Beschreibung:

HAWTHORNE, Nathaniel (1804-1864). Autograph letter signed ('Nath. Hawthorne') to 'My dear Friend' [George William Curtis], Boston, 13 June 1846 , reluctantly refusing to participate in 'the proposed pilgrimage' to Grand Monadnock, as a fever had left him feeling 'not quite vigorous enough', and 'because it is as well, now and then to take a peep into the Surveyor's office', recalling 'our last year's visit to Wachusett ... a very sunny spot in my remembrance', referring to his latest book, a copy of which was being sent to Concord, 'You are connected with so many of our recollections there, that I would fain have brought you into the introductory chapter', and expressing the hope that Curtis would visit him in Salem where he intended to use the custom-house barge as 'a private yacht', 1½ pages, 4to . George William Curtis (1824-1892) was an author and journalist who moved to Concord at Emerson's suggestion. A letter of Hawthorne to his publisher E.A. Duyckinck of 10 June 1846 asks for a copy of Mosses from an Old Manse to be sent to Curtis. The letter sent to Hawthorne inviting him on the proposed 'pilgrimage' and recalling their visit to Wachusett in June 845, is in the library at Harvard. Curtis contributed an obituary of Hawthorne to the North American Review XCIX (October 1864). Literature : Thomas Woodson, L. Neal Smith, Norman Holmes Pearson eds. The Centenary Edition of the Works of Nathaniel Hawthorne , XVI, 1985. The Letter, 1843-1853.