John Blackwood to GE, St. Andrews, 4 August 1874
Title
John Blackwood to GE, St. Andrews, 4 August 1874
Title
John Blackwood to GE, St. Andrews, 4 August 1874
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1874-08-04
Place
St. Andrews
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, St. Andrews, 4 August 1874
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: John Blackwood, pp. 384-385.
Strathtyrum | St. Andrews | N.B.
August 4/74.
My Dear Mrs. Lewes
I have such good news to give of Middlemarch, Jubal, and also Spanish Gypsy that I write a line to report progress.
Of the 7/6 edition of Middlemarch we printed 3150 in May and 2100 in the latter part of June. The above are all disposed of and we have just reprinted 2100 more of which the first batch went off to Pater Noster Row the other day to supply orders. The success of Middlemarch has also exercized a benign influence on the sale of the other novels.
Of Jubal you are aware that the first edition 1609 copies is gone and we subscribed 247 of the second edition in London. Of the Spanish Gypsy I see we have sold 107 copies between December and July. This is all good and must I think make you turn to a new work with fresh confidence that you are not writing in vain. News of how that work is getting on will be very welcome.
I hope you are both well and enjoying this delightful weather in the country. It is charming here and even my daughter feels that there is enjoyment apart from London gaieties. As we drove through Regent St. to the Railway Station she exclaimed "Oh Papa, don't you wish we were coming in instead of going away? How bright and gay everything is." It was positively a wet foggy day.
Major Lockhart came over to us a few days ago with loud talk of shutting himself up in his room and working. The scoundrel has never been off the Links since his arrival. The other day I played a match with the Whig whip W. Adam 135 just relieved from his weary duties in the House of Commons. When we were a few holes out he exclaimed fervently, "This is a great, glorious, and noble game. There is nothing like it in the world." He was a little ahead of me at the time I think, but we were quite agreed.
In addition to the usual entertainments of the place we had a famous military week the Fife Mounted Rifles drilling in one of the Parks here. Willie turned out with them and their colonel, that mighty hunter Jack Anstruther Thomson, 136 stayed with us. You will have heard of Thomson in former days as Master of the Pytchley and also of the Atherstone. He told me a good one of Newdegate. He (T) had got a fall and broken one of the small bones of his leg. No one of course could be kinder than Newdegate, but when he had got his friend into the most comfortable possible position he began at once about the Jesuits. On which exclaimed the tortured Thomson, "My dear Charlie, you have done everything for me that man can until the Doctor comes and the hounds are running -- pray ride on." I remember him telling me this story long ago and I never can think of it without laughing as it is so characteristic of both men.
All the world comes to St. Andrews and among others we have at present that great Oxford Don the Dean of Christ-church. 137 Liddell's
Greek Lexicon Lewes probably will know and have suffered under. He is a most agreeable old gentleman and along with his fair daughters walked round with Lockhart and me in our match yesterday. For the honour of learning I am happy to say he showed intelligence about the Game.
My son is at home for the holidays and I think you would like him. He has a strong turn for humour which he developes with much gravity.
With best remembrances to Lewes, I am always
yours truly
John Blackwood.
I cannot remember your Country address so must send this into Edinburgh to be posted. Willie is with us and he and my wife are gone out riding and I am now going to walk down to the Club to hear the Golfers retail their day's performances.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: John Blackwood, pp. 384-385.
Strathtyrum | St. Andrews | N.B.
August 4/74.
My Dear Mrs. Lewes
I have such good news to give of Middlemarch, Jubal, and also Spanish Gypsy that I write a line to report progress.
Of the 7/6 edition of Middlemarch we printed 3150 in May and 2100 in the latter part of June. The above are all disposed of and we have just reprinted 2100 more of which the first batch went off to Pater Noster Row the other day to supply orders. The success of Middlemarch has also exercized a benign influence on the sale of the other novels.
Of Jubal you are aware that the first edition 1609 copies is gone and we subscribed 247 of the second edition in London. Of the Spanish Gypsy I see we have sold 107 copies between December and July. This is all good and must I think make you turn to a new work with fresh confidence that you are not writing in vain. News of how that work is getting on will be very welcome.
I hope you are both well and enjoying this delightful weather in the country. It is charming here and even my daughter feels that there is enjoyment apart from London gaieties. As we drove through Regent St. to the Railway Station she exclaimed "Oh Papa, don't you wish we were coming in instead of going away? How bright and gay everything is." It was positively a wet foggy day.
Major Lockhart came over to us a few days ago with loud talk of shutting himself up in his room and working. The scoundrel has never been off the Links since his arrival. The other day I played a match with the Whig whip W. Adam 135 just relieved from his weary duties in the House of Commons. When we were a few holes out he exclaimed fervently, "This is a great, glorious, and noble game. There is nothing like it in the world." He was a little ahead of me at the time I think, but we were quite agreed.
In addition to the usual entertainments of the place we had a famous military week the Fife Mounted Rifles drilling in one of the Parks here. Willie turned out with them and their colonel, that mighty hunter Jack Anstruther Thomson, 136 stayed with us. You will have heard of Thomson in former days as Master of the Pytchley and also of the Atherstone. He told me a good one of Newdegate. He (T) had got a fall and broken one of the small bones of his leg. No one of course could be kinder than Newdegate, but when he had got his friend into the most comfortable possible position he began at once about the Jesuits. On which exclaimed the tortured Thomson, "My dear Charlie, you have done everything for me that man can until the Doctor comes and the hounds are running -- pray ride on." I remember him telling me this story long ago and I never can think of it without laughing as it is so characteristic of both men.
All the world comes to St. Andrews and among others we have at present that great Oxford Don the Dean of Christ-church. 137 Liddell's
Greek Lexicon Lewes probably will know and have suffered under. He is a most agreeable old gentleman and along with his fair daughters walked round with Lockhart and me in our match yesterday. For the honour of learning I am happy to say he showed intelligence about the Game.
My son is at home for the holidays and I think you would like him. He has a strong turn for humour which he developes with much gravity.
With best remembrances to Lewes, I am always
yours truly
John Blackwood.
I cannot remember your Country address so must send this into Edinburgh to be posted. Willie is with us and he and my wife are gone out riding and I am now going to walk down to the Club to hear the Golfers retail their day's performances.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, St. Andrews, 4 August 1874, 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/95339