Text; Edmund C. Stedman, “Poe and His Critics,” Athenaeum (London, UK), June 12, 1880, p. 760, col. 2

[page 760, column 2, continued:]

New York, May 26, 1880.

In the Athenæum of May 15th, Mr. John H. Ingram makes a sharp assault upon me for a recent article in Scribner's Monthly, entitled ‘Edgar Allan Poe.’ I referred in that article to the fact that writers upon Poe have been divided chiefly into two classes — the poet's blind devotees and those who have found nothing good in him. It is natural that a judicial review of his life and works should fail to please either of these classes. Mr. Ingram thinks 1 have not done justice to his own services as a biographer. I mentioned him politely, and certainly meant him no harm. But it is too much to expect that a critic who ventures to review a poet in whom certain writers claim a right of property should also take sides in the “irrepressible conflict” over the merits of their respective biographies. So far as the existing results of the labours of Mr. Ingram or Mr. Gill, or any other of these gentlemen, are concerned, there still is room for all the improvements that are to distinguish the forthcoming work by Mr. Ingram, which I courteously have advertised for him.

Mr. Ingram goes out of the record when he associates my review with any articles by other persons. He must have read very loosely the portions in which his own name is not mentioned if he considers them “depreciation” of Poe's moral character. In stating expressly that Poe was not “immoral,” the worst charge I brought against him was that he lacked strength of will. What possible “motive” could I have for circulating “calumnies” upon a poet who belonged to a former generation, and for whose genius I have expressed nothing but admiration? If I know my own heart, the review was written with tender sympathy, “with charity for all, with malice toward none,” and it has thus been received by all critics in America and England, except my present assailant. In preparing it I resolved that I would not be drawn into any “Poe controversy,” and, therefore, shall say no more on this subject. It is hardly worth while to quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, even though we have hazel eyes.

EDMUND C. STEDMAN.

⁂ We cannot insert any more letters on this subject.