Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe, page 305
Truly yours,
Poe.
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO RUFUS WILMOT GRISWOLD — APRIL 19, 1845
Apr. 19
Dear Griswold,
I return the proof, with many thanks for your attentions. The poems look quite as well in the short metre as in the long, and I am quite content as it is. You will perceive, however, that some of the lines have been divided at the wrong place. I have marked them right in the proof; but lest there should be any misapprehension, I copy them as they should be:
Stanza 11.
Till the dirges of his Hope the
Melancholy burden bore
Stanza 12.
Straight I wheel’s a cushion’d seat in
Front of bird and bust and door;
Stanza 12 — again
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly
Gaunt and ominous bird of yore
Stanza 13.
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now
Burn’d into my bosom’s core;
Near the beginning of the poem you have “nodded” spelt “nooded”. In the “Sleeper” the line
Forever with unclosed eye
should read
Forever with unopen’d eye
Is it possible to make the alteration?
Very sincerely yours
Poe.
PS) I presume you understand that in the repetition of my Lecture on the Poets (in N. Y.) I left out all that was offensive to yourself?
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO RUFUS WILMOT GRISWOLD — SEPTEMBER 28, 1845
New-York: Sep. 28.
My Dear Griswold,
Please do not forget to send the S. L. Messenger — Vol 2. I will take especial care of it.
Truly yours
Poe.
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO RUFUS WILMOT GRISWOLD — OCTOBER 26, 1845
New-York: Oct. 26- 45
My Dear Griswold,
Will you aid me at a pinch — at one of the greatest pinches conceivable? If you will, I will be indebted to you, for life. After a prodigious deal of manoeuvring, I have succeeded in getting the “Broadway Journal” entirely within my own control. It will be a fortune to me if I can hold it — and I can do it easily with a very trifling aid from my friends. May I count you as one? Lend me $50 and you shall never have cause to regret it.
Reply by return of mail, if possible.
Truly yours,
Edgar A Poe
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO RUFUS WILMOT GRISWOLD — MAY (?), 1849
Dear Griswold —
I enclose perfect copies of the lines “For Annie” and “Annabel Lee” — in hope that you may make room for them. As regards “Lenore” (which you were kind enough to say you would insert) I would prefer the concluding stanza to run thus: —
Avaunt! avaunt! to friends from fiends the indignant ghost is riven —
From Hell unto a high estate far up within the Heaven —
From grief and moan to a golden throne beside the King of Heaven: —
Let no bell toll, then, lest her soul, amid its hallowed mirth,
Should catch the note, as it cloth float up from the damned Earth;
And I! — to-night my heart is light! — no dirge will I upraise
But waft the angel on her flight with a Paean of old days.
It is a point of no great importance — but, in one of your editions, you have given my sister’s age instead of mine. I was born Dec. 1813 — my sister Jan 1811.
Willis (whose opinion I highly value & of whose good word I have a right to be proud) has done me the honor to speak very pointedly in praise of “The Raven” — I enclose what he said — & if you could contrive to introduce it, you would render me an essential favor & greatly further my literary interests at a point where I am most anxious they should be advanced: — but I fear I am asking too much.
Truly Yours
E A Poe.
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO RUFUS WILMOT GRISWOLD — JUNE 28, 1849
New-York — June 28 — 49.
Dear Griswold,
Since I have more critically examined your “Female Poets” it occurs to me that you have not quite done justice to our common friend, Mrs. Lewis; and if you could oblige me so far as to substitute, for your no doubt hurried notice, a somewhat longer one prepared by myself (subject, of course, to your emendations) I would reciprocate the favor when, where, and as you please. If you could agree to this, give me a hint to that effect, and the MS. is ready. I will leave it sealed with Mrs. L. who is unaware of my design — for I would rather she should consider herself as indebted to you for the favor, at all points. By calling on Mrs. L., and asking for a package to your address, you can at any moment get it. I would not, of course, put you to any expense in this matter: — all cost shall be promptly defrayed.
Truly yours,
Edgar A Poe.
GWYNN, WILLIAM
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO WILLIAM GWYNN — MAY 6, 1831
Mr. W. Gwynn.
Dear Sir,
I am almost ashamed to ask any favour at your hands after my foolish conduct upon a former occasion — but I trust to your good nature.
I am very anxious to remain and settle myself in Balto as Mr. Allan has married again and I no longer look upon Richmond as my place of residence.
This wish of mine has also met with his approbation.
I write to request your influence in obtaining some situation or employment in this city.
Salary would be a minor consideration, but I do not wish to be idle.
Perhaps (since I understand Neilson has left you) you might be so kind as to employ me in your office in some capacity.
If so I will use every exertion to deserve your confidence.
Very Respectfully
yr Ob. St
Edgar A. Poe
I would have waited upon you personally but am confined to my room with a severe sprain in my knee.
HAINES, HIRAM H.
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO HIRAM HAINES — AUGUST 19, 1836
Richmond — Va.
Dr Sir,
Herewith I send you the August number of the “Messenger” — the best number, by far, yet issued. Can you oblige me so far as to look it over and give your unbiassed opinion of its merits and demerits in the “Constellation”? We need the assistance of all our friends and count upon yourself among the foremost.
The contributions have, in most cases, the names of the authors prefixed. All after the word Editorial is my own.
If you copy any thing please take my Review of Willis’ “Inklings of Adventure” — or some other Review.
With sincere respect
Yr ob. St
Edgar A. Poe
H. Haines Esqr
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO HIRAM HAINES — APRIL 24, 1840
Philadelphia April 24. 1840.
My Dear Sir,
Having been absent from the city for a fortnight I have only just received your kind letter of March 24th and hasten to thank you for the “Star”, as well as for your offer of the fawn for Mrs P. She desires me to thank you with all her heart — but, unhappily, I cannot point out a mode of conveyance. What can be done? Perhaps some opportunity may offer itself hereafter — some friend from Petersburg may be about to pay us a visit. In the meantime accept our best acknowledgments, precisely as if the little fellow were already nibbling the grass before our windows in Philadelphia.
I will immediately attend to what you say respecting exchanges. The “Star” has my very best wishes, and if you really intend to push it with energy, there cannot be a doubt of its full success. If you can mention anything in the world that I can do here to promote its interests and your own, it will give me a true pleasure.
It is not impossible that I may pay you a visit in Petersburg, a month or two hence.
Till then, believe me, most sincerely
Your friend
Edgar A Poe
H. Haines Esqr
Office Gentleman’s Magazine
HALE, MRS. SARAH JOSEPHA
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO SARAH J. HALE — OCTOBER 20, 1836
Richmond Oct: 20. 1837. (1836)
Dear Madam,
I was somewhat astonished to day at receiving a letter addressed to “W. G. Simms Esqr, Editor of the S. L. Messenger”, and hesitated about my right to open it, until I reflected that, in forwarding it to Mr S., I should place him in a similar dilemma. I therefore broke the seal — but the address, even within, was “W. G. Simms.” I could arrive, therefore, at no other conclusion than that, by some missapprehension, you have imagined Mr S. to be actually Editor of the Messenger, altho’ I wrote you, but lately, in that capacity myself.
Of course, under the circumstances, it is difficult to reply to one portion of your letter — that touching the prose article desired. If however, it was your wish that I should furnish it, I am grieved to say that it will be impossible for me to make a definite promise just now, as I am unfortunately overwhelmed with business, having been sadly thrown back by late illness. I regret this the more sincerely as I would be proud to find my name in any publication you edit, and as you have been so kind as to aid the Messenger so effectually in a similar manner yourself. To send you a crude or hastily written article would be injurious to me, and an insult to yourself — and I fear that I could, at present, do little more.
As Editor of the Messenger I can however say that it will afford me sincere pleasure to do you any service in my power. I shall look anxiously for the “Ladies’ Wreath.”
I am surprised and grieved to learn that your son (with whom I had a slight acquaintance at W. Point) should have been vexed about the autographs. So mere nonsense it was hardly worth while to find fault with. Most assuredly as regards yourself, Madam, I had no intention of giving offence — in respect to the “Mirror” I am somewhat less scrupulous.
With the highest regard
I am Yr Ob St
Edgar A Poe
Mrs Sarah J. Hale
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO SARAH J. HALE — MAY 29, 1844
New-York May 29. 44.
Dr Madam,
A day or two ago, I handed an article, “The Oblong Box”, to Mr Willis, under the impression that he occasionally purchased original papers for “The New-Mirror”. This I found, however, not to be the case. Mr W. was pleased to express himself in very warm terms of the article, which he considers the best I have written, and urged me to offer it to Mr Riker, for The next “Opal”; promising to speak to Mr R. and engage him (if possible) to accept the Tale. I called upon Mr >>W.<< R., who expressed his perfect willingness to do so, but said that his arrangement with yourself, threw the whole business of selection, &c, into your hands, and that he could not, with propriety, interfere. Under these circumstances, I have thought it best to write you this letter, and to ask you if you could accept an article from me — or whether you would wish to see the one in question — or whether you could be so kind as to take it, unseen, upon Mr Willis’s testimony in its favor. It cannot be improper to state, that I make the latter request to save time, because I am as usual, exceedingly in need of a little money.
With high respect
Yr. Ob. St. Edgar A Poe
Mrs Sarah J. Hale
P. S. “The Oblong Box” will make about 4 pp of “Graham”
Edgar Allan Poe to Sarah J. Hale - May 31, 1844.]
New-York. May 31rst 44.
My Dear Madam,
I hasten to reply to your kind and very satisfactory letter, and to say that, if you will be so good as to keep open for me the ten pages of which you speak, I will forward you, in 2 or 3 days, an article which will about occupy that space, and which I will endeavour to adapt to the character of “The Opal.” The price you mention-- 50 cts per page--will be amply sufficient; and I am exceedingly anxious to be ranked in your list of contributors.
Should you see Mr Godey very soon, will you oblige me by saying that I will write him in a few days, and forward him a package?
With sincere respect.
Yr Ob. St
Edgar A Poe
Mrs Sarah J. Hale.
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO SARAH J. HALE — OCTOBER 26, 1845
My Dear Madam,
I have been a week absent from the city, and have been overwhelmed with business since my return — may I beg you, therefore, to pardon my seeming discourtesy in not sooner thanking you for your sweet poem, and for the high honor you confer on me in the matter of your proposed volume? Undoubtedly, it would give me great pleasure to hear from you farther on the subject, or to be of any service to you in any manner that you may suggest. — I have some acquaintance with Mess. Clark and Austin, and believe that you will find them, as publishers, every thing that you could wish.
Command me, my Dear
Madam, in all things, and believe me
Very Respectfully &
Truly Yours
Edgar A Poe.
Mrs S. J. Hale.
New-York: Octo. 26 — 45
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO SARAH J. HALE — JANUARY 16, 1846
New-York — Jan 16 — 46.
My Dear Madam,
I am afraid you have already found me guilty of gross discourtesy in failing to reply to your letter of Nov 14 — but I have postponed writing from day to day, and from week to week, in hope of being able to say something definite in regard to what you ask me concerning Wiley and Putnam — and I have, also, been in expectation of seeing you in New-York. I trust you have not quite abandoned the idea of paying us a visit.
Immediately upon receipt of “Ormond Grosvenor” I gave it a second careful reading — I had already seen it in “The Lady’s Book” — and became confirmed in my first impression of its remarkable vigor and dramaticism. I not only think highly of this individual play, but I deduce from some passages of it — especially towards its denouement — that, with earnest endeavor in this walk of Literature, you would succeed far better than any American in the composition of that rare work of art, an effective acting play. At the same time I must not forbear saying that a curtailment of some of the mere dialogue of “Ormond Grosvenor” would, in my opinion, tend to its improvement.
In our literary circles here your “Alice Ray” is universally appreciated and admired.
For “Harry Guy” I should prefer the subtitle of “A Tale in Verse” to that of “A Tale in Rhyme” — although there is little choice. I think Clark & Austin or Paine & Burgess would be more willing to publish it, and afford you more liberal terms, than Wiley & Putnam — although, in point of caste, the latter are to be preferred, and their issues are sure of some notice in England.
I believe that, as yet, I have not even had the courtesy to thank you for your sweet lines from “The Sabbath and its Rest.” Upon the principle of “better late than never” will you permit me to thank you, very sincerely, now?
Should I visit Philadelphia, at any time, I shall undoubtedly do myself the honor of calling on you.
In the meantime I am
With the Highest respect
Your Ob. St.
Edgar A Poe
Mrs S. J. Hale.
P.S. — I send the play, with this note, by Harden’s express The B. Journal had fulfilled its destiny — which was a matter of no great moment. I have never regarded it as more than a temporary adjunct to other designs. I am now busy making arrangements for the establishment of a Magazine which offers a wide field for literary ambition. Professor Chas. Anthon has agreed to take charge for me of a Department of Criticism on Scholastic Letters. His name will be announced. I shall have, also, a Berlin and a Parisian correspondent — both of eminence. The first No. may not appear until Jan. 1847.
HALL, HARRISON
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO HARRISON HALL — SEPTEMBER 2, 1836
Richmond Sep: 2. 1836
Dr Sir,
Mr White duly received your letter of the 12th August, and I take the liberty of replying for him. The Latin Grammar and Mr Hall’s Sketches have come to hand. The latter I have perused, some time ago, with great interest — I have also read the objectionable article in the N. A. Review, and agree with you that some personal pique is at the bottom of it. I cannot republish the reply in the Am. D. Advertiser, but, with your leave, I will make it the basis of another notice for the Sep: Messenger. It is against our rules to republish any thing — otherwise the reply is so good it would save me the trouble of saying more.
Will you now permit me to trouble you with a little business of my own? At different times there has appeared in the Messenger a series of Tales, by myself — in all seventeen. They are of a bizarre and generally whimsical character, and were originally written to illustrate a large work “On the Imaginative Faculties.” I have prepared them for republication, in book form, in the following manner. I imagine a company of 17 persons who call themselves the Folio Club. They meet once a month at the house of one of the members, and, at a late dinner, each member reads aloud a short prose tale of his own composition. The votes are taken in regard to the merits of each tale. The author of the worst tale, for the month, forfeits the dinner & wine at the next meeting. The author of the best, is President at the next meeting. The seventeen tales which appeared in the Messr are supposed to be narrated by the seventeen members at one of these monthly meetings. As soon as >>one<< each tale is read — the other 16 members criticise it in turn — and these criticisms are intended as a burlesque upon criticism generally. The author of the tale adjudged to be the worst demurs from the general judgment, seizes the seventeen M.S.S. upon the table, and, rushing from the house, determines to appeal, by printing the whole, from the decision of the Club, to that of the public. The critical remarks, which have never been published, will make about 1/4 of the whole — the whole will form a volume of about 300 close pages. oct. (octavo.)
