The Walt Whitman Archive
Life & Letters
Correspondence
About this Item
Title: George Henry Williams to Walt Whitman, 30 June 1874
Date: June 30, 1874
Whitman Archive ID: yal.00302
Source: Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. 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.
Editorial note: The annotation, "letter of dismissal from Attorny Gen's Office—Dismissal July 1, 1874," is in the hand of Walt Whitman.
Contributors to digital file: Alex Kinnaman, Elizabeth Lorang, Ashley Lawson, John Schwaninger, Nima Najafi Kianfar, Caterina Bernardini, Marie Ernster, Cristin Noonans, Paige Wilkinson, Amanda J. Axley, and Stephanie Blalock
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Department of Justice,
Washington
June 30 1874.1
Walt Whitman Esq.,
Camden, N.J.,
Sir:
Congress at its last session abolished one of the third class clerkships in the office of the Solicitor of the Treasury, and upon my requesting the Solicitor to designate which of the three he could best dispense with, you were named. It is, therefore, my duty to inform you that your services will not be required from and after the first proximo.
I regret to have to send you this notice, but under the law limiting the force in the office the proposed reduction is necessary, and I do not feel at liberty to overrule the wishes of the Solicitor of the Treasury.
Very respectfully,
Geo. H. Williams
Attorney General.
Correspondent:
George Henry Williams (1820–1910), U. S.
Senator from Oregon, served as Attorney General from 1871 to 1875. On the
recommendation of Solicitor of the Treasury Bluford Wilson, Williams dismissed
Walt Whitman on June 30, 1874; Whitman "respectfully acknowledged" his dismissal
in his July 1, 1874, letter to Williams.
Notes:
1. This letter is addressed: Walt Whitman Esq., | Camden, N.J., It is postmarked: WASHINGTON | 30 | JUN | D.C.; [back]