Walt Whitman to Thomas Jefferson Whitman, 29 April 1867

About This Item

Title: Walt Whitman to Thomas Jefferson Whitman, 29 April 1867
Date: April 29, 1867
Creator(s): Walt Whitman
Whitman Archive ID: duk.00647
Source: The Trent Collection of Whitmaniana, Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library. The transcription presented here is derived from Walt Whitman, The Correspondence, ed. Edwin Haviland Miller (New York: New York University Press, 1961–1977), 326–327. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.
Cite this page: Whitman, Walt. "Walt Whitman to Thomas Jefferson Whitman, 29 April 1867." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 19 April 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
Source File: duk.00647.xml (TEI)

Attorney General's Office, Washington. April 29, 1867 Dear brother Jeff,

I heard by William O'Connor of the St. Louis proposition1—& as far as I could judge by his account—& since by your letter & Mother's—it seems to me best to accept the offer, & go, by all means—

It is a great work—a noble position—& will give you a good big field.

Jeff, I wish to hear about the family arrangements—whether Mother & Martha &c are going to stay there this summer, or not—(I hope they are.)

There is nothing special with me, to write about. In the office, all goes on as usual. I still board at 472 M st. Love to Mat & the little girls. Remember me to Mr. Lane2 & Davis3—So good bye for this time, Jeffy, dear brother.

Walt.

Notes

1. This offer was first described in Walt Whitman's April 23, 1867 letter to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman. [back]
2. Moses Lane (1823–1882) served as chief engineer of the Brooklyn Water Works from 1862 to 1869. He later designed and constructed the Milwaukee Water Works and served there as city engineer. For more information on Walt Whitman's dealings with Lane, see Whitman's January 16, 1863 letter to Thomas Jefferson Whitman. [back]
3. Either William S. or Joseph P. Davis. William S. Davis was a lawyer in Worcester, Massachusetts, whose brother Joseph was in Peru until 1865; Joseph eventually accompanied Jeff to St. Louis. [back]