Letter to William D. O'Connor, May 12, 1867 In a letter to William D. O’Connor, dated May 12, 1867, Whitman writes that his brother is still quite ill. If his condition remains stable, Whitman intends to depart for Washington soon. 

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To William D. O'Connor 5.12.[1867] 
ADDRESS: Wm. D. O'Connor,|Light House Board,|
Treasury Department,|Washington,|D.C. 
POSTMARK: New-York|May|13. 
Sunday Afternoon|May 12. 
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.  He has, & is, very sick-has had improved spells, & then goes down again.  To-day he is in the latter condition.   
	William, I received the letter, with Ramsdells note.  Also, Allen's.  (Also the first letter soon after my arrival here.) 
	As to Allen, refusing &c. giving his views, reasons, &c. &c. it is perhaps one of those services to a thing, (precious, rare & precious, in philosophy, & life too,) rendered by showing not only how that thing appears from the point of view of intensest vermin & filth, exclusively, but of vermin & filth diluted with shallowness to the last degree that life will bear. 
	If my brother does not get worse, & no crisis takes place, I think, (as at present intending) I shall leave for Washington Wednesday morning next. 
	Mother is well, (considering). All the rest are first rate. Jeff is in St. Louis. Nelly, I send you my true love, my darling.       
Walt. 
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