London, Thursday, 26 May 1864

Thursday, 26 May 1864.

Dear Frederick,

To my very “agreeable” surprise I discover this morning (I was already unable to sleep the night before) again two “pretty” furuncles on my chest. Consult Gumpert as to what I should do. Iron I will not take now, as I have flushes of blood to the head anyway. Nor do I want to go to Allen, since I fear nothing more than the resumption of a regular course of treatment, which would now disturb me in my work, and I must at last finish. Despite all that people told me about my healthy appearance, I have nevertheless constantly felt something wrong, and the great determination I have to summon up in order to work on more difficult themes is also part of this feeling of inadequacy. You excuse this Spinozistic term. Have the books of our poor Lupus been sent to London? Their not arriving here worries me, because – as I understood the matter – your warehousemen were to have dispatched them already on Thursday (last).
What do you say of Grant’s operations? The Times, of course, admires only Lee’s strategy, concealed under retreats. ‘It’, said Tussy this morning, ‘considers this very canny, I dare say’. I wish nothing more than that Butler is successful. It would be priceless if he were the first to march into Richmond. It would be bad if Grant had to fall back, but I think that fellow knows what he is about. At any rate, the first Kentucky campaign, Vicksburg and the thrashing he gave Bragg in Tennessee belong to him.
Enclosed a note from Jones; in consequence of it you can probably invite him for another day.

With greetings to you from the whole family

KM