Concord, Mass. Thoreau writes in his journal:
Cambridge, Mass. Thoreau checks out Aeliani sophistae variae historiae libri XIV, The historie of foure-footed beasts and serpents by Edward Topsell, and L’histoire de la nature des oyseaux by Pierre Belon from Harvard College Library (Companion to Thoreau’s Correspondence, 292).
[?], Mass. James Redpath writes to Thoreau:
Dear Sir—
If you do not desire to know my address, (which you had better not know if you have any prospect of being summoned to Washington) please hand the enclose knot to F.B. S[anborn] who, perhaps, may wish to see me to consult as to our future course. I have been regularly summoned, but have resolutely refused to obey the summons; & am in the country, now, to have quiet until I shall complete the forthcoming Volume. I directed your Lecture to be sent to you for correction; which—I am told—has been done.
Can you furnish me with an a/c of the B[attle] of B[lack] J[ack]? I was very conscious of the defects of the a/c I copied; but as I recollect very little about the B, I cd not undertake to describe it from my own resources. I shall however yet obtain the testimony of the eye witnesses; as I have all their names (the “Orderly Book” that you allude to) & will either see or write to every man who was present, as soon as I can get their addresses or leave Mass. for K. Territory. I shall probably visit the ground in the spring.
For the Private Life I have already a number of very interesting letters from Kansas men,—just such plain, matter of fact statements as you are greedy for, & which, better than any rehetorical estimates of John Brown’s character or cause, exhibit to the intelligent reader the spirit & life of the old warrior.
The very numerous faults of language (there have been very few of facts) & the imperfect estimates of character which disfigure my book warn me—& I will heed the hint—to take more time in fixing another original volume. As for my forthcoming book, as it is an edited volume only, I have nothing to fear in that a/c.
I have not even yet attempted to arrange my voluminous newspaper materials, & do not see that I shall be able to commence it for some weeks to come This is my apology or reason rather for neglecting (in appearance) my promise with reference to Miss Thoreau’s Scrap Book.
I find that the extracts that [word] made in my book for your lecture were incorrectly reported. Do you desire that they shall be altered? If so, please return the volume I sent you properly marked; & I will return you as many vols as you desire with the latest corrections. The 33d thousand has been printed & contains many corrections not in the edition I sent you. The prospect is that it will reach over 50000 at least. I think it will do good among the masses; that is all I tried to do—for the educated have teachers enough; & over them I do not expect to have influence.
Remember me to Mrs Thoreau & thank her, in my own name & in behalf of my wife, also—for her kind invitation which we shall, as soon as possible, accept.
Very truly yours
Jas Redpath
