Text: Uneda, “Edgar A. Poe a Plagiarist,” Notes and Queries (London, UK), June 21, 1876, p. 526, col. 2

[page 526, column 2:]

EDGAR A. POE A PLAGIARIST (5th S. v. 336, 377.J — MR. J. H. INGRAM has taken exception to an opinion of mine that Poe was a most unprincipled man, and also to my assertion that he borrowed his story of The Gold Bug without acknowledging his indebtedness. The columns of “N. & Q.” are not the proper place for argument upon the first point. MR. INGRAM says that he knew Poe — I also knew him. I have written, privately, to MR. INGRAM my reasons for the very decided opinion that I entertain upon Poe's moral character. It is imagination, and another thing to believe him a one thing to admit the excellence of a writer's valuable member of society. I will only add that I never heard any one in this country express any other opinion than that which I entertain respecting the character of Poe. Mr. Duffee has furnished me with the following remarks upon the subject of Poe's borrowing the story of The Gold Bug: —

“I did accuse Edgar A. Poe of plagiarism, a charge which was never disproved. He borrowed not only the plot but the language of Miss Georgiana Sherburne’a tale of Imogene; or, the Pirate's Treasure. In fact, Miss Sherburne (daughter of Col. Sherburne, U.S.A.) informed me, in the first place, of the plagiarism, and I exposed Poe in an article in one of our daily papers, for which he commenced a libel suit, and employed Mr. David Paul Brown, who, after receiving a letter from me, soon dismissed the matter, for very good reasons.”

I may add to the above that the authoress of Imogene is now residing in New York, the wife of a son of one of the most distinguished commodores in the American navy.

UNEDA.

Philadelphia.