Life & Letters

Correspondence

About this Item

Title: Walt Whitman to William Michael Rossetti, 11 April 1873

Date: April 11, 1873

Whitman Archive ID: med.00427

Source: The location of the original manuscript is unknown. The transcription presented here is derived from Walt Whitman, The Correspondence, ed. Edwin Haviland Miller (New York: New York University Press, 1961–1977), 5:296. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.

Contributors to digital file: Janel Cayer, Kenneth M. Price, Elizabeth Lorang, Kathryn Kruger, Zachary King, and Eric Conrad




Washington,
April 11, 1873. 1

My dear Rossetti,

The bearer of this note is Col. Richard J. Hinton, of this city (though English by birth), a friend of mine, who calls to make your acquaintance.

Truly yours,
Walt Whitman.

I have been very ill, from paralysis, but am recovering.

Your books (two sets) reached me safely, and gave me great pleasure. I am perfectly satisfied with the selections from my poems—and feel grateful to you for your kindness to me throughout the books. I do not forget you. I will write again when I feel well. My address remains the same—Solicitor's Office, Treasury, here.


W.W.


Notes:

1. Endorsed: "Whitman here speaks of two sets of books that I had sent him. These must have been my Selections of American Poems in the series Moxon's Popular Poems. W.M.R."

Transcript. Transcription supplied to Edwin Haviland Miller by Professor Roger Asselineau, who received it from Gilette Bornand. Bornand made a copy of the letter years ago when it was in the possession of William Michael Rossetti's daughter. American Poems was apparently published early in 1873. [back]


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