Whitman writes a letter to William O’Connor from Brooklyn, updating him on his forthcoming publications in various magazines. He urges O’Connor to buckle down and write something as a few magazines have made special requests for some of his work.
Full Text
To William D. O'Connor
ADDRESS: William D. O'Connor,|Light House Board,|Treasury Department,|Washington,|D.C. POSTMARKs: New York|Sep|27;Carrier|Sep|28|1 Del. Brooklyn, 1 Friday, Sept 27, 1867.
My dear friend,
Your letter, & the two accompanying, came safe. I saw F.P. Church again yesterday-the arrangement is, that Democracy is to make an article of fifteen or Sixteen pages, & is [to] be the leading article of the December number--it must be in his hands by the 25th of October. The Ethiopia Commenting has been formally accepted, but is held back until the long article appears. I have felt that the Galaxy folks have received & treated me with welcome warmth & respect. F.P. Church is a sample of a New Yorker, a club man, (he pressingly invited me to a dinner at Atheneum Club-I declined,) young, cordial, refined, &c. He made no very decided impression on me, however-we will see how the acquaintance works & holds out in the future. The indirect & inferential of his tone & words in speaking to me would have satisfied your highest requirements-they evidently meant that in his opinion I was, or was soon,a be, "one of the great powers."
Nothing new among my folks, or domestic matters. I have been purchasing property, or rather becoming responsible for the same-
William, you needn't send any more of my letters to me here, after you receive this-keep them for me. I shall return within three or four days-I shall write out & finish Democracy there, as my leave extends tno weeks yet. I suppose you rec'd the Gazette, containing T. Titcomb, his opinion on such books as Leaves of Grass, etc.
I think it very likely I shall return on Monday 30th. I have seen Fred. Gray, Nathaniel Bloom-the dear, good, atTectionate young men-more kind, more affectionate than ever.
William, I do hope, it will come to you to buckle-to, & write something for Putnam-et al. You are talked about, & cause expectancies, curiosities, &C.-F.P. Church sent a florid & evidently genuine message to you by me-the meat of it is, a fervid appreciation of your literary genius, & a special request that you write for the Galaxy. John Burroughs, I send you my love, & will soon be with you all again-
Walt.
