[Manchester—Friday, 1 September 1865]
Friday. Excessive heat and hot still mist like a dream over everything. Jamie suffered much in town.
Old Dr Townsend came to see him whom Admiral Farragut visited when in Boston. He came to bear a courteous message of thanks from Mrs Farragut for a copy of Ticknor’s Life of Prescott which was sent in the name of the firm. Dr Townsend said he began his professional life as surgeon in the U.S. Navy and was upon the same ship with Farragut, the latter a midshipman of 14 years old. He was a clever affectionate lad whose observations nothing escaped and a warm friendship grew up between them and the old surgeon remembers distinctly having often held the boy upon his knees. The intimacy between them has never ceased. Farragut is a marvel of physical & muscular power. He is 60 years old now but on his tour to Rye Beach a few days since he repeatedly walked up a five barred gait and stood on the upper bar without touching anything. His life has been a varied one and is, of course, of profound interest to Americans at present. His wife told Dr Townsend that $60,000 had been offered her for the copy-right of A Life of her husband. He is truly noble, generous and self-denying. When the government sent to him to urge him to take some prominent political office with a high salary or to be sent to some foreign country he declined, saying he wished to die as he had lived in the navy, the government then asked what station he would prefer and what style of house as they wished him to be appointed and settled according to his desire but he replied, give your positions and houses to the men who need them for they are many, I am well off and shall prefer to live simply and take care of myself.
I trust Brownell’s life will be the one written and published. It will be the only fit one.
