Whittier’s predictions for
the 1877 senatorial elections

WHITTIER, JOHN GREENLEAF. (1807-92). American poet. Autograph Letter Signed, “John G. Whittier.” Four full pages, octavo. “63 Mt. Vernon St., Boston,” January 16, 1877. Very fine condition. To “Dear Friend.” Whittier writes:

“Thy kind letter received. Thanks for thy attention to my request. I am stopping here for a few days, but the weather has been too much for me and I am hardly fit to pay my way as a guest. Fortunately they don’t happen to have company at this time, and I am under no obligation to talk. I have never suffered so much from the cold weather as I have this winter. And, from thy letter, I fear thee are suffering more than myself. The Senatorial Election ... today. It looks favorable to [George Sewall] Boutwell, but one can tell better after the first ballot. The Democrats may decide the matter, G[eorge] F[risbie] Hoar has the strongest men in the House and Senate, but I suspect not the most numerous. What a dismal day yesterday was! I went out, and fear I took cold. But what can we do, to stay in all the time makes me sick: to go out is pretty … too. I hope thee are able to get down to … shop daily. When I am in Amesbury, I feel as if it was absolutely necessary to me to look in upon John and his cabinet once a day. Lucy Larceau is here in Waltham St but I have not seen her. I should have enjoyed seeing Miss … again, and regret that I was about when she was in Amesbury. … has just come in and reports that at the 1st ballot Boutwell had 78 votes in the House and 17 in the Senate. Hoar had 76 in the House and 12 in the Senate. Thine truly, John G. Whittier.”

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