1861 April 9 Concord, N.H.

Dr. Friend Thoreau

A friend of mine
away in New York, wishes
very much a copy of each
of your "Memoirs"--id
est "in the Woods," and
"on the Rivers." I told
him they were not in mark-
et; but if he would com-
mission me, perhaps it
would achieve the object.

Now can you, & will
you cause a copy of each
to meet me at An-
ti Slavery Office, 221 Wash-
ington St. some day
the present week!

[page 2]
And more unreason
able still, will you take
me for pay-master?

Probably you will not
very long be kept out of
your money--certainly
not longer than you
have been sometimes
when writing for our
pretentious, progressive
monthlies!

Seriously however, if
you will direct them to
me, as above, to care of
Mr. Wallcut, with the prices,
I will remit the money
so soon as I receive
them. My remunera
tion for my trouble, is as-
sured beforehand.

[page 3]
But what anyone
can want to read your
"battle of the Pissminy" for
at a time like this, is past
finding out--Have we not
Sumpter & Pickens, the
Texas Frontier, nay & our
very Capital to defend?
Or who wants to read
how you can play with
a "bream" in the water
when the Leviathan of Slav-
ery is hourly threatning to
swallow 'Old Abe" like Jo
nah, never to vomit
him, till our ^'northern' Nineveh
is also whelmed in
the sea of God's wrath!
But the old "de gustibus"
holds good yet.

[page 4]
Is it not hopeful, however,
that we have some who
are not daft nor damned
by the eternal screech of
politics? Men & but men,
who stay at home with God
and the Lord and let the hea
then rage? I glory in
such even from the muzzle
of cannon & the mouth of mobs.

But I am troubling you too
long, & to no purpose. Please
give my kindest regards to
Mr. Emerson, should he cross
your path. Tell him I hope
to hear a part of the Boston
Lectures--and with my very
sincerest remembrances
to your excellent mother & sis
ter, believe me

Ever fraternally yours
Parker Pillsbury

Nor you nor Mr. Alcott
need ever urge me to condescend
to Concord when the way opens.