Washington,
September 7, 1868.1
Dear Abby:
I have leave of absence commencing first of next week, and intend coming on to New York,
for a while, to spend the first part of it. Are you so fixed that
you can give me a room? You must answer candidly no, if not—please write at once—I am well as usual—nothing very new or important with me.
The advent of the new Attorney General, Mr. Evarts,2 does not seem likely to affect my position here.3
But there have been many dismissals of clerks in the Departments. The O'Connors are well—the little girl has picked up amazingly—goes about, indeed, as strong & nimble as a grasshopper—
In a late letter, Mother said she had not seen any thing of Helen or
Emily for some time—I suppose you have been off in the country.
Love to all—& good bye for the present.
Walt.
Notes
- 1. This letter's envelope
bears the address, "Mrs Abby H. Price, | 331 East 55th street, | bet 1st &
2d av's. | New York City." It is postmarked: "(?) | Sep | 8." [back]
- 2. William Maxwell Evarts
(1818–1901) was chief counsel for Andrew Johnson during the impeachment
trial of 1868. As a reward for his services, Johnson appointed Evarts Attorney
General later in the year; Evarts was Secretary of State from 1877 to 1881 and
U.S. Senator from New York from 1885 to 1891. [back]
- 3. On October 9, 1868, however, O'Connor wrote
cryptically to Walt Whitman: "I had a long and free talk with [Ashton] about Mat
Pleasants and Evarts, in connexion with you, which I must tell you about when we
meet. It made me feel quite anxious, but I guess all's right, while Ashton is
there. Pleasants is a miserable devil. I wish I had power in that office for a
little while. I'd put a spoke in the wheel of his vendetta, which would carry it
and him to a safe distance." [back]