I send you Dr Bucke's letter from Florida just rec'd with the latest from our dear friend O'Connor (tho' I think Dr B's view is ab't as severe & dark as the case will stand)—
Nothing very new or special with me—I am jogging along much the same—down hill no doubt even if slowly—this is the most nipping winter I have ever had—at present am sitting here by the fire in my little front room—have had my late breakfast (I rise late these cold days) of chocolate & buckwheat cakes with quince jelly—feel so-so fair—Ernest Rhys is here—was here last evn'g—his lecture, debate ab't, & advocacy of, L of G. last Tuesday evn'g in N Y. seems to have been quite an affair—a success—the leaning of the full dress audience (many ladies) was palpably certainly on our side—quite remarkable—Tho' little Fawcett & Rev. Lloyd had their say against L of G. Rhys delivers lecture again here in Phila. next Tuesday evn'g. I still have little bits in NY Herald—
Walt Whitman