Fine, still sunny day, not cold—continue ab't the same—pretty comfortable upon the whole—N Y Herald 23d last Sunday has a leading (book notice) two third column review of Nov: Boughs, mostly extracts—favorable more than any thing else—glad you hit (fix) on the autobiographic underlying element of the collected Vol—Was wondering whether that w'd be detected—did not say anything ab't it, but it has been in my mind of late y'rs unremittedly—of course not in the usual auto-writing style & even purposes, but with a freer margin—& I think if the book really grips, that will be what the good class literary detectives of the future will mainly settle & agree upon—Then I sh'd be tickled enough if I c'd think I had indeed skimm'd some of the real cream of the American History of the last 35 years & preserv'd it here—I have sent to some 20 of our friends & specialists home & abroad (wrapt in the Post item of last Thursday) the printed copy of y'r letter ab't it—(the "impromptu criticism")—I send you Kennedy's letter of 25th—yr's of 26th came last evn'g—
Yes, I shall mind—think I understand & accept the matter below it, & shall practically put it in action—as I finish I am sitting alone by my oak-fire—every thing still—& the sun out shining brightly—
Walt Whitman