John Blackwood to GE, London, 29 June 1859
Title
John Blackwood to GE, London, 29 June 1859
Title
John Blackwood to GE, London, 29 June 1859
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1859-06-29
Place
London
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, London, 29 June 1859
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
The Cavendish | June 29/59.
My Dear George Eliot
I expected to have seen Delane last night and given him your letter but on calling for him on my way to Greenwich I found a note that he could not go with me. I had therefore no opportunity of asking him to insert either the original or the amended letter. I think you should be very shy of going against his advice and doubtless he thinks he has done enough -- nothing on the subject having appeared in the paper since our letters which were as conclusive as possible.
Remember that the general public know nothing of the way in which we are bothered and the mass of people would think that we were kicking up a disturbance about something for which they cared nothing. 188
Neither the stupid Quirk nor the aggravating Selina Bracebridge 189 have ever said that they had seen a M.S. and neither your friend Mrs. Bodichon nor S.G.O's statements 190 about M.S. were things that we could rely or act upon. Depend upon it that if S.G.O. could have got anything positive about a M.S. being shown he would not have neglected such an opportunity of writing either to me or to the Times.
If you still continue determined on publishing I incline for the original letter rather than the diluted one as the latter is nothing more than we have already said nor indeed in substantials is the original document. What ever you send to me I will send to Delane and he of course will do as he thinks fit. When I gave him the letter on Monday he made no objections to publishing and he must have given the matter some consideration afterwards which shows a friendly feeling towards you on his part. Observe too that if you do not publish now in deference to his suggestion you secure in him a fast and potent friend to expose any more serious and definite attempt at fraud. One of my main objections to the letter is that when you talk of branding as an impostor etc. people will think you are angry instead of treating the idiots with the contempt you feel.
The Major and I propose coming up to see you on Saturday about one o'clock. We would come tomorrow or next day but we have some engagements which make it impossible for us to fix positively. If Lewes is in Town ask him to give us a chance. 191 We dine at home tonight. Confound Bracebridge Quirk Liggins and Co. for making me write so long a note.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
The Cavendish | June 29/59.
My Dear George Eliot
I expected to have seen Delane last night and given him your letter but on calling for him on my way to Greenwich I found a note that he could not go with me. I had therefore no opportunity of asking him to insert either the original or the amended letter. I think you should be very shy of going against his advice and doubtless he thinks he has done enough -- nothing on the subject having appeared in the paper since our letters which were as conclusive as possible.
Remember that the general public know nothing of the way in which we are bothered and the mass of people would think that we were kicking up a disturbance about something for which they cared nothing. 188
Neither the stupid Quirk nor the aggravating Selina Bracebridge 189 have ever said that they had seen a M.S. and neither your friend Mrs. Bodichon nor S.G.O's statements 190 about M.S. were things that we could rely or act upon. Depend upon it that if S.G.O. could have got anything positive about a M.S. being shown he would not have neglected such an opportunity of writing either to me or to the Times.
If you still continue determined on publishing I incline for the original letter rather than the diluted one as the latter is nothing more than we have already said nor indeed in substantials is the original document. What ever you send to me I will send to Delane and he of course will do as he thinks fit. When I gave him the letter on Monday he made no objections to publishing and he must have given the matter some consideration afterwards which shows a friendly feeling towards you on his part. Observe too that if you do not publish now in deference to his suggestion you secure in him a fast and potent friend to expose any more serious and definite attempt at fraud. One of my main objections to the letter is that when you talk of branding as an impostor etc. people will think you are angry instead of treating the idiots with the contempt you feel.
The Major and I propose coming up to see you on Saturday about one o'clock. We would come tomorrow or next day but we have some engagements which make it impossible for us to fix positively. If Lewes is in Town ask him to give us a chance. 191 We dine at home tonight. Confound Bracebridge Quirk Liggins and Co. for making me write so long a note.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, London, 29 June 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/95315