Text: John H. Ingram, “Recollections of Edgar Allan Poe,” Athenaeum (London, UK), January 25, 1890, p. 117, col. 1

[page 117, column 1:]

’RECOLLECTIONS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE.’

In the first number of Lambert's Monthly, a new publication, is inserted an article purporting to be ‘Recollections of Edgar Allen [sic] Poe.’ Being over the signature of a veteran writer and an American, these so-called ‘ Recollections,’ although full of impossible events and improbable statements, may mislead many. As evidence of the faulty memory of their author, Mr. Howard Paul, I may refer to the very circumstantial account given of the composition of Poe's well-known poem of ‘Israfel.’ According to Mr. Paul's ‘Recollections,’ his uncle, Mr. T. C. Clarke, pointed out a passage in the Koran about Israfel to Poe, and suggested it as a good theme for a poem. Poe, being in the proper mood, agreed to compose fifty lines on the subject in less than sixty minutes, and then and there accomplished the feat. Asa matter of fact the ‘Israfel’ quoted from as the result of this performance in 1842 or 1843 had been published by its author in 1831. It would puzzle Mr. Paul or any one else to produce a copy of the “Mohammedan Bible” containing the passage said to have been pointed out by Mr. Clare.

Other “recollections” in this remarkable article are quite as great feats of memory, but scarcely need analysis after what has already been stated; but it would be interesting to know where is the letter to John Howard Payne, which “has never before appeared in print,” and whence Mr. Paul cites a very well-known paragraph by Poe on criticism. The letter is, perchance, kindred to one sold at public auction a few weeks ago, which, although purporting to be by Poe to his wife, was dated a year after her death, and was on a subject not thought of until some time after her burial.

JOHN H. INGRAM.