The Walt Whitman Archive
Life & Letters
Correspondence
About this Item
Title: Walt Whitman to Elizabeth and Isabella Ford, 3 August 1885
Date: August 3, 1885
Whitman Archive ID: bol.00002
Source: Walt Whitman Collection, Bolton Central Library, Bolton, England. 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.
Notes for this letter were derived from Walt Whitman, The Correspondence, ed. Edwin Haviland Miller, 6 vols. (New York: New York University Press, 1961–1977), and supplemented, updated, or created by Whitman Archive staff as appropriate.
Contributors to digital file: Stefan Schöberlein, Kyle Barton, and Kevin McMullen
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328 Mickle Street
Camden New Jersey U S America
Aug: 3d '851
Dear Bessie and Isabella Ford
I will at least write a line to say I have safely received your and Edward Carpenter's affectionate generous gift of £50.2 It has come very opportunely & I thank you all—I have been prostrated lately by sun-stroke, but am well recovering from it—
God bless you, dear friends,
Walt Whitman
Correspondent:
Isabella Ford
(1855–1924) was an English feminist, socialist, and writer. Elizabeth
(Bessie) Ford was her sister. Both were introduced to Whitman's writings by
Edward Carpenter and they quickly became admirers of the aged poet.
Notes:
1. This letter is addressed: Bessie and Isabella Ford | 5 Hyde Park Mansions | London n w | England. It is postmarked: Camden | Aug | 6 | 8PM | 1885 | N.J. ; London N.W. | 7U | AU14 | 85. [back]
2. The Ford sisters and Carpenter, in addition to this gift, sent a second check for $216.75 in May, 1886, and another one for £20 in July, 1887 (Whitman's Commonplace Book). [back]