" [Footnote: George Eliot's Life, edited by J. W.
Cross, vol. i.]
The correspondence between these two notable women was begun by Mrs.
Stowe, and called forth the following extremely interesting letter
from the distinguished English novelist:--
THE PRIORY, 21 NORTH BANK, _May_ 8,1869.
MY DEAR FRIEND,--I value very highly the warrant to call you friend
which your letter has given me. It lay awaiting me on our return the
other night from a nine weeks' absence in Italy, and it made me almost
wish that you could have a momentary vision of the discouragement,--
nay, paralyzing despondency--in which many days of my writing life
have been passed, in order that you might fully understand the good I
find in such sympathy as yours, in such an assurance as you give me
that my work has been worth doing. But I will not dwell on any mental
sickness of mine. The best joy your words give me is the sense of that
sweet, generous feeling in you which dictated them. I shall always be
the richer because you have in this way made me know you better. I
must tell you that my first glimpse of you as a woman came through a
letter of yours, and charmed me very much. The letter was addressed to
Mrs. Follen, and one morning I called on her in London (how many years
ago!); she was kind enough to read it to me, because it contained a
little history of your life, and a sketch of your domestic
circumstances.
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