John Blackwood to GHL, St. Andrews, 18 September 1871
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, St. Andrews, 18 September 1871
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, St. Andrews, 18 September 1871
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Henry Lewes
Date(s)
- 1871-09-18
Place
St. Andrews
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GHL, St. Andrews, 18 September 1871
Text: Copy in Blackwood Letter Book. Hitherto unpublished.
Strathtyrum | St. Andrews | September 18/71.
My Dear Lewes
I have had over several specimens of page for Middlemarch but none that pleases me. The enclosed is I think the right size of paper but I am clear for having less in the page. An opener page will make the book bulk more like the money to the buyer and, is also of importance to the reader when the matter is so fine and so close as in Middlemarch. The increase of bulk will make a slight difference in our Estimates but a mere bagatelle of no importance for either of us in comparison with the probable advantage to the book. By some mysterious oversight Willie has not brought me the Advertisement but doubtless it will turn up tomorrow.
I am as pleased as a child with Mrs. Lewes and you liking my speech so much and thinking you heard me. I had the feeling myself that nobody could have said what I did, and said it so truly.
We had a most glorious Highland Expedition, the weather being simply perfect. My greatest pleasure however was seeing the way my boy entered into the Glories of Ben Lomond and Stobinian. One evening when we were gazing at the Mountains he exclaimed, "By Jingo, Papa, after I shot 366 that partridge I thought of asking you to let me remain at home to shoot, but now I am awfully glad that I came." He is frightfully backward in everything but I would rather have heard that little speech than have seen him do the best latin verses that ever were compiled.
Ever Yours Truly
(signed) John Blackwood.
Text: Copy in Blackwood Letter Book. Hitherto unpublished.
Strathtyrum | St. Andrews | September 18/71.
My Dear Lewes
I have had over several specimens of page for Middlemarch but none that pleases me. The enclosed is I think the right size of paper but I am clear for having less in the page. An opener page will make the book bulk more like the money to the buyer and, is also of importance to the reader when the matter is so fine and so close as in Middlemarch. The increase of bulk will make a slight difference in our Estimates but a mere bagatelle of no importance for either of us in comparison with the probable advantage to the book. By some mysterious oversight Willie has not brought me the Advertisement but doubtless it will turn up tomorrow.
I am as pleased as a child with Mrs. Lewes and you liking my speech so much and thinking you heard me. I had the feeling myself that nobody could have said what I did, and said it so truly.
We had a most glorious Highland Expedition, the weather being simply perfect. My greatest pleasure however was seeing the way my boy entered into the Glories of Ben Lomond and Stobinian. One evening when we were gazing at the Mountains he exclaimed, "By Jingo, Papa, after I shot 366 that partridge I thought of asking you to let me remain at home to shoot, but now I am awfully glad that I came." He is frightfully backward in everything but I would rather have heard that little speech than have seen him do the best latin verses that ever were compiled.
Ever Yours Truly
(signed) John Blackwood.
Signature
(signed) John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GHL, St. Andrews, 18 September 1871, 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/95436