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



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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]


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