Blackwell Family
Elizabeth Blackwell

From Lewes, Marian[*Forgive me that
I address you
as "Miss".  You
know the inveteracy
of habit.*]
Lewes
Holly Lodge
South Fields
Feb. 27. 59
Dear Miss Blackwell
Your own note,
accompanying Barbara's, is a
permission for me to tell you
that you are one of the women
I would choose from all the
rest in the world to know
personally.  Can you ever get
so far out of town for the
sake of relaxation & fresh air
as Putney station? If so,
a pleasant walk would bring
you thence in a quarter of an
hour to our house, & both
M. Lewes & myself would
rejoice to see you, not to
weary you by making you
exert yourself in talking
to us as strangers, but
to take a breezy walk with
us in Wimbledon Park & on 
the glorious Common, which are
close by us, & after that
to dine quietly & rest on an
easy chair till we wouldsee you safely back to the
Station.  Surely you need that
sort of holiday sometimes,
& you would be doing us good
in taking it.  We always
work till half past one, & by 
two we are out of the house
on our long walk, but any day
that you would promise us the
pleasure of seeing you, we would
make it part of our walk
to meet you at the Putney
Station at the hour you would
choose.  I hope I am not
unreasonable in imagining
this plan.  At present we
are unsettled about our servant,
but after this week, we shall
be without hindrance to our
enjoyment of a friend's visit.
Thank you for the card &
the prospectus.  I shall give the
latter to W. & Mrs Richard
Congreve on whom we shall
call today - people likely to
feel an interest in your labours.
Our distance from London &
my need of daily quiet exercise
in the fresh air after
my work, will forbid my
hearing one of the lectures,
as I should like to do.

[*Ever, dear Miss Blackwell, 
Yours with high regard
Marian Lewes*]71
The Priory
21 North Bank
March 18, 71
My dear Miss Blackwell
Unhappily I am
under an engagement on Monday to go
to a friend who is in trouble, &
Sunday is our day for receiving
visitors.  My strength just now is not
equal to any exertion beyond these
already fixed arrangements.  But
I could go beyond prudent limitations
in that respect, if I felt that I
could really help you to help the
public.  Alas, I have no such 
conviction about my own powers.
For on the particular subject of your
note I lack utterly that experimental
knowledge of how things are working& therefore, of how other things (i.e. applied
measures) would be likely worthy which
cant alone furnish me with valuable
suggestions in aid of your own
full & varied experience.
Barbara must have been under
some misunderstanding, I think, as
to my having been much occupied
lately with thoughts on this permanent
subject for [?].  Like so many
of my neighbours, I have had my
sympathy drawn forcibly away [?]
and then tired of misdoing & suffering
while her heart cut open further
in a more sudden & stormy
way.  And I have felt a sad
damping of hope about the world's
prospect - perhaps for want of
being actively employed in other
works than thinking & feeling.
Ever yours most truly,
M. Lewes& therefore, of how other things (i.e. applied
measures) would be likely worthy which
cant alone furnish me with valuable
suggestions in aid of your own
full & varied experience.
Barbara must have been under
some misunderstanding, I think, as
to my having been much occupied
lately with thoughts on this permanent
subject for forms.  Like so many
of my neighbours, I have had my
sympathy drawn forcibly away 
and then tired of misdoing & suffering
while her heart cut open Europe
in a more sudden & stormy
way.  And I have felt a sad
damping of hope about the world's
prospect - perhaps for want of
being actively employed in other
works than thinking & feeling.
Ever yours most truly,
M. Lewes