Text: Robert A. Stewart (ed. J. A. Harrison), “Notes to MS Found in a Bottle,” The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Vol. II: Tales - part 01 (1902), 2:307-313

[page 307:]

The text follows the Broadway Journal.

The earliest form of this tale could not be collated, as no file of the Baltimore Saturday Visiter is known.

The Southern Literary Messenger state shows a number of variations from the text, and closely resembles The Gift state; in fact, below the title in the Southern Literary Messenger the announcement is made that the tale was ‘’From The Gift, edited by Miss Leslie.” The 1840 shows few verbal variations from the text.

Griswold has several verbal changes as well as variations in punctuation.

Variations of Southern Literary Messenger from the text.

Motto — A wet sheet and a flowing sea.

Page 1 l. 7 things, (things) l. 7 up. — (up.) l. 13 genius; (genius —) l. 14 crime; (crime —) l. 15 Indeed, (o. c.) l. 16 physical philosophy (cap.) page 2 l. 2 much, (much) l. 4 raving (ravings) l. l. 12 as (like) l. 31 eastward and westward (Eastward and Westward) l. 34 dusky-red (o. h.) page 3 l. 20 Indeed, (o. c.) l. 21 fears; (fears —) l. 23-24, however, (o. c.) l. 25 deck. — (.) l. 26 companion- (o. h.) l. 26 by (with) l. 33, in (in) l. 34 [page 308:] measure, (measure) page 4 l. l. her (all her) l. 7, upon (upon) l. 10 breakers; (,) l. 11, beyond ... imagination, (o. c.) l. 19 : — the (, and the) l. 31 injury: (—) l. 33 made (o.) l. 33 shifting of our ballast, — (difficulty in keeping free.) l. 34 blast (Simoom) page 5 l. 1 wind; (—) l. 3 dismay; (,) l. 15 S. (south) l. 16 — on (o. d.) l. 18 northward (cap.) l. 20 — There (o. d.) l. 21 clouds (clouds whatever) l. 26-27 , without ... polarized (unaccompanied by any ray) l. 27 sea, (o. c.) l. 33 not (not yet) l. 33 the Swede (him) page 6 l. 9 were (was) l. 10 ebony, — (.) l. 14 , as ... possible, (o. c.) l. 18 , however, (o. c.) l. 19 southward (cap.) l. 20 great (extreme) l. 23 anything (any thing) l. 27 ship; (—) l. 34 albatross (cap.) page 7 l. 1 bell (cap.) l. 3 kraken (cap.) l. 5-6 “. . .” (‘ ...’) l. 6 See! (! —) l. 7 ears, (, —) l. 8-9 red light (light) l. 9 streamed (rolled, as it were,) l. 15 of, perhaps, (of nearly) l. 16 more (of more) l. 22 from (off from) l. 28 her (her stupendous) l. 29 rose (rose up, like a demon of the deep,) l. 33 then (and then) page 8 l. 8 , with violence, (o. c.) l. 10 about; (,) l. 12 I (, 1)1. 16 indefinite (nameless and indefinite) l. 24 , in (o. c.) l. 34 himself, (o. c.) page 9 l. 3 and (, and) after ls. 7 and 18 omit asterisks l. 8 for (, for) l. 11 and (, and) l. 12 own, (o. c.) l. 13 never — (, —) l. 16 sense — (,) l. 24 mate — (, —) l. 28 write (write,) 1, 34 endeavour (endeavor) page 10 after l. 2 omit asterisks l. 4 operation (operations) l. 7 sails, (o. c.) l. 18 not, (o. c.) l. 18 perceive — (,) l. 25 such ... shadows (such shadows, as it were) after l. 27 omit asterisks page 11 l. 5 would have (has) l. 6-7 if ... means (i.) l. 6 distended (distended or swelled) l. 10-14 “ ...” (‘ ...’) l. 15 ago, (o. c.) l. 21 infirmity; (,) l. 22 decrepitude; (,) l. 23 wind; (,) l. 24 and (, and) l. 24 broken; (,) l. 25 years; (,) l. 27 , on ... deck, (o. c.) l. 29 omit asterisks l. 32 continued (held) l. 33 south (cap.) l. 33 her, (o. c.) l. 34 lower studding- (lower-studding) [page 309:] page 12 l. 2 water (water,) l. 8 for ever (forever) l. 12 gull; (,) l. 17 effect. — (.) l. 19 omit asterisks l. 27 height; (,) l. 30 face — (,) l. 31 age, (o. c.) l. 32-33 within ... ineffable (strikes upon my soul with the shock of a Galvanic battery) page 13 l. 1 years. — (.) l. 5 obsolete (obsolete,) l. 7 , with a fiery, unquiet eye, (o. c.) l. 11 low, (low,) l. 13 his (yet his) l. 14 mile . . . (omit asterisks) l. 17 centuries; (,) l. 18 meaning; (,) l. 24 ruin ... . (omit asterisks) l. 29 simoom (cap.) l. 30 ineffective? (!) page 14 l. 1 universe (Universe) l. 2 (omit asterisks) l. 3 current; (.) l. 6 southward (cap.) l. 7 ... omit asterisks l. 9 impossible; (—) l. 10 regions, (o. c.) l. 15 southern pole (Southern Pole) l. 15 itself — it (itself. It) l. 17 omit asterisks l. 19 step; (,) l. 22 and, (o. c.) l. 26 , in (o. c.) l. 34 thundering (shrieking).

Variations of The Gift from the text.

Motto: — A wet sheet and a flowing sea. — Cunningham.

Page 1 l. 3 one, (o. c.) l. 7 up. — (.) l. 7 things, (o. c.) l. 8 delight; (:) l. 9 any (my) l. 13 genius; (, —) l. 14 crime; (—) l. 20 whole, (o. c.) page 3 l. 8 Batavia, (o. c.) l. 10 islands (cap.) l. 11 raving (ravings) l. 16 and (, and) l. 16 oil, (o. c.) l. 23 course (course,) l. 27 cloud, (o. c.) l. 27 N. W. (north-west) l. 28 color (colour) l. 32 vapor (vapour) l. 34 dusky- (o. h.) page 3 l. 8 away, (;) l. 11 hair, (o. c.) l. 16 furled, (o. c.) l. 19 below — (;) l. 20 Indeed, (o. c.) l. 22 left me (went below) l. 23 a (me a) l. 23-24 , however, (o. c.) l. 26 loud, (o. c.) l. 26 companion- (o. h.) l. 27 by (with) l. 30 instant, (o. c.) l. 32 and, (o. c.) l. 33 blast (simoom) page 4 l. 1 her (all her)

l. 2-3 dismay; (,) l. 7 myself (myself,) l. 10 ; so (,) l. 11 , beyond (o. c.) l. 13 a while, (awhile) l. 19 overboard; (,) l. 20 the (and the) l. 22 assistance, (o. c.) l. 25 pack-thread, (packthread) l. 29 respect, (o. c.) [page 310:] l. 30 and, (o. c.) l. 31 ; but (—) l. 32-33 had ... ballast (had no great difficulty in keeping free) page 5 l. 3 , that (o. c.) l. 3 condition, (o. c.) l. 11 , which (o. c.) l. 14-15 S. E. and by South; (south east and by south,) l. 20 horizon — (,) l. 21 clouds (clouds whatever) l. 24 . It (— it) l. 25 gave out (emitted) l. 26-27 without ... polarized (unaccompanied by any ray) l. 30 rim, (o. c.) l. 32 the ... of (o.) l. 33 the Swede, (him) l. 33 not (not yet) page 6 l. 3 envelop (envelope) l. 4 to (, to) l. 8 or foam, (o. c.) l. 9 were (was) l. 9 around (around us) l. 9 thick (a thick) l. 10 black (black,) l. 12 wrapped (wrapt) l. 13 useless, (;) l. 14 that, (o. c.) l. 14 possible, (o. c.) l. 27 ship; (—) l. 34 albatross (cap.) page 7 l. 1 bell, (o. c.) l. 4 “We were” (not new par.) l. 5 , when (o. c.) l. 8 spoke, (o. c.) l. 8-9 of red (of) l. 9 streamed (rolled, as it were,) l. 13 height (height,) l. 16 more (of more) l. 16-17 hundred (million) l. 18 however (, however,) l. 19 southward (cap) l. 22 from (off from) l. 25 , was (was,) l. 28 bonus (stupendous bows) l. 29 rose (rose up, like a demon of the deep) l. 29 seen, (o. c.) l. 29 dim and horrible (everlasting,) l. 32 sublimity, ( —) l. 34 instant, (o. c.) page 8 l. 3 own (o.) l. 5-6 , consequently, (o. c.) l. 8 , with ... violence, (o. c.) l. 10 about; (,) l. 11 I (, I) l. 16 indefinite (nameless and indefinite) l. 20 offered, (o. c.) l. 27 work, (o. c.) l. 34 himself, (o. c.) page 9 l. 1 , in (o. c.) l. 1 low (low,) l. 6 God (s. l. ) l. 8 feeling, (o. c.) l. 8 name, (o. c.) l. 10 by-gone (o. h.) l. 11 inadequate, (—) l. 12 own (own,) l. 13 never — (o. d.) l. 17 sense — (, l. ) 24 part; (—) l. 24 will not (n. i.) page 10 l. 4 operation (operations) l. 6 and (, and had) l. 7 sails, (o. c.) l. 17 this (the) l. 18 is not (n. i.) l. 18 not, (o. c.) l. 19 is (n. i.) l. 20 model (model,) l. 21 spars, (—) l. 21 size (size,) l. 22 stem, (—) l. 24 things, ( —) l. 27 such (such indistinct) l. 28 of (, of) l. 32 porousness, (o. c.) page 11 l. 6 if ... distended (i.) l. 6 by (or snivelled by) l. 6-7 any ... means (i.) l. 8 sentence, (o. c.) l. 9 weather- (o. h.) l. 9 navigator (navigator,) l. 11 [page 311:] say, (o. c.) l. 12 veracity, (—) l. 19 at first (first) l. 21 infirmity; (—) l. 22 decrepitude; (—) l. 23 wind; (—) l. 24 broken; (—) l. 25 years; (—) l. 25 gray (grey) l. 27 them, (o. c.) l. 27 deck, (o. c.) l. 31 period (period,) l. 32 continued (held) l. 33 south (cap.) l. 34 lower-studding (o. h.) l. 35 her, (o. c.) page 13 l. 1 top-gallant (o. h.) l. 7 bulk (hulk) l. 7 swallowed (buried) l. 8 forever (for ever) l. 12 sea-gull; (sea gull,) l. 13 us (us,) l. 16 escapes (escapes from imminent and deadly peril) l. 20 face (face, and) l. 22 is (was) l. 27 height; (—) l. 27 is (is, I mean,) l. 29 nor (, nor) l. 32-33 which ... ineffable (which strikes upon the soul with the shock of a galvanic battery) page 13 l. 5 obsolete (obsolete,) l. 11 low (low,) l. 20 before, (;) l. 30 ineffective? (!) l. 34 ice, (o. c.) page 14 l. 3 current; (,) l. 9 impossible; (,) l. 10 regions, (o. c.) l. 13 knowledge — (,) l. 15 . It (; it) l. 15-16 southern pole (cap.) l. 17 wild (wild,) l. 18 favor (favour) l. 20 ship; (,) l. 23 , and, (o. c.) l. 28 circles, (o. c.) l. 28 round and round (round and round and round). [Omit asterisks, as in Southern Literary Messenger.]

Variations of 1840 from the text.

Page 1 l. 7 things, (p, c.) l. 7 up, — (.) l. 13 genius; (—) l. 14 crime; (—) l. 1 5 Indeed, (o. c.) page 2 l. 1 much, (o. c.) l. 12 as (like) l. 27 singular (singular,) page 3 l. 21 fears; (,) l. 25 deck. — (.) l. 27 by (with) l. 33-34 , in ... measure, (o. c.) page 4 l. 10 breakers; (,) l. 11 terrific, (o. c.) l. 11 , was (o. c.) l. 20 ; — the (, and the) l. 31 injury; (—) l. 33 ballast, — (.) l. 34 blast (Simoom) page 5 l. 2 ; but ( —) l. 2-3 dismay; (,) l. 15 S. (south) l. 16 Holland. — (.) l. 18 northward. — (.) l. 21 light. — (.) l. 22 clouds (clouds whatever) l. 27-28 glow ... polarized, (glow unaccompanied by any ray.) l. 27 sea, (o. c.) page 6 l. 10 ebony. — (.) l. 14 , as (o. c.) l. 14 , to (o. c.) l. 27 ship; (—) l. 34 albatross (cap.) page 7 l. 3 kraken (cap.) l. 6-7 cried ... ears, (— cried ... ears, —) l. 13 , perhaps, (nearly) l. 14 [page 312:] more (of more) l. 22 from (off from) l. 23 lanterns (lanterns,) l. 28 bows (stupendous bows) l. 29 rose (rose up, like a demon of the deep) ] page 8 l. 6 God (s. l.) l. 8 , with ... violence, (o. c.) l. 10 about; (,) l. 12 own, (o. c.) l. 13 never — (, —) l. 14 never — (,) l. 16 An (A nameless and) after l. 18 (o. asterisks) l. 24 , in (o. c.) l. 25 mate — (, —) page 10 l. 2 (o. asterisks) l. 9 , I (o. c.) l. 28 (o. asterisks) page 11 l. 5 would have (has) l. 6-7 , if ... means, (i.) l. 14 (o. asterisks) l. 21 infirmity, (,) l. 21-23-24- 25 ; (,) l. 27 them, (o. c.) l. 27 deck, (o. c.) l. 29 (o. asterisks) l. 32 continued (held) l. 33 her, (o. c.) page 12 l. 7 swallowed (buried) l. 17 effect, — (.) l. 19 (o. asterisks) l. 27 ; that (,) l. 30 face — (,) page 13 l. 7 pored, (o. c.) l. 7 eye, (o. c.) l. 10 , as (—) l. 11 hold, (—) l. 14 (o. asterisks) l. 17 centuries; (—) l. 18 meaning; (,) l. 19 lanterns (lantherns) l. 30 ineffective? (!) page 14 l. 2 (o. asterisks) l. 8 ... (o.) l. 9; yet (—) l. 10 regions (o. c.) l. 16 . It (— it) l. 18 ... (o. asterisks) l. 20 step; (,) l. 23 and, (o. c.) l. 34 thundering (shrieking) l. 34 of (o.).

Variations of Griswold from text.

Page 1 l. 6 methodize (methodise) l. 7 very (o.) l. 7 up. — (.) page 3 l. 21 Simoom (Simoon) l. 25 deck. — (.) page 4 l. 9 , at first, (o. c.) l. 15 of our (of) l. 19 ; — the (;) page 5 l. 3 that, (o. c.) l. 11 which, (o. c.) l. 12 Simoom (Simoon) l. 16 Holland. — (.) l. 18 northward, — (.) l. 20 light, — (.) page 6 l. 5 too (, too) l. 10 ebony, — (.) page 7 l. 1 ship (ship,) l. 15 , perhaps, (o. c.) l. 18 India (Indian) page 8 l. 6 already (nearly) l. 13 unperceived (, unperceived,) page 9 l. 5 , and (o. c.) l. 20 think, (o. c.) l. 25 mate — (;) l. 31 endeavour (endeavor) page 10 l. 5 Chance (s. l. ) l. 13 omit asterisks l. 18 — what (;) l. 19 I (, I) l. 22 canvass (canvas) page 11 l. 8 a (, a) l. 15 thrust (trust) l. 24 and (, and) l. 30 some (, some) l. 30 ago (ago,) l. 31 the (, the) l. 33 canvass (canvas) l. 34 trucks [page 313:] (truck) page 12 l. 8 forever (for ever) l. 9 Eternity (s. l. ) l. 15 and (, and) l. 15 led (led) l. 17 effect, — (.) l. 24 man — (,) l. 24 still (still,) l. 26 he (, he) l. 29 remarkably (remarkable) page 13 l. 1 years. — (.) l. 2 Sybils (s. l. ) l. 7 fiery (fiery,) l. 10 , as (—) l. 11 hold, (—) l. 12 , and (;) l. 25 me (me,) l. 29 the (, the) l. 29 simoom (simoon) l. 31 is (, is) page 14 l. 4 ; if (—) l. 20 countenances (countenance) l. 24 canvass (canvas) l. 25 sea — (!) l. 26 the (— the) l. 31 — the (! The) l. 34 and of (and) page 15 l. 1 , oh (—). l. 2 down, (!.)