Text: John C. Miller, ed., “Entry 083: John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman, Jan. 27 and Jan. 29, 1875,” Poe's Helen Remembers (1979), pp. 250-255 (This material is protected by copyright)

[page 250, continued:]

83. John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman

My very dear Friend,

First let me remark re. the address. It is on the tapis, but very uncertain, that I may have to start on a tour for Government, of two or more months duration, through Great Britain & Ireland &, if this come to pass, my letters may find me some days earlier than if sent “to home” — so until you hear again, kindly direct as above.

In the second place, I feel very unwell & seems as if something wretched were going to happen, but don’t mind this. I feel a relief in disburthening my mind to you — to you who seem so near & yet so visionary to me — who seem almost like a guardian angel, one whom I would love to see & yet almost deem it better not to. However, I do hope yet to see you.

Before dashing into my business affairs, let me inform you that I have had a charming letter from Miss Peckham & that I have just answered her. She growls that you do not answer her, but I said you [page 251:] were unwell & begged her to keep up the correspondence. I do trust, however, that you are better.

And now for your first letter [Jan. 4]. Re. Stoddard's “Memoir” — I have written a letter for the New York papers, & shall send it off in a few days, pitching into Stoddard. Had he confined his mean & scurrilous insinuations to America I would have overlooked them, but this “Memoir” is addressed “to English readers.” Don’t mind what I say. I’m quite able to hold my own against anything Mr. S[toddard] can say or do — in fact, if he is prudent he won’t make much “pother,” or I shall “drop him a hotter one.” Pardon my phraseology. I shall send you a copy of the letter. It only dissects a portion of his “original” “Memoir.” There are some plums reserved to sweeten another dose, if he need it. I wonder how he picked up the name of “Gilliet”? Strange to say, that is a name given me as a clue to Poe's life in England as a boy — where the Allans resided here.

I have not had much space in my review of Curwen's Sorrow & Song for Poe, who is only one of six biographies — but will send you the Academy with it in it. Next Saturday (30th) I expect it out. I have alluded to you & I don’t think you’ll [horsewhip me?] for what I’ve said. Curwen, for obvious reasons, says Poe was engaged to the wealthiest woman in New England — and I have taken the liberty of saying that the lady “to whom he was engaged” (as you will see) “was not, is not even rich.” You don’t object to that — do you?

Why did not Mr. Harris buy the [18]29 edition? Can he tell me the price & the place? If anything within reason I should like it. There is a copy in the Peabody Institute, Baltimore, & I am hoping for a copy in MS. of it. Curwen quotes the omitted poems included in Stoddard's complete collection.

Thanks for your kind furnishing of particulars. There was, undoubtedly, an 1827 volume. Will Mr. Harris lend the 1831 edition? It is not to hand. Would he like “Rhododaphne” & has he a spare copy of Pinckney's Poems? Perhaps Poe was right about the lady's name. I spoke on her own authority, but that is not very reliable, I know — but I saw a letter from her husband to Griswold which corroborated her statement. Nevertheless, Mr. Harris is probably correct — will you tell him what I say? Only don’t mention more names than needful. I’ll fight any number of men but I don’t want an embroglio with any ladies. “Details” were given at her request.

I am thankful for any criticism you will take the trouble to make about my “Memoir” & shall be only too glad to get any suggestion from you. You know the work is very different to what I intended & to what the life shall be. The “Ulalume” I will try & adopt your word, but the second edition, I fancy, is already printed. Poe's lecture shall be put [page 252:] right. I will adopt what I can of your corrections, as you know, but I shall not put — quite as you say it — about Poe's literary estimates being influenced by personal feeling, but shall have something to say on that point. “The beautiful young widow” — if you desire it — shall be left out & the other matters duly attended to, but a distinct denial of Griswold's story may be necessary. I don’t know, however, but that I may be able to entirely ignore Griswold & the whole fry of insectivorous vermin in The Life, & you may be sure that, if possible, I shall do so. I’m sorry that I made the allusions to you more personal than you wished. I thought that I had confined my remarks to authorised allusions, but I hope we shall live, & I think we must, to see my complete Life. No one will ever have the chance to write Poe's life so faithfully, I fancy, as I shall. I have every date & circumstance at my fingers’ ends. I only want a short tour through the States to complete my information. You shall not be “one of the finest poets” — the praise is not, in my opinion, high.

Now for your second letter [Jan. 7]. I delayed my reply until I had seen Mrs. Nichols who has just been to London for a couple of days. I have seen her this afternoon & have promised to visit her residence at Malvern. She promises to go to work systematically to help me & will not leave a stone unturned to do so. She had (in compliance with an earnest desire of Mrs. Clemm) written “Reminiscences of Poe” for a series of sketches in the Leader, & this article was, apparently, the one reprinted in the Sixpenny, but with alterations, I think. Can you return it to me to send Mrs. Nichols? Perhaps it was from Mrs. Nichols & another paper.

Miss E. Blackwell is in Paris. I will write to her. But I understand Mrs. Nichols to state positively — although old & nearly sightless, entre nous, she is very positive — that Miss E. Blackwell never boarded at Fordham & that — this she insists on — the Fordham home was given up by Poe & his mother-in-law long before his death. Can you lighten this darkness? Between us twain I speak everything in confidence of all these witnesses, but to each of them separately, am careful — each one having some bitter enmity for each other. Of you only do all speak well. En passant, is Elizabeth Blackwell the Doctor Blackwell?(1) I forgot to ask — but shall have to write soon. Mrs. Nichols asks for Stoddard's “Memoir.” She is surprised at him trying to throw stones at Poe & expected something better from him. Griswold, she says, was a man of such infamous character that no one could mention his name in decent society. Stoddard's misstatements re. poems go for naught. I have alluded to omission of “To Helen” in my letter. Mrs. Clemm, I fancy, married (once) a widower. Mrs. Nichols, with great probability, deems the literary lady, whose correspondence Griswold offered to buy, to be the lady about an error in whose name I have just written [page 253:] you. This seems feasible. She was well off, & Griswold could doubtless have got a good sum profit for the letters. Mrs. O's letters, I do not think Griswold needed — he knew all about her, I fancy? An American friend of mine has sent me a parody on “The Bells” & they are so apropos to my letter re. Stoddard, that I must use two MS. verses in my letter. You will comprehend, but I do not mention my friend's name for fear of postal or other mishaps. I told you that I had written to M.L.S. (Mrs. Houghton) by advice of Mrs. Nichols. I have just received an answer containing one of Poe's own.letters — ’tis short. M.L.S. was, says Mrs. Nichols, like an angel to the Poes. I’m very tired but will copy Poe's letter for you, but don’t give it or show it to any one. I must keep all private now, I fear, for my Life.

Mrs. Houghton (M.L.S.) is going to help all in her power to go over Griswold's “Memoir” & point out the statements “which are not only cruel & malicious but false.”

Do you know any “A. B. Harris”? There is a short account of the Poes in their worst time at Philadelphia, signed by this A.B.H. in Hearth & Home (New York) a few weeks ago.(2) It is friendlily written. I must get it confirmed. It gives a terrible account of the miseries of the family at one time, Poe, wife, & mother.

Unfortunately Blacks cannot get that portrait done in time for Vol. iv. It must do for the Life — if possible. I am savage that you did not get your other vols. It seems it was thro’ Scribner ‘s London house. I’ll send the set next month & the portrait. I send you a spare critique by a young admirer of Poe's — a clever young fellow who has been in America. Favourable reviews have recently appeared in several more first class papers — even where the reviewers have had to buy copies. Blacks are so tardy in sending — & I hear the Quarterlies are preparing long reviews. Griswold will never “make head” in England any more, I am gratified to say. The Academy was the only really not flattering one & the critic thinks to please me better in noticing the poems.

Do you know anything of F. W. Thomas, author of Howard Pinckney, &C.?(3) Stoddard quotes interesting extracts from letters to him from Poe. [page 254:] I should like them confirmed. I doubt Stoddard's correctness of quotation — he makes mistakes. I have asked Davidson if he can get anything from Thomas, but I am getting quite ashamed of the trouble I’m giving him. And now a short goodbye. I’ll tell more anon from the Baltimore letters, from the Mrs. Clemm letters. I am tired out, my dear, dear friend, so au revoir.

Through a stupid forgetfulness I did not send your letter forward, so can just reply to yours dated [Jan.] 15th.

In first place, do you think Mr. Harris would mind sending the 1831 edition by post registered? This would be as safe as any other mode of transit. I would return it in 2 or 3 days, with postage. Would he like “Rhododaphne”?

The other vols. of my Works I am most annoyed about your not getting — ’twas through the negligence of Scribner's London agent. Will forward next week.

Had I time to finish my comments on Mrs. Clemm's letters you would have seen why she wrote these things to Neilson Poe — he was thinking of writing a “Memoir” of his cousin & brother-in-law &. therefore asked Mrs. Clemm for information. More of this anon.

The official copies of the trial are valuable, as they place beyond doubt that absence from parades was the only charge made against him at West Point officially. Mr. Davidson is very kind indeed.

The fragment of a letter you allude to I felt assured was written by some one not quite mentally right. I have had some sad experience in mental maladies & can see this clearer, perhaps, than the uninitiated.

On reference to Stoddard's book, I see that it was printed in England, but not in London. I rather fancy S[toddard] & Curwen have some knowledge of each other. I must be quite assured about the verbatim affair before I bring it forward.

Can, & why did not, Mr. Harris procure the 1829 edition? Let me know the price. In the Philobiblion — would I could prove it Stoddard's! — “Poe's well-known mendacity” is mentioned. The very words of Stoddard.

Next in unpleasantness to the Academy notice was the Saturday Review, which you say you can see. Did I send you the Spectator? Some parts of that were very good. As praise from high quarters to me, Daily News, Examiner, & School Board Chronicle may be mentioned.

Forget & forgive my stupid & uncalled-for remarks about the letter from R[ose Peckham]. ’Twas very kind of you to let me see it. I don’t think Graham is alive; only Gill sees the advantage of holding his appearance in terrorem over dissenters. Wyatt & the “Conchology” [page 255:] story must be cleared up. I am anxious to see Lotos Leaves with Gill's account of Poe — ’tis reprinting here. Entre nous, I cannot help thinking Gill is — well, never mind. ’Tis all the same. And now, once more, au revoir.

 

1. Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910) was a pioneer in opening the medical profession to women. She entered the medical school at Geneva, N.Y., in 1847, later studied at La Maternite and Hôtel Dieu, Paris, and St. Bartholomew's, London. She established her medical practice in New York in 1851, founded a hospital, and, in 1867, in conjunction with her sister, Dr. Emily Blackwell, organized Woman's Medical College of New York Infirmary.

2. A. B. Harris, “Edgar A. Poe,” Hearth and Home, 8 (Jan. 9, 1875), 24. This is a maudlin account of Edgar Poe's pride, deep love for Virginia and Mrs. Clemm, and his inability to control his drinking; of Virginia's youth, beauty, lovely singing voice as well as her lying in a room so small that the ceiling almost touched her head, after she had ruptured a blood vessel in her throat; and of Mrs. Clemm's devotion to the pair of them through all of the sufferings and hardships brought on by their bitter poverty.

3. Frederick William Thomas (1806-1866), journalist, author, and devoted friend of Poe's, tried to help the poet get a government job under the John Tyler administration. Poe reviewed Thomas’ first novel, Clinton Bradshaw, or the Adventures of a Lawyer (Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1835), not very favorably in the Southern Literary Messenger, Dec. 1835. See Harrison, ed., Works, VIII, 109-10.