Lord Lytton to GHL, Paris, 19 February 1875
Title
Lord Lytton to GHL, Paris, 19 February 1875
Title
Lord Lytton to GHL, Paris, 19 February 1875
Sender
Lord Lytton
Recipient
M
Date(s)
- 1875-02-19
Place
Paris
Letter Content
Lord Lytton to GHL, Paris, 19 February 1875
MS: Yale.
B[ritish] Embassy Paris | 19 February 1875.
My dear friend,
I begin this letter feeling like Virgil's ghost [whose voice long silence had made faint.] 271 But ever since my return to Paris, whither I was summoned by telegraph the very evening after my pleasant day in the country with you and your dear wife, my life has been one incessant fatiguing hurry -- suspended only by intervals of ill health -- my nearest approach to rest.
I write now with a special purpose. When I last saw you I had with me a printed copy of a poem which has been long between hammer and anvil, and about which I then spoke to you. You wished to see it, and I greatly wished to shew it you, but kept it by me to correct some misprints. My sudden change of place and occupation however put this and many other things for a while out of my head -- and then I began to retouch and little by little to recast the poem -- always seeing before me some further improvement to be made in it. I did not like to send it you in its transition state -- but I have now had a fresh copy printed for my own convenience -- and this copy I should greatly like to submit to you before it passes the rubicon of publication.
I remember however that when we were last together you were thinking of a flight into Egypt -- and I know not whether this letter will find you in England. If it does pray spare me a line to say whether I can forward the poem to you.
I have accepted the post to Lisbon chiefly for the sake of rest and economy which fail me here. I expect to be, with my m'e9nage, in England shortly -- probably in the course of next month -- and I think we shall not start for our new post before May, so that we count on seeing you twixt this and then. Edith joins me in numberless affectionate loves to George Elliot and yourself. How are you, dear friends?
Our friend Villers who has come from his Austrian Farm to share with us our last days at Paris, and is now staying with us greets you cordially. Pray believe me
Your ever affectionate
Lytton.
MS: Yale.
B[ritish] Embassy Paris | 19 February 1875.
My dear friend,
I begin this letter feeling like Virgil's ghost [whose voice long silence had made faint.] 271 But ever since my return to Paris, whither I was summoned by telegraph the very evening after my pleasant day in the country with you and your dear wife, my life has been one incessant fatiguing hurry -- suspended only by intervals of ill health -- my nearest approach to rest.
I write now with a special purpose. When I last saw you I had with me a printed copy of a poem which has been long between hammer and anvil, and about which I then spoke to you. You wished to see it, and I greatly wished to shew it you, but kept it by me to correct some misprints. My sudden change of place and occupation however put this and many other things for a while out of my head -- and then I began to retouch and little by little to recast the poem -- always seeing before me some further improvement to be made in it. I did not like to send it you in its transition state -- but I have now had a fresh copy printed for my own convenience -- and this copy I should greatly like to submit to you before it passes the rubicon of publication.
I remember however that when we were last together you were thinking of a flight into Egypt -- and I know not whether this letter will find you in England. If it does pray spare me a line to say whether I can forward the poem to you.
I have accepted the post to Lisbon chiefly for the sake of rest and economy which fail me here. I expect to be, with my m'e9nage, in England shortly -- probably in the course of next month -- and I think we shall not start for our new post before May, so that we count on seeing you twixt this and then. Edith joins me in numberless affectionate loves to George Elliot and yourself. How are you, dear friends?
Our friend Villers who has come from his Austrian Farm to share with us our last days at Paris, and is now staying with us greets you cordially. Pray believe me
Your ever affectionate
Lytton.
Signature
Lytton.
Citation
Lord Lytton, Lord Lytton to GHL, Paris, 19 February 1875, 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/95532