Letter to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman, December 4, 1866

To Louisa Van Velsor Whitman
Attorney General’s Office,
Washington, Dec 4, 1866.
Dearest Mother,
I wrote you yesterday, (Monday,) which I suppose you rec’d, with the money. I have just heard from Han, & I write to-day because I knew it would be a comfort to you to know right away. Heyde had just sent me a letter—he seems to be in very good humor—writes a lot of stuff—but not about domestic affairs this time—on “poetry” & “criticism” &c. &c—of not interest at all to me—then at the close of the letter he says:
“Han is much better than usual, & is constantly promising to write to her mother.”
Mother, I send you the part of the N. Y. Times, containing a good long piece about me. It is the N. Y. Daily Times, of Sunday, Dec 2—but perhaps George or Jeff brought it to you last Sunday.
I feel pretty well generally—with now & then a poorish spell—
I am going to hear the great actress Ristori to-morrow night. One of my fellow clerks has taken a sear for me, & made me a present of it—the play is “Queen Elisabeth”—I wish you & Mat could go with me—
The piece in the Times is by O’Connor. He grows stronger & stronger, & fiercer & fiercer in his championship of “Leaves of Grass”—no one can ever say a word against it in his presence, without a storm. Did you get the “Galaxy” of Dec 1--?
William Swinton is here in Washington, temporarily. He is interested in speculating in gold. It is very fine weather here to-day. I am writing this by my big window, where I can look out on the water—the sun is shining bright as silver.
Walt.