New-York tribune., 1876-07-15
WIHORNE'S LETTERS.

| MR. LATHROP VS.. JULIAN HAWTHORNE.
| MRS. HAwTHORNE's BEQUEsT-C0NFIDENTIAL LIT.
TIERS NOT UsED-THE PLAN OF Z" STUDY o.
HAWTHORNE"
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The respect which / consider due to the
memory of Nathaniel Hawthorne would prevent my
making any detailed reply to Mr.. Julian Haw.
thorne's letter in The TRIBUNE of July s, were IL
not that my duty to myself and those connected
with me compels an explanation Of certain state
ments Of his.
It has never been known to my wife or myself
that the late Mrs. Nathaniel Hawthorne, my wifes
mother, left any instrument or even made a request
to the effect that the family papers referred to by
Mr. Julian Hawthorne should become his nor was
the possibility that she had done suggested 10 us
bv Mr.. Julian Hawthorne until some time IA last
Nav. when in letter to my publisher, he made tho
statement that the papers had been committed to
his charge by his mother My Study of Haw.
thome was then on the owe Of publication 1t bad
always been understood by my wife and myself that
the papers in question were the joint property of the
three heirs.
As 10 my use Of material, viii merely say that I
used only such parts of the family papers as sup
posed myself entitled TO control under my wifes
right and with her consent. These papers number
perhaps half dozen, and are not. moreover Of
confidential nature. lHcy CohSISt VI ict'oiS Aoin
other persons to Nathaniel HAWTHORNE and the
consent of the writerswas obtained in all cases.
cent where the writers were dead. IL Is mlscon-
ception on Mr. Julian Hawtborne's part which leads
him to say that have "imbbed" +" his fathers prl.
yate letters and memoranda" including many let
ters of peculiarly private and delicate nature and
have then "paraphrased their spirit" IN my own
words. All family papers which have used appear
in their proper form; have not paraphrased; and
very few of the family papers have even been read
by me.
The decacy and propriety of my treating certain
portions of Nathaniel Hawthorne's life seem 10 be
questioned by Mr.. Julian Hawthorne. But the
biographical passages are subordinated to another
interest, aud are introduced illustrations of my
impressions of Nathaniel Hawthorne's genius, which
was intimately connected with certain facts IN bis
early life This | think all unprejudiced and dis
eliminating persons will perceive. The sources OF
my knowledge of these portions of the life, too lay
outside of the family papers, and were freely opened
to me by the persons controlling such The
larger part of the material available for a regu.
lar biography Of Hawthorne is still unpublished
The quality of my Study" and the degree in
which have succeeded in the objects of that essay
are things which must be left to readers and critics
to decide. 1t was not undertaken with any expec-
tation OF mjurug any one, least OF all any MEM
ber of Nathaniel HawthOrne's family, but Win a
sincere love and reverence for his memory.
These remarks comprise all that | shall say on the
subject for feel sure that the public eau have no
interest in seeing the discussion of it carried any
further in tie newspapers. Respectfully
boston, July 13 1876. u. /. LAIlihof'