Feinberg/Whitman
Box 13 Folder 15
General Correspondence
Macaulay, G.C.
Jan. 7-9 1883[*see 
notes 
July 29 
1888
also 
July 30*]

[*(address)*]

Rugby,               
England
Jan. 9th 1883
Sir:
I have received the copy
of "Specimen Days & Collect"
which you were so kind as
to send me, and I hope to
have the opportunity soon
of saying what I think
about it in some English
periodical. I have been
deeply interested in the book,
especially in so far as it
supplies the 'embryons' of "Leaves
of Grass", and I am especially
gratified to receive it from
yourself.
My acquaintance with
'Leaves of Grass' dates frommy early university days
some ten years ago, when having
come across Rossetti's edition
of selections. I was induced
soon after to get a complete
edition- Since then I have
never neglected them, and often
enjoyed the effect of awakening
others to perception of its great force and
beauty, which being accompanied
by so much which (justly 
or unjustly) excites prejudice,
are too often overlooked.
As regards the new book,
which I have eagerly read,
some of it was familiar to
me already e.g. Democratic
Vistas- but 'Specimen

Days' was entirely new and
altogether delightful. I am
inclined to think that it will
place many readers in
a better position to appreciate
'Leaves of Grass' than heretofore.
  With thanks both for
this book and for former
benefits received- I remain
Yours faithfully,
G.C. Macaulayc/o Wm Conybeore        
Weybridge
Jan. 7th

[*G.G. Macauley*]
[*Ansd
Jan 8/83 
J.C.*]

Sir
  Your letter and the book came
to me just now, forwarded from
Rugby - I am much obliged
to you for the trouble you have
taken, and deeply interested in
the book, for which I shall
write my acknowledgements to
the author.  Bogue does not
seem to have absolutely stopped
the sale of the '81ed' of "Leaves
of Grass" for he tells me that
he has some copies still for sale,
but I suppose he does not mean
to get any more.
As regards the book just receivedperhaps you can tell me whether
it includes the whole of the
"Memoranda During the War"
formerly published and whether
it is being published by Trübner &Co
in the same form as the American
edn.  I wish to know about these things
in case I should be reviewing
the book.
Thank you also for the "imprints" of
Leaves of Grass.  I am rather
puzzled by the symbol (a butterfly
on the extended finger of a hand)
which appears on these imprints
dated 1860 & also on the binding
of Specimen days & Collect"
Yours faithfully
G.C. Macaulay
P.S. I presume that my name in
the book is in the author's handwriting
if so I shall value it the more.