
Will you please send to the enclosed address two copies of "Leaves of Grass," one copy of "Passage to India" and one copy of "Democratic Vistas." Enclosed you will find $7.25—$6.75 for the books and $0.50 for postage. I do not know exactly what this last item will be but I fancy $0.50 will be enough to pay it.
I am an old reader of your works, and a very
great admirer of them.
About two years ago I borrowed a copy of the 1855 edition
of "Leaves of Grass" and I have a great ambition to own a copy of this edition myself; would it be possible to get one? Before getting
that the only thing I had ever seen of yours was Rossetti's
selection. Lately I have got a copy of the 1867 edition
of "Leaves of Grass" and I have compared the "Walt
Whitman" in that with the same poem in the 1855 edition and I must say I like the
earlier edition best.
I have an idea that I shall be in Washington in the course of 1871; if I am it would give me
much pleasure to see you, if you would not object. I am afraid, however, that, like
other celebrities, you have more people call upon you than you care about seeing; in
that case I should not wish to annoy you—At all events
