_Camden, N.J., U.S. America, March 17th, 1876._ DEAR FRIEND:--Yours of
the 28th Feb. receiv'd, and indeed welcom'd. I am jogging along still
about the same in physical condition--still certainly no worse, and I
sometimes lately suspect rather better, or at any rate more adjusted to
the situation. Even begin to think of making some move, some change of
base, &c.: the doctors have been advising it for over two years, but I
haven't felt to do it yet. My paralysis does not lift--I cannot walk
any distance--I still have this baffling, obstinate, apparently chronic
affection of the stomachic apparatus and liver: yet I get out of doors
a little every day--write and read in moderation--appetite sufficiently
good--(eat only very plain food, but always did that)--digestion
tolerable--spirits unflagging. I have told you most of this before, but
suppose you might like to know it all again, up to date. Of course, and
pretty darkly coloring the whole, are bad spells, prostrations,
some pretty grave ones, intervals--and I have resign'd myself to the
certainty of permanent incapacitation from solid work: but things may
continue at least in this half-and-half way for months, even years.
My books are out, the new edition; a set of which, immediately on
receiving your letter of 28th, I have sent you, (by mail, March 15,)
and I suppose you have before this receiv'd them. My dear friend, your
offers of help, and those of my other British friends, I think I fully
appreciate, in the right spirit, welcome and acceptive--leaving the
matter altogether in your and their hands, and to your and their
convenience, discretion, leisure, and nicety. Though poor now, even to
penury, I have not so far been deprived of any physical thing I need or
wish whatever, and I feel confident I shall not in the future. During my
employment of seven years or more in Washington after the war (1865-'72)
I regularly saved part of my wages: and, though the sum has now become
about exhausted by my expenses of the last three years, there are
already beginning at present welcome dribbles hitherward from the sales
of my new edition, which I just job and sell, myself, (all through this
illness, my book-agents for three years in New York successively, badly
cheated me,) and shall continue to dispose of the books myself. And that
is the way I should prefer to glean my support. In that way I cheerfully
accept all the aid my friends find it convenient to proffer.
To repeat a little, and without undertaking details, understand, dear
friend, for yourself and all, that I heartily and most affectionately
thank my British friends, and that I accept their sympathetic generosity
in the same spirit in which I believe (nay, know) it is offer'd--that
though poor I am not in want--that I maintain good heart and cheer; and
that by far the most satisfaction to me (and I think it can be done, and
believe it will be) will be to live, as long as possible, on the sales,
by myself, of my own works, and perhaps, if practicable, by further
writings for the press.