The Walt Whitman Archive
Life & Letters
Correspondence
About this Item
Title: John Jarvey Brown to Walt Whitman, [1881–1891]
Date: [1881–1891]
Whitman Archive ID: loc.01109
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: Marie Ernster, Amanda J. Axley, and Stephanie Blalock
 image 1 |  image 2 |  image 3 |  image 4 |
Walt,
Here is one soul, born in the year of meteors '59,1 who, most unutterably has, in these last 3½ years, received the shock of thy influence.
Welcome to Britain!—especially to North Britain!—most especially to the foreground of my own certain centre of identity: we will cross orbits.2
Unmistakably yours,
J.J. Brown.
160 Cathcart Rd; Glasgow,
Scotland.
Walt Whitman.
United States. America
—The Great Camerado is here! The Lover True for whom we pine, He is here!!3
J.J. Brown.
J.J. Brown.
Correspondent:
John Jarvey Brown (b. 1859) was a chemist and druggist in Glasgow.
According to the 1881 Scotland Census, Brown lived at 160 Cathcart Road; by the 1891 Census, he had moved to 285 Main Street
in the parish of Barony. This letter likely dates to the 1880s.
Notes:
1. Brown is referencing Whitman's poem "Year of Meteors. (1859–60.)". [back]
2. Brown writes this letter at the top of pages he seems to have taken from a printed book or journal that he likely intends as enclosures for Whitman. The letter appears at the top of part of an essay entitled "Existence." A poem titled "Things" is also enclosed. Brown writes his name at the bottom of each printed page and may be the author of these works. [back]
3. Brown is quoting from section 45 of Whitman's "Song of Myself". [back]