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331 East 55th street, bet. 1st and 2nd Av's— New York— Byron Sutherland,  
 Dear young man,

I have received your letter of September 12, & was well pleased to hear from you. I have many times thought of you—for I must tell you, Byron, I retain just the same friendship I formed for you the short time we were together, (but intimate,) in 1865.

I think, at that time, I was a clerk in the Interior Department. I was dismissed from there—but was appointed by the then Attorney General, Mr. Speed, to a moderate place in his Dep't. I have been in that Dep't. ever since—have a pleasant situation—have been promoted—& have now served under four successive Attorney Generals.

It is rather dull in Washington—but I make out quite comfortably—walk & ride around a good deal. Byron, I am still living in the same house, 472 M street, near 12th, where you staid with me a little while in 1865—and where you would be truly welcome to your old friend if you would come & stop with him again.

There is nothing very new or special with me. I have excellent health, eat my rations every time, and am I suppose full as fat and brown and bearded & sassy as ever.

I will send you, by same mail with this, a newspaper, with a piece written by a young man, Col. Hinton, a friend of mine, some time since, about me, that may interest you—but he plasters it on pretty thick.

As you see by the heading of this letter I am now in New York. Your letter was sent on to me here. I am on furlough, which expires last of October, when I shall return to Washington. While here I spend much of my time with my dear Mother, in Brooklyn—she is hearty & cheerful, though nearly 73.

My address, for some four weeks to come, will be as at the heading of this letter. After that, at Washington, D. C.

Well, I believe that is all, this time. Byron, I send you my love & friendship, dear soldier boy—and now that we have found each other again, let us try, as far as may be, to keep together.

Walt Whitman