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was a little frightened at first seeing your writing dident didn't look at first at the burlington my

but but all well she says she calafornia when uncle comes home well walt i cant can't write much more my

warmer it will get better George has just been up and tells me they have sold one of the houses to the captain

he was captain of the contest taken by the alabamans in the war times) this peice piece was cut out

Thomas Jefferson "Jeff" Whitman wrote that Mason "used to be in my party on the Water Works" (see his

The name of the "captain" and the "contest taken by the alabamans" are unclear.

If a ship captain, it cannot be Homer C.

Blake, the captain of the USS Hatteras, the only Union warship taken by the CSS Alabama, because Blake

Or this captain may have been associated with a Union defeat in the land war.

15 March 67 M 15 my dear walter i just write a line to you this friday Friday morning before breakfast

begins to look quite old jeff is to let him have 200 dollars he is in hopes of selling one to a sea captain

matty still has company mrs mason i felt walt as if i must write a line or two i am still troubled with my

wrist and my thumb it pains me some but i feel thankful i can dress myself and around Walt think you

already—the grass & trees are beginning to look green—they have made a large flower garden right in front of my

idea for days & days, & of course suffered awfully—One of the watchmen of the Treasury, (formerly a Captain

Walt If Mary & the girls come, you must give them my love, & tell Mary I shall send her a small package

18 City Hall Octo. 3d '67 My dear Walt, I have this moment clipped the enclosed paragraphs about Garibaldi

He is not a great captain; as a tactician he is no better than JEANNE D'ARC, but like her he has a familiar

ALEXANDER DUMAS to write my memoirs from.

Grose's membership in the Surrey regiment earned him the title of captain in 1766, which he adopted as

My dear loving boy, I wish things were situated so you could be with me, & we could be together for a

I must put something to you better than that in my letter.

So I will cheer my boy [&] tell you again, Benton, that I love you dearly, & always keep you in mind,

I am a married man but I am not happy for my disposition is not right.

1867 letter, Wilson acknowledged Walt Whitman's reply of April 12: "I do not want you to misunderstand my

motives in writing to you of my Situation & feelings as I did in my last letter or else I shall have

to be more guarded in my letters to you.

I wrote so because you wanted me to write how I was situated, and give you my mind without reserve, and

My dear Mr. Rosetti Rossetti : I suppose Mr.

weeks since, assenting to the substitution of other words, &c. as proposed by you, in your reprint of my

When I have my next edition brought out here, I shall change the title of the piece "When lilacs last

It is quite certain that I shall add to my next edition (carrying out my plan from the first,) a brief

Very likely some of my suggestions have been anticipated.

propose would of course be adopted by me with thanks & without a moment's debate, were it not that my

Rossetti agreed to this change on December 8, 1867: "I had previously given it a title of my own, 'Nocturn

Simpson My dear Sir: I have been absent in New York & Brooklyn & only returned three days ago.

At present, I can only say that if you are going into publishing & if you feel like taking hold of my

My address is at this office.

…One of my reasons for securing your friendship is my appreciation for you as a man, with knowing your

Walt Whitman, I was very much pleased a few days ago to receive your prompt answer of April 12 th to my

I recd received a letter from my wife about the middle of last week she had arrived safely and was enjoying

I do not want you to misunderstand my motives in writing to you of my Situation & feelings as I did in

my last letter or else I shall have to be mor more guarded in my letters to you.

I wrote so because you wanted me to write how I was situated, and give you my mind without reserve, and

I am a married man but I am not happy for my disposition is not right.

21, 1867, Wilson acknowledged Whitman's reply of April 12, 1867: "I do not want you to misunderstand my

motives in writing to you of my Situation & feelings as I did in my last letter or else I shall have

to be more guarded in my letters to you.

I wrote so because you wanted me to write how I was situated, and give you my mind without reserve, and

Syracuse April 7th/67 Dear Friend & Comrade I can not make any other excuse for my delay in answering

thought would interest you, and I do not know as it will now for I have not much to write of except my

My Wife started for New York City last friday night to be gone several weeks. she is to be with her Sister

I am a married man but I am not happy for my disposition is not right.

and to talk about, but I fear I shall weary you with such a letter as this so I will close it with my

I am a married man but I am not happy for my disposition is not right.

21, 1867, Wilson acknowledged Whitman's reply of April 12, 1867: "I do not want you to misunderstand my

motives in writing to you of my Situation & feelings as I did in my last letter or else I shall have

to be more guarded in my letters to you.

I wrote so because you wanted me to write how I was situated, and give you my mind without reserve, and

See John Townsend Trowbridge, My Own Story (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1903), 265–67.

night, and will not lose any time in answering it this time, but I do not know as you will approve of my

writing on Sundays, but that is about the only time I have for writing except evenings and then my hands

tremble so from my work (which is nearly all done by the hands) that I can scarcely write inteligibly

deserve his love as well as that of thousands of others myself included, and I wish you to give him my

I am a married man but I am not happy for my disposition is not right.

21, 1867, Wilson acknowledged Whitman's reply of April 12, 1867: "I do not want you to misunderstand my

motives in writing to you of my Situation & feelings as I did in my last letter or else I shall have

to be more guarded in my letters to you.

I wrote so because you wanted me to write how I was situated, and give you my mind without reserve, and

15 th Sunday 18 67 Dear Friend Walt Whitman I know that you will not think I have forgotten you by my

long silence for I have been waiting patiently for more than four months for an answer to my last letter

I spent a week in New York City in June, my Wife was taken sick there while visiting her Sister and they

I am a married man but I am not happy for my disposition is not right.

21, 1867, Wilson acknowledged Whitman's reply of April 12, 1867: "I do not want you to misunderstand my

motives in writing to you of my Situation & feelings as I did in my last letter or else I shall have

to be more guarded in my letters to you.

I wrote so because you wanted me to write how I was situated, and give you my mind without reserve, and

that the authorization in my letter of November 1st to Mr.

of the full volume of my poems.

I cannot & will not consent of my own volition, to countenance an expurgated edition of my pieces.

I feel it due to myself to write you explicitly thus, my dear Mr.

But I guess you will pick out my meaning. Perhaps, indeed, Mr.

written on November 17, 1867: "I shall always hold it one of the truest & most prized distinctions of my

offer of "friendship": "To be honoured by your friendship is as great a satisfaction & distinction as my

But my kind Old Friend you must not think that because I wrote to you and mentioned it, that I wish you

myself in debt six hundred dollars and finally came to the conclusion that it was time I closed up my

business, so I did so about the first of July last, and am now at work at my trade in a Piano Forte

& Melodeon Manufactory and find that it pays me better than business on my own book.

Now I think I have given you a good statement of my situation and hope it will be to your satisfaction

I am a married man but I am not happy for my disposition is not right.

21, 1867, Wilson acknowledged Whitman's reply of April 12, 1867: "I do not want you to misunderstand my

motives in writing to you of my Situation & feelings as I did in my last letter or else I shall have

to be more guarded in my letters to you.

I wrote so because you wanted me to write how I was situated, and give you my mind without reserve, and

My Dear Friend, W.H.

Piper , using my name.

My love to the O'Connors.

1870, letter to Trowbridge, Whitman announced that he had "engaged in electrotyping a new edition of my

year or more ago of some Boston publisher, or bookseller, who was willing (or perhaps wished) to sell my

See John Townsend Trowbridge, My Own Story (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1903), 265–67.

My dear Conway: Mr. Whitman has shown me your letter of October 12, with news of Mr.

But as I have made Leaves of Grass & their author my study for the last seven years, & have had some

These are the points, my dear Conway, that I wish, through you, to submit to Mr. Rosetti.

Whitman my intention of writing him, & he, W., has made no objection.

He observed to Traubel: "It gives my idea of my own book: a man's idea of his own book—his serious idea—is

Whitman referred to Rossetti's edition as a "horrible dismemberment of my book" in his August 12, 1871

We havnt got the money yet, but I suppose it is sure— I like my boarding house very well, take it altogether—we

Van Velsor Whitman's letter of February 27, 1867 was filled with complaints about her health ("i feel my

My dear friend, I regret to say that our hopes of getting out the complete and arranged edition of your

My first feeling at hearing of this arrangement was one of regret.

In the next place it is far better, in my opinion and that of your real friends here, that the introduction

facts together with the assured social and literary position of Rossetti make him of all persons of my

Conway Observe my change of address Moncure D. Conway to Walt Whitman, 12 October 1867

Whitman referred to Rossetti's edition as a "horrible dismemberment of my book" in his August 12, 1871

editorial decisions, which included editing potentially objectionable content and removing entire poems: "My

my own rhymes—being assisted in this (perhaps unwise move) by my friends.

May I send you a copy of my book in June?—when it will be safely out. D. V.

MY FRIEND I have a friend who is so true to me, We may not parted be.

away; He is my perfect day.

Thou art indeed my friend while ages roll, O! thou my deathless soul. C. W. S. AT ANCHOR.

take great pleasure in writing to you again, and in giving you some of the particular in regard to my

health, limb situation, &c My health at present is very good—better than at any time since I left the

troubled me of any account have worn my artificial nearly all the time since the winter of –'64.

dist) threw me out of my position as doortender.

my not writing let them lay it to my inabilities instead of my inclination Waiting to hear from you

My dear Sir, Your letter of 22 Novr. reached me the other day thro' Mr. Conway .

I think the most convenient course may be for me first to state the facts about my Selection.

publisher told me that he projected bringing out a selection from your poems, & (in consequence of my

My Prefatory Notice explains my principle of selection to exactly the same effect as given in this present

I had previously given it a title of my own, "Nocturn for the Death of Lincoln"; & in my Prefatory Notice

editorial decisions, which included editing potentially objectionable content and removing entire poems: "My

Dear friend, My brother does not get on quite as well as I had anticipated.

Yet I still hold to the judgment in my previous letter.

(Also the first letter soon after my arrival here.)

If my brother does not get worse, & no crisis takes place, I think, (as at present intending) I shall

Nelly, I send you my true love, my darling. Walt.

To state the latest: this morning (Sunday) I got up and prepared my own breakfast as usual (and after

having went over my garden (until 10 o'clock, I quietly took a chair and sat down to enjoy a perusal

I threw down the paper indignantly, and seizing my boots and coat retired to the kitchen, and shut the

But I was pursued there, and could not escape without forcing my way; but I came out of the encounter

with the back of my right hand so badly lacerated by her nails, that I am compelled to bandage it.

My dear Hiram Ramsdell: Mr.

—In respect to Judge Kelly, & his matter, I had already formed my opinion & made out my Report several

I hope it may happen one day that I may have him near at hand, that we get to be friends—such is in my

—There is nothing new in my affrairs—all goes on as usual in the office. I am well.

Atlantic Av Your essay on Democracy stirred the depths within me I would say no flatering word to you my

I am unlearned and cannot see the same thoughts so as to form them in my mind yet their power is clear

on Earth and good will to man) was it ( Glory to God in the highest )—perhaps so if I had have put my

What a boon is Life. how glad I am every day that I am priveledged privileged to be one among my fellows

My dear friend, I suppose you saw my letter to William O'Connor, a week since, with notice of my safe

Give my best respects to Mrs.

There is nothing specially new or important among my folks—they all wish me to give their best regards

Philp, just starting for London, a copy of my Poems, prepared with care for the printers, with reference

I wish to send you, as also to those other friends & well-wishers whom it seems I have in England, my

Many serious & wonderful things have occurred in our dear country, since you & I last met, my friend.

Philp leaves Washington this evening, & I must hasten my letter.

the Attorney General's Office here, of pay sufficient, & duties entirely agreeable & consistent with my

Dear William O'Connor, When I arrived home yesterday I found my brother worse than I had anticipated.

spoon, to some one wrapt in a great blanket, & seated in an arm chair, by the stove—I did not recognize my

Mother put down the cup, &c. & began to cry—this affected poor George—yet I preserved my composure, though

House —also other of my young men friends—they are all very, very cordial & hospitable—I shall go over

Dear Nelly, I send you my love—also to Charles Eldridge—shall probably remain here the ensuing week.

"Henry Clapp," Walt Whitman said to Horace Traubel, "stepped out from the crowd of hooters—was my friend

It being my first efforts at publishing, I would make extraordinary efforts to have an extensive sale

One of my reasons for securing your friendship is my appreciation for you as a man, well knowing your

I shall take the liberty of enclosing a card as soon as my arrangement for location is completed.

My dear Sir: Your note has been received. —Accept—for yourself, the Citizen , & Gen.

Halpine —My sincere thanks for your kindness. I fully appreciate it.

As I have not at my control, at this moment, any bound copies of Leaves of Grass , would you allow me

Y., & remained home quite a long time—one of my brothers, (who had been a soldier & all through the war

My Mother, & the rest of the folks, are all well. I have had good health since I last wrote to you.

I send them my love, & a full share to you, dearest comrade.

My address is the same as you directed your former letters. Well, I must draw to a close.

Farewell, my darling boy, & God bless you, & bless the dear parents also. Walt Whitman.

Y. on a visit to my mother, but I am now back here again, and am well as usual, and working in the same

There is nothing very new in my affairs.

—it is quite pleasant—mostly young people, full of life & gayety—then I go to my work at 9, & leave at

I wish you to give my love to your father & mother. They do not seem at all like strangers to me.

And now Alfred I must bid you farewell for the present, my loving boy & comrade.

My dear friend, Your letter, & the two accompanying, came safe. I saw F. P.

Nothing new among my folks, or domestic matters.

purchasing property, or rather becoming responsible for the same — William, you needn't send any more of my

I shall return within three or four days—I shall write out & finish there, as my leave extends two weeks

appreciation of your literary genius, & a special request that you write for the John Burroughs, I send you my

longer—He seemed to be well pleased with his visit, & I am sure it was a great comfort to me— I rather like my

Well, mother, I left my letter awhile, & have been out taking a walk, & now return & finish my letter—It

O'Connor has taken a real liking to him— I hope this will find you relieved of your rheumatism—I send my

Dear friend, My feeling and attitude about a volume of selections from my Leaves by Mr.

since that seems to be the pivotal affair, & since he has the kindness to shape his action so much by my

The recherché or ethereal sense of the term, as used in my book, arises probably from the actual Calamus

My Dear Walt: You have, I believe, in your hands certain charges against Judge Kelly of Idaho.

His friends are my friends, and while I do not know much of him personally, I nevertheless know his accuser

I congratulate you, my dear fellow, on the great appreciation which reaches across the greatwater to

20 Jan. 1867 sunday Sunday afternoon my dear Walt i must write you a few lines and only a few to let

you know how we are i can hardly write on account of lameness in my right arm down toward my wrist it

redug between this and the great trenches it looks like destruction ) we are all pretty well except my

arm and sis she aint ain't very well she is by my side asleep in the rocking chair its very rare for

would have made me feel miserable were it not that before then the matter had already been set right, & my

My first letter to you was written too much from the impulse of the moment; &, finding soon after from

Not one syllable of any one of your poems, as presented in my selection, will be altered or omitted:

To be by your friendship is as great a satisfaction & distinction as my life has presented or ever can

acquiesce in the express views he takes of late years of particular questions wd be simply to abnegate my

I have just changed my quarters—I moved to-day back again to the same house Mrs.

Benedict— I have not got my old-room but a room right over it—it is in the attic, it is true, but I think

is, as well as one is apt to like any quarters here in Washington—I will write you how I like it in my

stomach, just in the waist—last Saturday he had an operation & had it extracted—it was in, the length of my

is sunday Sunday and no word nor letter have i got yet i am very confidant confident you have sent my

would hardly stop long enoughf enough for me to say any thing to him) all he said its it's none of my

fault none of my fault in A quick way and hurried on you have undoubtably undoubtedly got the letter

would get one or two common gowns sh e would stich stitch them for me and i was going to get one out of my

Oct 17th My dear Walt 1867 the post man has gone bye by and no letters, and its being thursday Thursday

i feel worried very much for fear it is gone as i dident didn't get it yesterday my usuall usual day

letter is gone i have been waching the letter man and he s he's past and no letter i feel real bad my

. ; my personal washing amounts to just 4 pieces a week, with a pair of stocking and two or three handkerchiefs

She is too thoroughly selfish—There has been a proposition also for my absence—a few short months, run

down my place more than I would like to recover—So I shall rent the house—It is but a shelter since,

I was sick; she deliberately turned the key on me, and I had to stay at my room all night—comment is

March 27, 1867 My dear friend, Although your letter I see has the N.

My impression is, there is little or no chance of getting Congress to pass, at this time, a special resolution

thing does — Still, I will try what I can do—I will see a few of the members, forthwith—I have one in my

stiff with them—the Bullards I mean the people that are going to move in—the d—m cusses shant have my

water pipe unless the[y] behave decent—yet I suppose the Park people are mean enough to prevent my taking

I had the Times of Friday while eating my Breakfast on Sunday—that is pretty well isnt it.

stay here long—I begin to like the city better—Yet it dont come up to B[rooklyn] by a long chalk— Give my

Oberlin Ohio Aug 9th 1867 Mr Whitman Dr Dear sir I take this opportunity to inform you that I have made my

trip to Wisconsin and returned here yesterday, and will soon be in Washington and hope my orders will

Attorney Gen'l , has gone on to Philadelphia with wife & child, to spend three or four days—I like my

new boarding place very well, take it altogether — Mother, I am writing this at my table, by the big

Jeff don't say whether you got my last Tuesday's letter, (March 5,) with the envelopes, &c.

very tired, when I arrived home—We don't have dinner till 5 o'clock—but I always take a good lunch in my

please—then I am getting many books for the Library (our office Library) that I have long wanted to read at my

ever had such a bad coughf cough before i know how i should have got the meals if he had been home my

is somewhat better to day i have had mustard plasters acrost across my chest and i think it has done

me good i feel the soreness of the mustard but the soreness and distress in my side is much better)

last winter for all it was so very cold on the park i had to cover up my head to keep my ears from freezing

old days if i had none i believe i cant can't wr ite any more to night good bie walter dear my love

27 Feb '67 februy February 27 my dear walt i feel as if i must write a few lines every time i get a letter

write every week but if i dont don't it seems as if i had something to doo do that i had neglected my

midling well sometimes i think im I'm real sick but it goes over i have been troubled with a pain in my

have had a mustard plaister plaster on part of the time i thought it helpt helped me some but i feel my

Thomas Jefferson "Jeff" Whitman wrote that Mason "used to be in my party on the Water Works" (see his