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Emerson's Letter to Whitman
Dear Sir:
I am not blind to the worth of the wonderfulgift of Leaves of Grass. I find it the mostextraordinary piece of wit and wisdom thatAmerica has yet contributed. I am very happy inreading it, as great power makes us happy. It meets the demand I am always making of whatseemed the sterile and stingy nature, as if to omuch handiwork, or too much lymph in thetemperament, were making our western wits fat and mean. I give you joy of your free and bravethought. I have great joy in it. I findincomparable things said incomparably well, asthey must be. I find the courage of treatment which so delights us, and which large perceptiononly can inspire.
I greet you at the beginning of a greatcareer, which yet must have had a long for eground somewhere, for such a start. I rubbed my eyes a little, to see if this sunbeam were noillusion; but the solid sense of the book is a sobercertainty. It has the best merits, namely, off ortifying and encouraging.
I did not know until I last night saw the book advertised in newspaper that I could trust thename as real and available for a post-office.
I wish to see my benefactor, and have feltmuch like striking my tasks, and visiting NewYork to pay you my respects.
R.W. Emerson
21st July, 1855
Concord, Massachusetts