Letter from Walt Whitman, Camden, New Jersey, to Anne Gilchrist, 1883 February 27 : autograph manuscript signed.

Writing that he just received Gilchrist's letter, and it does him good to hear from her; describing that much is the same in Camden, and his sister [in-law], Louisa, is the pinnacle of health; noting that his brother, George, is "a little on the plethoric, & a little more minus than is dessirable, but goes forth as usual every day"; mentioning that his brother plans to build them a house on a farm in Burlington; saying he often visits "a charming Quaker family," R. Pearsall Smith and his wife and three children; making it a point to mention that the eldest daughter [Mary Whitall Smith, later Mary Berenson] is a great lover of his poetry, especially "Leaves of Grass"; pivoting to address details of his book sales, saying Wilson & McCormick, St. Vincent St. Glasgow, will publish "Specimen Days" for British readers and though its sales are nowhere near those of "Leaves of Grass" in the States he feels satisfied; discussing the forthcoming publication of Richard Bucke's new book by David McKay of Philadelphia; writing that the collection of correspondence between Thomas Carlyle and Ralph Waldo Emerson has been released, though he "has just glanced at them"; inquiring if she received the copy of his essay "The Bible as Poetry" he had sent; musing that "I don't know where I shall flit to the coming summer--if I am well enough"; writing that he will enclose a copy of an essay John Burroughs sent him "don't want it again"; saying if she can find the last issue of "Century," she should read Burroughs' piece; closing that he hasn't seen the Staffords in some months, but he plans to.