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My father was a sea captain; sailed from Philadelphia to France was wrecked, lost at sea: rember remember

She had been married to a sea captain but was widowed when he was lost at sea.

I often see your name mentioned in the various papers, and I have your address in my Memorandum Book.

I am living with my Son in law his wife (my daughter) and their 2 children.

signature, might suffice and I would be pleased to hold a letter from you, one who I esteem, one who knew , my

Samuel Harris Smith (1829–1864) was a captain of the Union army and served alongside his brother Palin

Steel of South Carolina in 1880 that read: "At the battle of the Mine, at Petersburg, 1864, I was Captain

Company I, Seventeenth Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, and in this desperate hand to hand fight, a Captain

Sims, of a New York regiment (I think from Brooklyn), as he mounted the breastworks immediately before my

thought of your cordial invitation to me to write to you, but I have waited until I have got settled into my

Without much trouble I found a sunny room in Cambridge and having at last got my books within reach I

It is pleasant to be my own master again, and to be able, for the present at least, to follow my inclinations

—But I must stop, first, because you may find my garrulity tedious, and second, because the clocks have

Commemoration Ode," which has often, since its publication, been contrasted with Whitman's own tribute, "O Captain

My Captain!" For further information on Whitman's views of Lowell, see William A.

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

Aldrich (1828–1908) was an ornithologist, a member of the Iowa House of Representatives, an infantry captain

The sums which have as yet come into my hands as Treasurer are £22.2.6.

Aldrich (1828–1908) was an ornithologist, a member of the Iowa House of Representatives, an infantry captain

stroke two weeks ago—makes me weak since (legs and bones like gelatine)—but I guess I am recuperating—My

Phila: publisher McKay was just over here to pay me the income on the last six months' sales of my two

who observed fervidly in August: "Your confidential item ab't royalties also makes me glad & wrings my

He enclosed $5, which, he declared, "is a pure business debt. $5000. represents my soul indebtedness

It was reprinted, without the subtitle, in Good-Bye My Fancy (1891) and in the Good-By my Fancy annex

.: "I shall cherish the memory of that blessed January 2nd '85 to the end of my days.

My dear Whitman—I want you to regard me as a sort of son; tell me whenever I can do anything for you;

MS—It has a magnificence of strength, originality & suggestion —& I adhere fully to what I advised in my

This letter is endorsed: "on MS of my | 'Poet As A | Craftsman.'"

manuscript also contains two clippings (with handwritten revisions) of the essay A Backward Glance on My

How I Made a Book, A Backward Glance on my Own Road and My Book and I (which was published in Lippincott's

passage used in a note (entitled "Another Note") to the poem An Ended Day published in 1891 in Good-Bye My

Whitman later included this poem in Good-Bye My Fancy (1891). For Queen Victoria's Birthday

leaf; A draft entitled This Journey (the manuscript suggests Whitman was also considering the title My

It was publised with the revised title in Good-Bye My Fancy (1891). Interpolation Sounds

in his "Second Annex," titled Good-Bye My Fancy, to the 1891 edition of Leaves of Grass.

The pencil note "Sail Out for good, Eidólon Yacht / Good Bye My Fancy / Page 7" appears in the lower

English or transatlantic "free will offering"—a proposed affectionate and voluntary gift to me from my

(My publisher David McKay, of Philadelphia, has just been over to pay the last half-annual royalty on

being the income to me from the sale of my books for the last six months.)

rations fairly, write a little, and shall quite certainly soon resume my usual state of health, late

Give my love to Wm M. Rossetti and to all enquiring friends, known or unknown.

interview with the poet from the Cleveland Leader and Herald on June 28, in which Whitman was quoted: "My

income is just sufficient to keep my head above water—and what more can a poet ask?"

Camden 11 a m Tuesday My friend J. M. S. | (for so I would have it) Yours just rec'd.

On April 7 Scovel suggested that "to start right again I think you had better send me my MSS—and let

I am writing this Sunday afternoon up in my room by wood fire.

27, in which she spoke of "bronchial & asthmatic troubles" and of her lasting affection—"you are in my

This manuscript contributed to American's Bulk Average, which first appeared in Good-Bye My Fancy (1891

present thinking over her life is the only thing that I take pleasure in: indeed I am unable to get my

his January 16, 1872 letter to Rudolf Schmidt, Whitman wrote that Freiligrath "translates & commends my

reciting (published as Old Chants in 1891), Grand is the seen (first published in 1891), Death dogs my

Herbert Gilchrist What on earth can I say to you in response to the news about your dearest mother in my

all the time —I have seriously considered coming to London—but it seems impossible—I am still here—my

eyesight is less disturbed, is nearly ab't as formerly—but my walking power worse than ever—they have

cheery & buoyant as ever—I eat and sleep fairly—am so far without any pain of violence—& still have my

—O how I wish I could see your dearest mother—again my best, deepest love to her.

She died in my arms."

Whitman: "Because you have, as it were, given me a ground for the love of men I thank you continually in my

Since I wrote last to you little sums have been accumulating in my hands: I enclose an account of them

Rossetti of November 30, 1885, he has little positive to say about his health: "nothing new with me, only my

William Osler, Whitman went to see Professor Norris "ab't my eyes . . . satisfactory visit & examination—I

I shall talk to my Dr Doctor about you when I see him again, but if I were you I would adopt such a diet

as would make my blood as thin as possible, & so lessen the arterial strain This is common sense, &

Well, my time has come—that is all. You see, I am somewhat of a fatalist!"

My mother's health is but sadly, but it is wonderful what she manages to do, continuing always to think

My sister's voice is developing and her art is beginning to be admired.

My picture in this year's Royal Academy was a good deal noticed, and has done my reputation good: in

fact I am getting on my feet, slowly.

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

Specimen Days vol. volume right thro: finding various new things, & continual pleasure in reviewing my

My mother is still with us—aged nearly 85: health & facul ties sound on the whole, but naturally bowed

I have also scanned with a good deal of attention (that of complete re-reading) my old & constant admiration

, the Leaves of Grass I observe that some edition (I think the Philadelphia edition is named, but my

is not under my hand at the moment for reference) is mentioned as the only final & complete form of Leaves

Whitman, late in life, said to Horace Traubel: "[I] take my Ruskin with some qualifications."

Belmont Mass Aug '85 My Dear Friend: You are very kind to remember Kennedy— yr your son by adoption &

My indebtedness to you—estimating values by all that makes life high & noble—is simply boundless.

Your confidential item abt about royalties also makes me glad & wrings my heart at the same time.

The $13. is a pure business debt. $5000. represents my soul indebtedness to Walt Whitman, who is the

the Universe as a whole I can sympathize as to copyrights; I have not rec'd received a cent yet for my

volumes of Horace Traubel's With Walt Whitman in Camden (various publishers: 1906–1996) and Whitman's "My

Isabella F. was here a couple of weeks ago, and one of my sisters at the same time.

O'Connor that he was "laid by with lameness—added to by a fall two months ago & turning my ankle in."

328 Mickle street Camden New Jersey May 24 '85 My dear Watson Gilder I am in about my usual general health

(which is nothing to brag of) but my locomotion is worse—had a fall a month ago & turned my ankle in

, & at my age one dont recover from such things—Have no thought of coming to New York—If I did so, I

Walt Whitman Were the artist to visit Philadelphia I would sit to him here in my own room—good place

I look forward to my visit abroad with great expectation. "My health?

My income is just sufficient to keep my head above water—and what more can a poet ask?

of my life.

Sometimes I think my Western experiences a force behind my life work. "Also the battlefield?

"My idea of a book? A book must have a living vertebra to hold it together. "My religion?

wall before me this moment with the Bacon —(I am ashamed to say never before acknowledged—but it is in my

little sitting room & before my eyes every day—more than half the time is taken for Shakspere) — I am

in general health—full as well—but laid by with lameness—added to by a fall two months ago & turning my

invitations to me which I should be most glad to accept—but I find it best not to stray too far from my

Give my best love & remembrances to her? I am comfortable here in my shanty.

"I would like to go on record as having a feeling of the utmost friendliness to all my fellow poets.

As to my works, I am in a peculiar position.

My works 'Leaves of Grass,' and my prose work, 'Specimen Days,' are printed and on sale, but still I

As I grow older I become the more confirmed in my adherence to my original theories.

Grant, in which are embodied all my original theories.

328 Mickle Street Camden Dec: 21 '85 My dear friend Real glad to hear from you once more, as by yours

Seems to me mortality never enclosed a more beautiful spirit— The trouble ab't my eyesight passed over

had dinner &c—I go there every Sunday—So I get stirr'd up some, but not half enough—three reasons, my

natural sluggishness & the paralysis of late years, the weather, & my old, stiff, slow horse, with a

better—he gives up for the present his European tour, but is coming here soon for a week—As I close, my

see notes July 29, '88 | also Aug 1 All right my dear J R —$60 for the Booth article will do, in full

—(I reserve the right of printing it in future collections of my writings—this is indispensable.)

I have been & am lingering under the miserable inertia following my sunstroke—otherwise should have sent

you one or two articles—have them on the stocks— Am very slowly gaining the tally of my previous strength—had

R Bedford Penn a Pennsylvania July 31st 85 My Dear Mr Whitman I am here in these mountains and all around

I will follow in the footsteps of my parents as in their young days they did the very same thing.

Having been told so many times at my mothers knee of how she did these things when she was young.

Soul to do these things over again as my parents did them.

I see many friends and many who were friends of my Father and Mother.

"My health?

My income is just sufficient to keep my head above water—and what more can a poet ask?

"My opinion of other American poets?

"My religion? I should refuse to be called a materialist.

I recovered what I call my second wind from nature.

Press my last little piece —you must chew upon it a little—my inward idea in it being the least literary

or poetical , & most physiological & scientific— My last letter from Dr.

, but I believe I won't—as it is not very clear or encouraging—rather dis couraging — Ab't myself & my

My house-lady Mrs.

could have befallen me—Hot as it is, & with several kind invitations away, I remain for the summer at my

a better account of your health yet, hoped that you were beginning to get around as usual, and like my

Alma Tadema the most celebrated artist over here has written to congratulate me over my last picture

It is rather a feather in my cap—and will perhaps prove a turning point in my artistic career, who knows

I lead a quiet but moderately varied life and am able to enjoy my work and possess one or two friends

"My eyes are feeling pretty badly, and yesterday and to-day I consulted Dr.

I have lost my poise in walking and cannot promenade at all.

I go out every day in my carriage, and a friend of mine, Willie Duckett, a neighbor's little boy, always

I still retain my hopeful, bouyant spirits. I feel better to-night than I have for several days."

328 Mickle Street Camden New Jersey Nov: 30 '85 My dear Wm Rossetti Yours of Nov: 13 with 31 pounds 19

shillings has been received—the third instalment of the "offering" —my thanks are indeed deeper than

been writing to Herbert Gilchrist ab't his mother, & am filled with sadness—nothing new with me, only my

Dear Walt The lovely spirit fled on Sunday afternoon at five o'clock.....My darling mother's life has

Some day next year I am going to send you a photograph from my last picture of mother I painted it this

I and brother (Percy Carlyle Gilchrist ) placed her semblance in my father's grave this morning at Kensal-Green

She died in my arms.

"What's all this about, my boy?"

"Is it a patent of nobility, or is it an address from a lot of my young friends?"

My paralysis has made me so lame lately that I had to give up even my walks for health, let alone my

rambles in the country, and my constitution has suffered for exercise.

TO EASE MY DECLINING YEARS.

Belmont Mass Dec 2 '85 My Dear Whitman— Maugre yr your wholesome advice, (exc. that I put in a page on

you & Hugo—parallelism of poetic-technique en-avant freshness &c) I have done gone & published my essay

I set up every stick of it mesilf indade , & corrected my proofs ( wh. which I'll have you know) were

Well, I have learned just enough to set up this & my poems (Heaven bless the mark—"poems" quotha,—I wd'nt

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

328 Mickle Street Camden New Jersey March 4 '85 My dear friends Your letter comforts & touches me deeply

Davis, strong & hearty & good natured, a widow, young enough, furnishes me my meals, & takes good care

—Soon as you get this write me how John is getting along—Last Saturday's Critic has a piece about my

I have lived as yet but eighteen years: yet in all the constant thoughts and acts of my last few years

, your words have been my guides and true oracles.

spirit of self-assertion: but that I should feel shame for myself, were I not to show the reality of my

gratitude to you, even through the weakness of words—you, whom I thankfully acknowledge for my veritable

Camden NJ 4th 7th 85. 12 midnight Walt Whitman My Dear Walt Your letter did not reach me: till tonight

God knows & Walt knows that I am as slow as the wrath of God—to take offense especially at what my friends

(2) To start right again I think you had better send me my MSS—and let me do as I d—m please with it

reminiscences of the actors & actresses fifty years ago —Tho' I am not personally known to you—& as far as my

not yet an Octogenarian or even a Septuagenarian—I being but 66 at the close off this month—I date my

perfection & not the genius of acting—I never witnessed Forrest acting but the houses were jammed, my

look & utters with electrical effect "Maral I hate thee"—I can never forget it—it was imprinted in my

recollect Signor de Begnis (—with perhaps the exception of Lablach —whom I have heard frequently on my

Macbeth, Act V, where Macbeth says, "I have liv'd long enough: my way of life / Is fall'n into the sere