Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe, page 275
E. C. Stedman
Mrs. E. CLEMENTINE STEDMAN has lately attracted much attention by the delicacy and grace of her poetical compositions, as well as by the piquancy and spirit of her prose. For some months past we have been proud to rank her among the best of the contributors to “ Graham’s Magazine. “
Her chirography differs as materially from that of her sex in general as does her literary manner from the usual namby-pamby of our blue-stockings. It is, indeed, a beautiful MS., very closely resembling that of Professor Longfellow, but somewhat more diminutive, and far more full of grace.
John G. Whittier
J. GREENLEAF WHITTIER is placed by his particular admirers in the very front rank of American poets. We are not disposed, however, to agree with their decision in every respect. Mr. Whittier is a fine versifier, so fir as strength is regarded independently of modulation.. His subjects, too, are usually chosen with the view of affording scope to a certain vivida vis of expression which seems to be his forte; but in taste, and especially in imagination, which Coleridge has justly styled the soul of all poetry, he is ever remarkably deficient. His themes are never to our liking.
His chirography is an ordinary clerk’s hand, affording little indication of character.
Ann S. Stephens
Mrs. ANN S. STEPHENS was at one period the editor of the “Portland Magazine,” a periodical of which we have not heard for some time, and which, we presume, has been discontinued. More lately her name has been placed upon the title-page of “ The Lady’s Companion “ of New York, as one of the conductors of that journal — to which she has contributed many articles of merit and popularity. She has also written much and well, for various other periodicals, and will, hereafter, enrich this magazine with her compositions, and act as one of its editors.
Her MS. is a very excellent one, and differs from that of her sex in general, by an air of more than usual force and freedom.
The Letters
The Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, Philadelphia — a former home of the author
THE COMPLETE LETTERS OF EDGAR POE
Here is an index of correspondent names, containing both letters from and to Poe. For a full and lengthy index of letters and dates, please click here.
INDEX OF CORRESPONDENTS
ALLAN, JOHN
ANTHON, CHARLES
BARRETT, MISS ELIZABETH B.
BARSTOW, GEORGE FORRESTER
BERNARD, PETER DUDLEY
BIDDLE, NICHOLAS
BIRD, ROBERT MONTGOMERY
BISCO, JOHN
BLACKWELL, MISS ANNA
BOLTON, RICHARD
BOWEN, ELI
BOYD, JOSEPH B.
BRISTED, CHARLES ASTOR
BRONSON, REV. COTESWORTH P.
BROOKS, NATHAN COVINGTON
BRYAN, DANIEL
BULFINCH, STEPHEN GREENLEAF
BURNS, JAMES
BUSH, PROFESSOR GEORGE
CALDWELL, WILLIAM W., JR.
CAMPBELL, CHARLES
CAREY, EDWARD L.
CARPENTER, WILLIAM HENRY
CARPENTER, WILLIAM HENRY
CARTER, ROBERT
CASS, LEWIS
CHAPIN, HENRY DWIGHT
CHESTER, ANSON GLEASON
CHESTER, JOSEPH LEMUEL
CHIVERS, DR. THOMAS HOLLEY
CIST, LEWIS JACOB
CLARK, MR.
CLARKE, MRS. JANE (OR CLARK)
CLARKE, THOMAS COTTRELL
CLEMM, MRS. MARIA
COLLYER, ROBERT HANHAM
CONRAD, ROBERT TAYLOR
COOKE, PHILIP PENDLETON
COOPER, JAMES FENIMORE
COX, JOHN C.
CRAIG, SAMUEL D.
CROCKER, REV. NATHAN BOURNE
CRUMP, EDWARD G.
CUMMINGS, A. S.
DANIEL, PETER VIVIAN
DAVIS, WILLIAM H.
DEW, THOMAS RODERICK
DICKENS, CHARLES
DINNEFORD, WILLIAM
DOW, JESSE ERSKINE
DU PONCEAU, PETER STEPHEN
DUANE, WILLIAM, JR
DUNNELL, THOMAS LYMAN
DUYCKINCK, EVERT AUGUSTUS
EARLE, PLINY
ELLET, MRS. ELIZABETH F.
EVANS, ELWOOD
EVELETH, GEORGE WASHINGTON
EVERETT, EDWARD
FANCHER, ENOCH L.
FIELD, JOSEPH M
FIELD, THOMAS W.
FISHER, E. BURKE
FULLER, MISS SARAH MARGARET
GALLAHER, JOHN S.
GALLAGHER, WILLIAM DAVIS
GILLESPIE, WILLIAM MITCHELL
GLEASON, FREDERICK
GODEY, LOUIS ANTOINE
GRAHAM, GEORGE REX
GRAEFF, WILLIAM, JR.
GRAVES, SERGEANT SAMUEL “BULLY”
GREELEY, HORACE
GREEN, WILLIAM
GRISWOLD, RUFUS WILMOT
GWYNN, WILLIAM
HAINES, HIRAM H.
HALE, MRS. SARAH JOSEPHA
HALL, HARRISON
HAMILTON, ROBERT
HARPER AND BROTHERS
HART, ABRAHAM
HAWKS, DR. FRANCIS LISTER
HAWTHORNE, NATHANIEL
HEATH, JAMES EWELL
HEDGES, JOSEPH H.
HENRY, MISS LUCY DOROTHEA
HERRON, JAMES
HEWITT, MRS. MARY ELIZABETH
HEYWOOD, MISS SARAH HARTWELL
HIRST, HENRY BECK
HOFFMAN, CHARLES FENNO
HOLDEN, DR. EZRA
HONLAND, T.
HOPKINS, JOHN HENRY, JR.
HOPKINSON, JUDGE JOSEPH
HORNE, RICHARD HENGIST
HOUGHTON, ROLAND STEBBINS
HUNT, JEDEDIAH, JR.
IDE, ABIJAH METCALF, JR.
INGRAM, MISS SUSAN V. C.
IRVING, WASHINGTON
ISBELL, GEORGE E.
JONES, JOHN BEAUCHAMP
KEESE, JOHN
KELLEY, WILLIAM DARRAH
KENNEDY, JOHN PENDLETON
LANGLEY, J. AND HENRY G.
LEA, ISAAC
LEA AND BLANCHARD
LEIGHTON, R., JR.
LESTER, CHARLES EDWARDS
LEWIS, MRS. SARAH ANNA
LEWIS, SYLVANUS D.
LIEBER, FRANCIS
LIPPARD, GEORGE
LONGFELLOW, HENRY WADSWORTH
LOUD, MRS. MARGUERITE ST. LEON
LOWELL, JAMES RUSSELL
LYNCH, MRS. ANNE CHARLOTTE
MACKENZIE, THOMAS GILLIAT
MACKENZIE, JOHN HAMILTON
MAGRUDER, ALLAN B.
MARSHALL, CHARLES HENRY
MATHEWS, CORNELIUS
MAUBEY, JEROME A.
MAUPIN, SOCRATES
MCCABE, JOHN COLLINS
MCJILTON, REV. JOHN NELSON
MINOR, BENJAMIN BLAKE
MINOR, LUCIAN
MITCHELL, JOHN KEARSLEY
MORRIS, JOHN BOUCHER
MOWATT, MRS. ANNA CORA
MUNROE, ISAAC
MYERS, JOHN C.
NEAL, JOHN
NORRIS, JOHN SAURIN
NOURSE, SEMPLE AND THOMPSON
OSBORN, LAUGHTON
OSBORNE, MRS. MARY
OSGOOD, MRS. FRANCES SARGENT
OTIS, JAMES FREDERICK
PABODIE, WILLIAM JEWETT
PASSMORE, JOSEPH CLARKSON
PATTERSON, EDWIN HOWARD NORTON
PAULDING, JAMES KIRKE
PERCIVAL, CHARLES G.
PLEASANTS, JAMES, JR.
POE, GEORGE, JR.
POE, GEORGE WASHINGTON
POE, NEILSON
POE, MRS. VIRGINIA CLEMM
POE, WASHINGTON
POE, WILLIAM
PRIESTLEY, JOHN
PUTNAM, GEORGE PALMER
RAMSAY, ARCH
REINMAN, J. F.
RICHMOND, MRS. ANNIE LOCKE
ROBERTS, GEORGE
ROOT, H. S.
ROOT, JAMES E.
S. E.
SARGENT, EPES
SARTAIN, JOHN
SHEA, JOHN AUGUSTUS
SHEW, MRS. MARIE LOUISE
SIGOURNEY, MRS. LYDIA HUNTLEY
SIMMS, WILLIAM GILMORE
SMITH, WILLIAM P.
SNODGRASS, JOSEPH EVANS
SPARKS, JARED
STODDARD, RICHARD HENRY
SUTHERLAND, JOEL BARLOW
SUSAN A. TALLEY
TAYLOR, BAYARD
TAZEWELL, LITTLETON WALLER
THAYER, COLONEL SYLVANUS
THOMAS, EDWARD J.
THOMAS, FREDERICK WILLIAM
THOMPSON, JOHN REUBEN
THOMSON, CHARLES WEST
TICKNOR, WILLIAM D.
TOMLIN, JOHN
TOWNSEND, JOHN KIRK
TUCKER, JUDGE NATHANIEL BEVERLEY
TUCKERMAN, HENRY THEODORE
TUTT, MRS. ELIZABETH REBECCA
TYLER, ROBERT
TYLER, W. B.
UNKNOWN CORRESPONDENTS
VALENTINE, EDWARD
VAN WINKLE, EDGAR SIMEON
WALLACE, HORACE BINNEY
WALKER, J. H.
WATTERSTON, GEORGE
WELD, HORATIO HASTINGS
WEST, CHARLES EDWIN
WHACKEMWELL, TIMOTHEUS
WHITE, THOMAS WILLIS
WHITMAN, MRS. SARAH HELEN
WILKINS, LEONARD M.
WILLIAMS, SAMUEL
WILLIS, NATHANIEL PARKER
WIRT, WILLIAM
WOOD, WILLIAM BURKE
WYATT, THOMAS
ALLAN, JOHN
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO JOHN ALLAN — MAY 25, 1826
University. May 1826
Dear Sir,
I this morning received the clothes you sent me, viz an (sic) uniform coat, six yards of striped cloth for pantaloons & four pair of socks — The coat is a beautiful one & fits me exactly — I thought it best not to write ‘till I received the clothes — or I should have written before this — You have heard no doubt of the disturbances in College — Soon after you left here the Grand Jury met and put the Students in a terrible fright — so much so that the lectures were unattended — and those whose names were upon the Sheriff’s list — travelled off into the woods & mountains — taking their beds & provisions along with them — there were about 50 on the list — so you may suppose the College was very well thinn’d — this was the first day of the fright — the second day, “A proclamation” was issued by the faculty forbidding “any student under pain of a major punishment to leave his dormitory between the hours of 8 & 10 A M — (at which time the Sheriffs would be about) or in any way to resist the lawful authority of the Sheriffs” — This order however was very little attended to — as the fear of the Faculty could not counterbalance that of the Grand Jury — most of the “indicted” ran off a second time into the woods and upon an examination the next morning by the Faculty — Some were reprimanded — some suspended — and one expelled — James Albert Clarke from Manchester (I went to school with him at Burke’s) was suspended for two months, Armstead Carter from this neighbourhood, for the remainder of the session — And Thomas Barclay for ever — There have >>been<< several fights since you were here — One between Turner Dixon, and Blow from Norfolk excited more interest than any I have seen — for a common fight is so trifling an occurrence that no notice is taken of it — Blow got much the advantage in the scuffle — but Dixon posted him in very indecent terms — upon which the whole Norfolk party rose in arms — & nothing was talked off for a week, but Dixon’s charge, & Blow’s explanation — every pillar in the University was white with scratched paper — Dixon made
I remain
Your’s affectiona[tely]
Edgar
Will you be so good as to send me a copy of the Historiæ of Tacitus — it is a small volume — also some more soap —
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO JOHN ALLAN — SEPTEMBER 21, 1826
University. Septemr 21rst 1826
Dear Sir,
The whole college has been put in great consternation by the prospect of an examination — There is to be a general one on the first of December, which will occupy the time of the students till the fifteenth — the time for breaking up —
It has not yet been determined whether there will be any diplomas, or doctor’s degrees given — but I should hardly think there will be any such thing, as this is only the second year of the institution & in other colleges three and four years are required in order to take a degree — that is, that time is supposed to be necessary — altho they sometimes confer them before — if the applicants are qualified —
Tho’ it will hardly be fair to examine those who have only been here one session, with those who have been here two — and some of whom have come from other colleges — still I suppose I shall have to stand my examination with the rest —
I have been studying a great deal in order to be prepared, and dare say I shall come off as well as the rest of them, that is — if I don’t get frightened — Perhaps you will have some business up here about that time, and then you can judge for yourself —
They have nearly finished the Rotunda — The pillars of the Portico are completed and it greatly improves the appearance of the whole — The books are removed into the library — and we have a very fine collection(.)
We have had a great many fights up here lately — The faculty expelled Wickliffe last night for general bad conduct — but more especially for biting one of the student’s arms with whom he was fighting — I saw the whole affair — it took place before my door — Wickliffe was much the strongest but not content with that — after getting the other completely in his power, he began to bite — I saw the arm afterwards — and it was really a serious matter — It was bitten from the shoulder to the elbow — and it is likely that pieces of flesh as large as my hand will be obliged to be cut out — He is from Kentucky — the same one that was in suspension when you were up here some time ago — Give my love to Ma and Miss Nancy — I remain,
Your’s affectionatly (sic)
Edgar A Poe
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO JOHN ALLAN — MARCH 19, 1827
Richmond Monday
Sir,
After my treatment on yesterday and what passed between us this morning, I can hardly think you will be surprised at the contents of this letter. My determination is at length taken — to leave your house and indeavor (sic) to find some place in this wide world, where I will be treated — not as you have treated me —
This is not a hurried determination, but one on which I have long considered — and having so considered my resolution is unalterable — You may perhaps think that I have flown off in a passion, & that I am already wishing to return; But not so — I will give you the reasons which have actuated me, and then judge —
Since I have been able to think on any subject, my thoughts have aspired, and they have been taught by you to aspire, to eminence in public life — this cannot be attained without a good Education, such a one I cannot obtain at a Primary school —
A collegiate Education therefore was what I most ardently desired, and I had been led to expect that it would at some future time be granted — but in a moment of caprice — you have blasted my hope
Again, I have heard you say (when you little thought I was listening <)> and therefore must have said it in earnest) that you had no affection for me —
You have moreover ordered me to quit your house, and are continually upbraiding me with eating the bread of Idleness, when you yourself
You take delight in exposing me before those whom you think likely to advance my interest in this world —
You suffer me to be subjected to the whims & caprice, not only of your white family, but the complete authority of the blacks — these grievances I could not submit to; and I am gone[.] I request that you will send me my trunk containing my clothes & books — and if you still have the least affection for me, As the last cal[l] I shall make on your bounty, To prevent the fulfillment of the Prediction you this morning expressed, send me as much money as will defray
Yours &c
Edgar A Poe
It depends upon yourself if hereafter you see or hear from me[.]
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO JOHN ALLAN — MARCH 20, 1827
Richmond Tuesday
Dear Sir,
Be so good as to send me my trunk with my clothes — I wrote to you on yesterday explaining my reasons for leaving — I suppose by my not receiving either my trunk, or an answer to my letter, that you did not receive it — I am in the greatest necessity, not having tasted food since Yesterday morning. I have no where to sleep at night, but roam about the Streets — I am nearly exhausted — I beseech you as you wish not your prediction concerning me to be fulfilled — to send me without delay my trunk containing my clothes, and to lend if you will not give me as much money as will defray the expence of my passage to
