortunately engaged when he asked me to go there. His health is wonderfully restored, indeed I do not think I have seen him looking so well for the last ten years. The best general point in his criticism is I think in the distinction between the painful and the disagreeable, and it is good to hear the author of Lucretia 578 on that point. I do not by any means expect that you will agree with the application, and I see readily how you can answer what he says about position, but in the main I think the letter is a very good one and gratifying, as the tone of consideration in which the big fellow writes shows how thoroughly he feels that he is speaking about another very big fellow. As to imitation of Dickens, 579 I know there is none and the only involuntary likeness that struck me was in one or two phrases of Mrs. Pullet as in the dropsy case.
The Newspaper reviews would neither amuse nor instruct you so I daresay you are wise in deciding not to look at them.
The Major sends his best remembrances and believe me
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. M. E. Lewes
Recollect that I am a first-rate hand at keeping a secret.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | July 4/60.
My Dear Madam
Your welcome letter from Berne only reached me on Sunday having, owing to the stupidity of mine host of the Cavendish, wandered about Derbyshire instead of coming direct here. Your note today and intelligence from Langford of Lewes' appearance in the Row gives me the pleasant news of your being again well and comfortable in your old quarters at Holly Lodge. I begin to regret that I did not wait in London until you returned as I should have liked a chat with you of all things.
If the grand secret cannot be trusted to writing, I shall still more regret not having had a pleasant converse and luncheon at Holly Lodge. Such a meeting would have refreshed me after five weeks of London turmoil, which is to me nowadays very tiresome.
I inclose Sir Edward's letter. 577 I did not see much of him when I was in Town as he was chiefly at Knebworth and I was unfortunately engaged when he asked me to go there. His health is wonderfully restored, indeed I do not think I have seen him looking so well for the last ten years. The best general point in his criticism is I think in the distinction between the painful and the disagreeable, and it is good to hear the author of Lucretia 578 on that point. I do not by any means expect that you will agree with the application, and I see readily how you can answer what he says about position, but in the main I think the letter is a very good one and gratifying, as the tone of consideration in which the big fellow writes shows how thoroughly he feels that he is speaking about another very big fellow. As to imitation of Dickens, 579 I know there is none and the only involuntary likeness that struck me was in one or two phrases of Mrs. Pullet as in the dropsy case.
The Newspaper reviews would neither amuse nor instruct you so I daresay you are wise in deciding not to look at them.
The Major sends his best remembrances and believe me
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. M. E. Lewes
Recollect that I am a first-rate hand at keeping a secret.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 4 July 1860, 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/95278