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Walt Whitman Esq My dear Sir: I ask you to excuse me for neglecting so long to answer your note.

It came to my house instead of the office and was consequently overlooked. It was Mrs.

Asylum for the Insane, London, 9th May 188 3 My dear Walt I returned home last evening and found plate

I am up to my eyes in work R M Bucke Richard Maurice Bucke to Walt Whitman, 9 May 1883

My sister, Mrs Charles P.

I inclose you to-day $30, the result of an application to my friends, the Misses Wigglesworth.

am still here & nothing very new or different—I suppose you rec'd the Press with a brief report of my

Lincoln lecture in Phila: April 15—I go out every day with my mare & rig—sometimes to Phila.

Accept my sincere best thanks.

I notice you are about to issue a new Book—so some of my Literary Papers here say.

copy of J A Symonds' good letter —thanks for all & to W. for delineation of Fred Wild —& to him & all, my

copies of Ingersoll's little book, one to you, one to J W W —Fine sunny weather—Am sitting here in my

My Dear Comrade: . . .

me whenever you feel like it—tell me all about things & people down there in Kentucky—God bless you, my

Jan 21 1881 Walt Whitman My dear Sir Permit me to thank you on behalf of the readers of the Review for

be able to afford to the readers of the Review frequent opportunity of being instructed by you I am my

Honored Sir—and Dear Poet—I beg you to accept my appreciative thanks for your great kindness in sending

I put the letter in my pocket.

in the Brooklyn days—and even behind Brooklyn—I was to be an orator—to go about the country spouting my

pieces, proclaiming my faith.

s and in to see him—no preliminaries—he knowing my step and greeting me, "Welcome, Horace—and love!

They are my greatest dread: they tear me up by the roots." Asked, "How is Whittier?"

W. turned his face half my way, put his right hand up to his ear and listened, eyes open.

When you write him, Horace, do not forget my word—love, only love—it is all I can send now."

I on my way home.

With him half an hour, having a delightful talk, he fanning himself all the time of my stay.Dr.

Also of Beemer, Bucke's assistant and friend of W.Gave me a bag containing three apricots to give to my

W. sent a twig of the flowers to my father—"I want him to see them.

I expatiated for some time—it was my element—it bore upon my theories, illustrated 'Leaves of Grass.'

and to my "yes," added, "I can't account for his failure to get down this way.

the best expect much help from me in that," adding that bibliographies were "anyhow not according to my

know what is the signification of the legal term 'easement,' but it seems to me a very good word for my

bask in the sun—though Warren protests—I don't know but rightly: for these or things kin are cause of my

woe—at least according to my suspicions if not belief."

—that is one of my special points—to see them there.

And to my response "Yes—yellow"—he assented—"Yes—a yellow, with a tinge of brown."

He endorsed my plan—to print his verse and signature on one side of a big green card, and on the other—menu

Warrie quickly asked the stranger—"Where's my watch?" "Why, in your pocket, of course."

I endorse Bruno—he is my man—our man: his maxims, too.

things mine these days I consider myself very fortunate—very fortunately situated"—with a smile—"even if my

is not for them I care, or their magazines, but the public ear—I wish to reach the public—to deliver my

is so, then I must take the first opportunity to clinch it—to make even more emphatic statement of my

He wished no one to have "any concern about my friendships"—they would, "take care of themselves."

I got my Lippincott's proof last night after leaving W. They wished it back immediately.

My mind is fallow now, but I suppose it is for the best.

I hardly know my old self as seen in my old Index articles. However, Sursum! Resurgam! Forward!

it harmed me, giving others the same chances and rights as myself—As if it were not indispensable to my

AS I sit with others, at a great feast, suddenly, while the music is playing, To my mind, (whence it

if that were not the resumé; Of Histories—As if such, however complete, were not less complete than my

poems; As if the shreds, the records of nations, could possibly be as lasting as my poems; As if here

My dear walt Walt i received your letter to day its a great consolation to get your letters nearly all

the comfort i have) as i have no one to talk too to about any of my own i get letters from helen price

without hearing mine they think Lou is in the family way and therefore she has to be kept up stairs in my

since i got up this morning till i come up to writ write this letter i have had very little good of my

—So you see my official life, with all its monotony, is not without a little fun, now & then, for a change

Two of her pictures I have seen, are real good—Well she wants to make a portrait of my beautiful countenance

& came to ask me to sit for her—Well I consented—but don't think I shall begin until I return from my

& melting here for two or three days—but there is a cool fresh breeze blowing in here, as I finish my

the hot weather, & especially since I left Washington—so I read & write as little as possible, beyond my

printing matters, &c—as that occupies several hours, & tires my eyes sometimes.

distinction however—I admire & love the French, & France as a nation—of all foreign nations, she has my

is—to say nothing—only a good smacking kiss, & many of them—& taking in return many, many, many, from my

Mother, I have nothing particular to write about—I see & hear nothing but new & old cases of my poor

would literally sink & give up, if I did not pass a portion of the time with them—I have quite made up my

the way I shall put it in operation—you know, mother, it is to raise funds to enable me to continue my

everywhere & receive no pay — Dear, dear mother, I want much to see you & dear Matty too, I send you both [my

wrote yesterday to Han, & sent one of George's last letters from Annapolis—Mother, I suppose you got my

blessing on him, he says, I am no scholar & you are—poor dying man, I told him I hoped from the bottom of my

—dear sister Mat, I quite want to see you & California, not forgetting my little Hattie too— Walt 2 o'clock

can know the men so well as I do, I sometimes think— Mother, I am writing this in Willard's hotel, on my

years past and returned to York State a few weeks ago think of staying here for a time to take care of my

I have lost track of nearly all my old chums if I was able to travil travel I would like to see some

of flower seeds if so I will send you the money to pay for them and your trouble I will have to draw my

letter to a close for fear of wearing your patients patience to read it Please except accept 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

My dear friend Thank you—thank you!

From the condition of my heart death is a daily probability to my conciousness consciousness & I face

all my responsibilities in the sense that it may be for me the last time.

My dear Walter i have received your good letter to day today was glad to hear you had A holiday wish

that time) that is about all i have ventured to go out in a long time i cant can't seem to get over my

lameness my wrist is very little lame but my knees is so weak) i expected mrs maguire here to see something

womanly beauty & development—I always thought it in her to do so—Nelly, when you next see her give her my

love—I return Willie's picture—dear child—it has pleased me much—I held it a long time in my hand &

I have overlooked—or forgotten—any request to that effect in the letter sending it)— I send my love to

Brownell—also to Garry Howard when you see her—(what you say of her in your letter I fully endorse as my

it harm'd me, giving others the same chances and rights as myself—As if it were not indispensable to my

AS I sit with others, at a great feast, suddenly, while the music is playing, To my mind, (whence it

if that were not the resumé; Of Histories—As if such, however complete, were not less complete than my

poems; As if the shreds, the records of nations, could possibly be as lasting as my poems; As if here

myself make the only growth by which I can be appreciated, I reject none, accept all, reproduce all in my

Have you studied out my land, its idioms and men?

What is this you bring my America? Is it uniform with my country?

Will it absorb into me as I absorb food, air, nobility, meanness—to appear again in my strength, gait

Underneath all is nativity, I swear I will stand by my own nativity—pious or impious, so be it!

W. in bathroom on my arrival. I sat in his big chair and read till he came back.

Would not repeat my strong words. "No, I try to be more lenient with him. He can't help it!

You can realize my quick denial.

And you are right: if I have nothing to do with it, what my friends or others do I cannot help—but if

"if people would believe that I understand my own business, we would all get along better!"

Here is the letter:Farmington, Maine,Aug. 21, 1888.My dear Mr.

My own family is for calling me 'Walt'—all of my family. Dr.

"Don't that bear out my idea?"

I clapped my hands. He threw his arms out as if in acknowledgment of applause.

He laughed at my dig.

I explained my reason. Then he said with a laugh: "Bless you!"

"It was a mighty thin mess," he replied upon my questioning him, "no body to it all: only ignorance,

Give Morris my love when you see him.

He came at a time when my head was having one of its most infernal turns.

I told Johnston that Doctor Bucke had saved my life. That is true, too.

leaves,—"I have heard so often of this book—been spoken to so often about it—it is time I had it in my

"It is one of my books there on the floor."

"I have discarded my old comb and brush—though I rarely use a brush.

I asked W. if my observation of W.'

It has always been so: it is a part of my ancestral quality persisting and saving.

If he did he has paid me the greatest tribute of my life.

The best part of my success is that it has come while I am doing a work whose spirit is in part Whitman's

My extended travel and study of literature make me capable of speaking decisively here.Once again Hail

—adding upon my assent, "I guess they are Walsh's—yes, Walsh's."

Further, "And Stoddart, too—yes, now you remind me—by all means—and with my best affection.

I remarked my confidence that the thing would all be done Monday. W. not so confident.

"My neighbor, the grocer at the corner, sends it in.

He says, it is for my old friend, Walt Whitman.

It is now howling & pouring against my window as I write.My heart's best gratitude & love to you for

I know you will pardon my hurrying off.My love to you & yours.I gave R. K.

As I entered hallway W. called out, "Here we are, Horace, waiting for you," to my surprise and gladness

Yes, New York beats even the Golden Gate—that was my impression. Do you think it wrong, Warrie?

My memory plays me shabbier tricks each year."

Asking after my further descriptions and quote, "Is that authentic?

Perhaps it is as you say—stronger, more probable, for not being so strong"—which were my words.

December 28th/63 Dear brother Walt, My last letter to you was dated from Springfield Mass.

Of course I have had to keep my work up in Brooklyn just the same as if I had not been away,—had to work

a duty to our Mother for her comfort and indeed for her safty and of course I have another stake in my

That iron-clad that sunk at Charleston drownded one of my intimate friends H. W.

He was in my party on the line and was my room-mate for a year.

years  I think it would be very bad for him to be put in the lunatic assiliym...i could not find it in my

It was putting my own feeling into words. Seemed to sum him up!"

W. then: "Take my advice: shut up!"

I hope, therefore, my paragraphing may be permitted by the benignant printer.

I was horrified to learn that my footnote about Lowell was set as per copy.

I am rummaging my memory for an epigraph for the appendix, as you requested.

Sirs: On account of my absence from Washington, your letter of the 6th ult, in relation to the case of

Hastings and others, and your claim for a retainer for services therein, has just been brought to my

Be pleased to accept my thanks for your courtesy and attention in this matter, although I regret to say

that the statistics reached me the day after my report was submitted to Congress, and was therefore

nor the bright win- dows windows , with goods in them; Nor to converse with learn'd persons, or bear my

your frequent and swift flash of eyes offering me love, Offering response to my own—these repay me; Lovers

the streets, nor the bright windows with goods in them, Nor to converse with learn'd persons, or bear my

as I pass O Manhattan, your frequent and swift flash of eyes offering me love, Offering response to my

Behold this swarthy and unrefined face—these gray eyes, This beard—the white wool, unclipt upon my neck

, My brown hands, and the silent manner of me, with- out without charm; Yet comes one, a Manhattanese

past war, the battles, hospital sights, the wounded and the dead, Myself through every by-gone phase—my

idle youth—old age at hand, My three-score years of life summ'd up, and more, and past, By any grand

the streets, nor the bright windows with goods in them, Nor to converse with learn'd persons, or bear my

as I pass O Manhattan, your frequent and swift flash of eyes offering me love, Offering response to my

328 Mickle street Camden New Jersey April 13 '86 My Dear Prof: Carson Yours rec'd recieved —The copy

to have seen you—I am ab't about the same in health &c—(nothing at all to brag of)—I read publicly my

difficult to get about here, even small distances—Otherwise I should have been on to see Alma and you—for my

wishes have been with you both—My general health however is very fair.

have written an acc't to Dr B[ucke] wh' he will send you—I sh'd not wish any such item as that ab't my

alleged opinion of Stedman to be printed — I have no such opinion—My feeling toward S is one of good

87— Yours of March 24 rec'd —also one some 12 days previous—thanks—you ought to have rec'd the MS of my

soon as ready—also two or three printed impr: of the "note" when ready—I am well as usual—delivered my

Camden Sept: September 14 '91 Dear sister, Getting along fairly—eat my two meals every day—one of my