1886-10 to Mary Blake Moore

Autograph letter signed, National Library of Ireland, 386 words

[Edited for paragraph breaks, capitalization, spelling and punctuation.]

The Green, Southwick, Near Brighton

[October 1886]

My dear mother

I have just read your letter. I am sorry I can give you no advice about Julian. His folly seems limitless. Of course I knew from the first that the consulship was visionary but he insisted I should write to Lord Ardilaun.

Does Julian continue to talk about literature, or has he abandoned that dream? I wish he would try and write something for by so doing he would learn how to think and how to form sentences.

I am more sorry that I can say that the Ruttledges are under the impression that I described Cornfield in the Figaro; I never thought of doing such a thing; I described Moore Hall in the Figaro but that was all. I did not see the Irish papers. Did they approve of my articles? What did the Freeman say?

I find it very hard to make an income out of literature. This year I only made a trifle over four hundred pounds, and this is very little when you consider my reputation for I am well known not only in England but in Europe. This makes me feel often very anxious.

I have spent the whole summer here — a real English village grouped round a green; a horse pond at one end and the long undulating line of the Downs at the other and the labourers cottages with quaint windows hung about with roses and ivy, and the tiny gardens flaring with the great gaudy sunflowers, and the old village well, carefully preserved, how delightful, — what a vision of enchanted comfort!

My summer has been very pleasant — a summer of tennis and girls and literature. For I have worked hard and have finished a new book: a book on Ireland for the French market. It will be published in Paris by Charpentier and I do not think I shall allow it to be translated into English.

You do not say anything about either Nina or Maurice. I hope the latter [former] will not continue to have babies for I do not know how she is to support them.

With best love

Your affect son

George Moore