George Eliot Letter: CR3989/5/4/17 pages 1 and 4

Title

Letter to Frederick Evans from E Butterworth

 

Date

8 Nov 1907

 

Description

Letter to Frederick from E Butterworth, whose mother knew George Eliot, as they went to school together. Written from The Sycamores, Balsall Heath, Birmingham. Signed E Butterworth.

 

Transcript

12 The Sycamores

Clifton Road

Balsall Heath

Birmingham

Nov 8th 1907

 

Reverend Sir,

 

Having read an article from your pen giving a few glimpses of the early years of "George Eliot" - (Mary Ann Evans) - I thought perhaps a few facts might prove interesting to you.

 

My deceased Mother was Burn and lived (until her marriage in the year 1846) within walking distance of the house at "Griff" where Miss Evans spent the early years of girlhood.

 

My Mother accompanied the young girl in School both being pupils. I remember my mother speaking of Mary Ann Evans as a most retiring and sensitive girl. Both attended the Ladies School kept by Miss Lewis of Chilvers Coton. I believe that being the school for advanced educational requirements. Many friendships that are formed in schooldays end when the routine of their preliminary education ends. So it was in the case referred to although the schoolfellows were destined to reside at Coventry but their sphere in life separated them. My Mother married a Linen Draper in a rather large way of business at Coventry but previous to her marriage visited much with influential families residing in that city. Miss Evans at that time was finishing her education at a Boarding School kept by the Misses Franklin daughters of the Rev. Francis Franklin a Baptist Minister of Cow Lane Chapel Coventry.

 

Miss Evans attended the ministry at the Chapel named and might be always seen in one of the pews reserved for the pupils of the Misses Franklin. At that time there resided at Coventry an erudite scholar who was a journalist.

 

Miss Evans was then spoken of as a brilliant scholar - and though the religious views of Mr. Charles Bray were considered decidedly unorthodox by the Misses Franklin somehow or other Miss Evans soon became on terms of close intimacy with Mr. and Mrs. Bray hence her introduction to some of the foremost literary men of that period - it would seem that Miss Evans imbibed to some extent the religious views that were distinctly opposed to the puritanical notions of the Baptist persuasion and in riper years she probably seceded from the dissenters.

 

My Grandfather, Mr. Philip Teagle, was on visiting terms with the select Coterie who formed the social basis of rural life in and around Nuneaton any many of the characters depicted in George Eliot's novels were intimately associated with my Mothers family one well known friend being Lawyer Buchanan who is represented in one of the earliest productions of the gifted authoress.

 

Perhaps I ought to apologise to you Sir for what may be an infringement upon your time. My only apology rests in the circumstances that surround it.

With respectful compliments I am dear Sir Yours truly,

 

E.Butterworth

 

 

All Right's Reserved. All images are subject to copyright restrictions. Contact Warwickshire Libraries for further details. Part of Warwickshire Libraries' George Eliot Collection.

 

Original held at Warwickshire County Record Office.

 

Done