Life & Letters

Correspondence

About this Item

Title: Walt Whitman to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman, 16 October 1866 (?)

Date: October 16, 1866 (?)

Whitman Archive ID: nyp.00211

Source: Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection, New York Public Library. The transcription presented here is derived from Walt Whitman, The Correspondence, ed. Edwin Haviland Miller (New York: New York University Press, 1961–1977), 1:288-289. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.

Contributors to digital file: Elizabeth Lorang, Vanessa Steinroetter, and Alyssa Olson




ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington,
Oct. 16, 186 1

Dearest mother,

I have not heard any thing from you the last week, but I hope you are well & every thing goes right. I sent you a letter last Tuesday, as usual. I suppose you have got your copy of the new book—I feel satisfied with the looks of it—it might be better, & handsomer paper, &c—but I am glad it turns out as good as it is—for, in making a book, you can't be certain how it is going to look, till it is all completed. Then I feel sure it tells the meaning better than any of the former editions—My enemies, & those who are determined to find fault, will of course still do so—But I feel that the book proves itself to any fair person—& will have a fair chance now, & go ahead. But the best thing is, it is done—& I shant worry myself any more with fixing & revising it—

I have sent a copy to Han—& wrote her a letter—I am feeling first rate in health—I have a good place to eat—get good victuals & plenty of 'em—After the biggest rain-storm I ever knew, we have splendid weather here just now. In the office here, every thing goes on the same as usual. I like Mr. Stanbery—Ashton, the Assistant, will probably remain here this winter—I hope Jeff won't neglect to vote—George of course will vote—Love to Mat—Well good bye, dear mother, till next time.2


Walt.


Notes:

1. Although the letter is endorsed "1867?" in an uknown hand, Miller suspects the letter is from 1866. See Miller, 1:288–289. [back]

2. Endorsed (in unknown hand): "1867?" [back]


Comments?

Published Works | In Whitman's Hand | Life & Letters | Commentary | Resources | Pictures & Sound

Support the Archive | About the Archive

Distributed under a Creative Commons License. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price, editors.