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John Burroughs to Walt Whitman, 1 May 1882

About This Item

  • Title: John Burroughs to Walt Whitman, 1 May 1882
  • Date: May 1, 1882
  • Creator(s): John Burroughs
  • Whitman Archive ID: loc.01140
  • Source: The Charles E. Feinberg Collection of the Papers of Walt Whitman, 1839–1919, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Transcribed from digital images or a microfilm reproduction of the original item. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.
  • Contributors to digital file: Stefan Schoeberlein Nima Najafi Kianfar Eder Jaramillo Nicole Gray
  • Cite this page: Burroughs, John. "John Burroughs to Walt Whitman, 1 May 1882." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 03 March 2025. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: loc.01140.xml (TEI)
 loc.01140.003_large.jpg West Park NY May 1st 1882 Dear Walt:

With your letter came one from O'Connor bursting with wrath; I think I will enclose it to you. No doubt he will be a host there in W.​ & will reach that miserable Dist. Attny.​ yet. Tis a pity Osgood has not got some pluck & so make a fight. No doubt we could beat them to tatters, & make a big strike for the book Write & ask him if he will  loc.01140.004_large.jpg fight if he is well backed up. It is the last thing I ever dreamed of. If this is the wish of Boston then I pray for her purification by a fire ten times bigger than the fire of a few years ago.

I enclose my ck.​ for the amt.​ you ask for, $100.

What a blank there in New England! To me Emerson filled nearly the whole horizon in that direction. But I suppose it is better so, tho' the very sunlight seems darkened. I should have gone to his funeral had I not had so much to do before sailing for England.  loc.01140.005_large.jpg I wrote a page on him for the Critic, yesterday, tho' I may be too late.

If our passage was not paid to England, I should not go. I am ashamed to go off at such a time. I have had no heart for the trip from the first, & now the death of Emerson (how those few words penetrate me!) & your troubles, make me want to stay at home more than ever.

If you have Mrs Gilchrist's address send it me; also that of Mr. Carpenter.

I have written an essay on Carlyle which I think goes to the heart of him more than  loc.01140.006_large.jpg anything I have seen. I spoke to your North American Review man about it on Friday, but he did not bite; said it was not in his line, &c. I shall probably offer it in London.

If you do not hear from me again anything addressed to me care Henderson Brothers Glasgow, 49 & 51 Union Street will be forwarded to me. We land at Glasgow & shall stay there a few days.

Ever your friend John Burroughs  loc.01140.001_large.jpg  loc.01140.002_large.jpg
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