Dec. 25 (Christmas Day).—George and I spent this wet day very happily alone together. We are reading Scott's life in the evenings with much enjoyment. I am reading through Horace in this pause.
Dec. 31.—The last day of the dear old year, which has been full of expected and unexpected happiness. "Adam Bede" has been written, and the second volume is in type. The first number of George's "Physiology of Common Life"—a work in which he has had much happy occupation—is published to-day; and both his position as a scientific writer and his inward satisfaction in that part of his studies have been much heightened during the past year. Our double life is more and more blessed—more and more complete.
I think this chapter cannot more fitly conclude than with the following extract from Mr. G. H. Lewes's Journal, with which Mr. Charles Lewes has been good enough to furnish me:
Jan. 28, 1859.—Walked along the Thames towards Kew to meet Herbert Spencer, who was to spend the day with us, and we chatted with him on matters personal and philosophical. I owe him a debt of gratitude. My acquaintance with him was the brightest ray in a very dreary, wasted period of my life. I have given up all ambition whatever, lived from hand to mouth, and thought the evil of each day sufficient. The stimulus of his intellect, especially during our long walks, roused my energy once more and revived my dormant love of science. His intense theorizing tendency was contagious, and it was only the stimulus of a theory which could then have induced me to work. I owe Spencer another and a deeper debt. It was through him that I learned to know Marian—to know her was to love her—and since then my life has been a new birth. To her I owe all my prosperity and all my happiness. God bless her!
SUMMARY.
JANUARY, 1858, TO DECEMBER, 1858.
Times reviews "Scenes of Clerical Life"—Helps's opinion—Subscription to the "Scenes"—Letter from Dickens, 18th Jan. 1858—Letter from Froude, 17th Jan.—Letter to Miss Hennell—Mr. Wm. Smith, author of "Thorndale"—Ruskin—Reading the "Eumenides" and Wordsworth—Letter to John Blackwood on Dickens's Letter—Letter from Mrs. Carlyle—Letter from Faraday—"Clerical Scenes" moving—John Blackwood calls, and George Eliot reveals herself—Takes MS. of first part of "Adam Bede"—Letters to Charles Bray on reports of authorship—Visit to Germany—Description of Nürnberg—The Frauen-Kirche—Effect of the music—Albert Dürer's house—Munich—Lodgings—Pinacothek—Rubens—Crucifixion—Theresien Wiese—Schwanthaler's "Bavaria"—The Alps—Letter to Miss Hennell—Contrast between Catholic and Protestant worship—Glyptothek—Pictures—Statues—Cornelius frescoes—Herr Oldenburg—Kaulbach—Bodenstedt—Professor Wagner—Martius—Liebig—Geibel—Heyse—Carrière—Prince Radziwill's "Faust"—Professor Löher—Baron Schack—Genelli—Professor Bluntschli—Letter to Miss Hennell—Description of Munich life—Kaulbach's pictures—The Siebolds—The Neue Pinacothek—Pictures and porcelain painting—Mme. Bodenstedt—Letter to Blackwood—Combinations of artist in writing—Hears "William Tell"—Expedition to Grosshesselohe—Progress with "Adam Bede"—Letter to Miss Hennell on death of her mother—Mr. Lewes goes to Hofwyl—Frau Knapp—Mr. Lewes returns—Leave Munich for Traunstein—Salzburg—Ischl—Linz—By Danube to Vienna—St. Stephen's—Belvedere pictures—Liechtenstein collection—Hyrtl the anatomist—Prague—Jewish burial-ground and the old synagogue—To Dresden—Latter half of second volume of "Adam Bede" written—First impression of Sistine Madonna—The Tribute money—Holbein's Madonna—The Correggios—Dutch school—Murillo—Letter to Miss Hennell—Description of life at Dresden—Health improved—Mention of Strauss at Munich—Dresden to Leipzig—Home to Richmond—Letter to Miss Hennell—Opinion of Buckle—Blackwood offers £800 for "Adam Bede"—Wilkie Collins and Mr. Pigott—History of "Adam Bede"—Letter to Charles Bray—Disinterested kindness—Letter to Blackwood suggesting preface to "Adam Bede"—Reading Scott's Life and Horace—Review of year—Extract from G. H. Lewes's Journal.