Text: John H. Ingram, “Edgar Poe,” Athenaeum (London, UK), whole no. 2742, May 15, 1880, p. 632, cols. 2-3

[page 632, column 2, continued:]

EDGAR POE.

FROM time to time articles depreciative of the moral character of Edgar Poe have appeared in Scribner's Monthly. The motive of these writings is understood in the United States, but in the United Kingdom, where the publication also circulates now, is scarcely so likely to be comprehended. The current month's number, in an article on ‘Edgar Allan Poe,’ besides some réchauffé calumnies on the dead poet, contains what I cannot but deem a libel on myself when it states that “ we are indebted chiefly to Mr. Gill for an enthusiastic and diligent exploration of Poe's early life, in which he has corrected numerous errors of Griswold and other writers, and brought to light facts of genuine interest.” In the Athenæum of January 15th, 1876, I proved conclusively that Mr. Gill had never published anything about Poe until long after my vindication of the poet had appeared, and that nearly the whole of his book was “borrowed” — is that the proper term for it? — from my writings. He copied whole pages of my ‘Memoir of Poe’ verbatim. In many of the letters cited I made omissions in order to bring the essay within the limits assigned by the publishers. In Mr. Gill's copy the same omissions occur, as do also the same typographical errata, alterations in punctuation, and, indeed, every similarity needed to prove theft, were that not already proved by the impossibility of his having obtained all the same pièces justificatives, and formed similar theories on them to mine. Mr. Stedman, the writer in Scribner, speaks of an acquaintance with my writings on Poe; if he had compared dates he need not have repeated Mr. Gill's claim, my refutation of which was copied from the Athenæum into most of the leading American newspapers.

Mr. Stedman, it may be added, whilst disclaiming a biographical object for his article, contrives to reiterate various exploded libels on Poe, but this is scarcely likely to excite surprise when he is found referring for a “pen-portrait” of the poet to the late C. F. Briggs: of all the persons who slandered the author of ‘The Raven’ this man's slanders were the worst. During Poe's lifetime Briggs published such disgraceful allegations against him that the poet was compelled to sue the man for libel, and obtained heavy damages. Briggs had his revenge in the “pen-portrait” referred to. After various gross imputations on the dead poet, culminating in the utterly unfounded assertion that Mrs. Clemm was frequently compelled to call for help to prevent Poe “committing violence upon the unresisting and helpless creature” his wife, he avers that “what rendered him so obnoxious to those who knew him intimately were his treachery to his friends, his insincerity, his utter disregard of his moral obligations, and his total lack of loyalty and nobleness of purpose.” And this is “the kindly hearted” journalist — the man who deemed Griswold “restrained by a foolish delicacy” in his vilification of the dead poet — to whom Mr. Stedman resorts for his characterization of his illustrious fellow countryman. In my forthcoming biography of Edgar Allan Poe it is to be trusted that in adopting [column 3:] the more consistent views of the American jury who adjudicated upon Briggs and his entourage, I shall prove to have at least truth on my side.

JOHN H. INGRAM.