John Morley to GE, Brighton, 5 December 1878
Title
John Morley to GE, Brighton, 5 December 1878
Title
John Morley to GE, Brighton, 5 December 1878
Sender
John Morley
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1878-12-05
Place
Brighton
Letter Content
John Morley to GE, Brighton, 5 December 1878
MS: Balliol College.
Chesham Place, | Brighton | December 5. 78.
Dear Mrs. Lewes
I cannot help writing to say to you how deeply I sympathise with you in the sorrow that has fallen upon you. It is very grievous and irreparable. We must all feel that we have lost one of the most vivid, helpful, and encouraging of our friends; but to you it is very different from this -- a loss for which there can be no words.
I have often thought of that night when you bade farewell to the Lyttons, saying how little likely it was that we should all five of us ever meet again. 472 And now we never shall meet again.
The last time that I heard from him was when -- some weeks ago -- he wrote me a friendly and encouraging word about a book of mine. 473 It is indeed sorrowful to think that the light of so gifted and brilliant a spirit should have gone out, while there still remained such power of ever fresh illumination. His gifts can at least never be forgotten by any who knew him, and his ideas and influence will continue among thousands who never knew him. With sincere sorrow and sympathy in your grief, believe me,
Always yours most faithfully,
John Morley.
MS: Balliol College.
Chesham Place, | Brighton | December 5. 78.
Dear Mrs. Lewes
I cannot help writing to say to you how deeply I sympathise with you in the sorrow that has fallen upon you. It is very grievous and irreparable. We must all feel that we have lost one of the most vivid, helpful, and encouraging of our friends; but to you it is very different from this -- a loss for which there can be no words.
I have often thought of that night when you bade farewell to the Lyttons, saying how little likely it was that we should all five of us ever meet again. 472 And now we never shall meet again.
The last time that I heard from him was when -- some weeks ago -- he wrote me a friendly and encouraging word about a book of mine. 473 It is indeed sorrowful to think that the light of so gifted and brilliant a spirit should have gone out, while there still remained such power of ever fresh illumination. His gifts can at least never be forgotten by any who knew him, and his ideas and influence will continue among thousands who never knew him. With sincere sorrow and sympathy in your grief, believe me,
Always yours most faithfully,
John Morley.
Signature
John Morley.
Citation
John Morley, John Morley to GE, Brighton, 5 December 1878, 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/95504