Text: John C. Miller, ed., “Entry 086: John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman, Mar. 14, 1875,” Poe's Helen Remembers (1979), pp. 260-264 (This material is protected by copyright)

[page 260, continued:]

86. John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman

My dear Friend,

By this superscription you will see that I have not yet departed upon the proposed official tour — nothing is yet settled, and at present it seems to be a “toss up” whether I go or not. This is just the time of the year when I always feel sentimentally inclined, but luckily for your patience I have so very much to talk about that I must, perforce, spare you a long tirade on my fancies & feelings.

Forgive me that I have so long delayed a letter. I have been unwell again — in bed two days (and ought to have been there longer) with influenza, and have been working hard — too hard — and also have had to go to three dinner parties in one week. My excuses seem too many, I perceive. Some times I wish that I could “cut” all my friends & start afresh in “fresh fields & pastures new.” What can I do in literature? Imprisoned at my office until 4 o’clock, I get home tired out, &, if not compelled to go somewhere — and, indeed, it is not from any encouragement they get from me, that people ask me out — I attempt to answer my letters, or do something literary. But a few of the things I project can I ever hope to accomplish — but to my muttons.

Have you heard from Miss Peckham? My last has remained so long unanswered. Mrs. Oakes Smith wrote me a long rambling letter about nothing, entre nous, & I have not had time to answer it. Many thanks for E. Benson's comparative views of Poe and Hawthorne.(1) If you want it back say so and I will copy any part I may want & return it. I return Miss Blackwell's letter with thanks. I am grieved you never got the “Recollections of E. Poe” from the Sixpenny — it is a great loss. I sent it, I am certain, and, I fancy, by bookpost, done up with some other papers relating to Poe. I had only extracted a portion & in my longer [page 261:] life could have made use of some more of it. The paper would appear to have been a copy of one contributed by Mrs. Nichols to the Leader, an American paper. Owing to Mrs. Nichols’ suggestion, I did not send my letter re. Stoddard's “Memoir” to the New York papers, but I am now determined to do so, for the following reasons. In the first place, it is addressed to English readers & has been published here by Routledge — although, apparently, without being sent to the reviewers. Secondly, I have received a verbatim copy of the 1829 edition of the poems, as far as beginning of “Tamerlane” — the remainder to follow — and find that they are verbatim with the later editions. Stoddard undoubtedly knows this & in calling Poe's note “mendacious” is fully aware that he lies himself. Mr. Harris is undoubtedly right in deeming Stoddard the author of the paper in the Philobiblion — he was then writing for it, and “H.R.,” by which it is signed, is only “R.H.” reversed. So much for Stoddard! I must get Davidson — who is a real friend — to send me Harper's New Monthly with the account of “Poe at West Point,” for Stoddard it seems suppressed all that was in favour of Poe in the paper & made it appear to his prejudice.(2)

As regards the Nichols — Mrs. Nichols was very friendly & promised to write me out a long paper (or rather dictate for me, as her sight is so bad) on Poe. She was, as I have said, the author of the Sixpenny Maga. paper. Now strictly between ourselves & the post, I cannot rely very much upon the accuracy or the friendliness of either the Dr. or his wife. I trust that I am not misjudging them. But the Dr., I am sure, to make a point, would not trouble himself about the trustworthiness of his information. He has written me some information about Griswold unfit for publication &, indeed, everybody now seems to have discovered that Griswold was a villain of the very deepest dye. For my part, in my next “Memoir” I hope to be enabled to ignore him completely. Dr. Nichols has just published a 2nd edition of his Forty Years of American Life & therein “pitches into” everything & everybody.(3) I have got him a few good reviews. He speaks of Poe as a gentleman & a genius, &c. but recounts two anecdotes of his drunken ways. One, that he sold a hoax to a paper & when it was brought out as an “extra” & was selling largely, he (Poe) who had got drunk, went before the publishing office & told the crowd that it was all a hoax — that he (Poe) had written it, &c., &c. The 2nd anecdote evidently refers to Poe's engagement with you — its rupture — & is little different to Griswold's account.

Curwen's book has been noticed in the chief papers & nearly all of them compare his account of Poe with my “Memoir” & certainly not to Curwen's advantage. My review of his book in the Academy came out yesterday.(4) I will send it together with review of my work in the Athenaeum for fear you should not see them. I expect Moy Thomas [page 262:] wrote this last — ’tis a strange review, but I am very glad to see the way in which it speaks of your book.

I have not been able to see Gill's “Memoir” yet. Lotos Leaves has been published in London, but at 21 shillings, and I cannot find for certain that it contains Gill's life. I must wait until I can see it at some store — or the Museum, as the price is too much for a chance. But in truth I’ve not had time to investigate the matter.

I enclose you a long account of my book, by Moncure Conway, published in Cincinnati. My most important communication, however, has been from “M.L.S.” — Mrs. Houghton. I hope on a future occasion to give you fuller particulars, but when I tell you that she has sent me some of Poe's letters & many of Mrs. Clemm's and 44 pages of her own writing, you will see that there was something in it. She has also sent me the original transcript by Poe, written in her presence, of “The Bells” & has sent me two books (which have not yet come to hand) but which I beieve [[believe]] are the 1845 Poems & Tales! Her information & assistance will be invaluable. She was with Poe during a long illness & during that time, at his request, took down in pencil the events of his life. This account, she hopes to find for me! Also a long unpublished poem which she gave Poe 25 dollars for. She says she offered Griswold $500 not to publish his “Memoir” of Poe, but Mrs. Clemm marred all by her unhappy intervention. Poe's first love was named Mary Star. There is the “Mary” I was seeking for — and the lady is supposed to be still alive & married. She was (M. Star) very kind to Poe during his wife's last illness. He also told Mrs. Shew (now Houghton) of some “Helen,” doubtless Mrs. Stanard. I cannot now tell you all as I want to answer your letter, but you will see what new sources I am opening up. O! That I could visit America! I must & will! I thoroughly rely upon Mrs. Houghton. I can tell that from her letter.(5)

I do believe in chirography as the enclosed proof may give you a humorous example, “Don Felix” being “John Ingram.” Only don’t tell anyone. I am writing a series & expect to see it republished in America. I wish to preserve my anonymousness at present as it affords me greater freedom of opinion.(6) Whenever I can steal a few moments I shall try & copy some of Mrs. Shew's information for you. And now for your own dear letter.

Godey's present address came in Mrs. Houghton's letter — together with interesting reminiscence of Poe by the Revd. Dr. Hopkins.(7) I would not, however, mention anything of Mrs. Houghton's information at present, until I get her permission. The two books have never arrived from Mrs. H[oughton]. If they are lost it will be a shame. Your other vols. through no fault of mine, or even of Blacks, have never gone off. Blacks sent them to Scribner's agent here in London. They [page 263:] delayed them, & I fancy purposely, & now I cannot discover how to send them save separately by post — & your engraving of Poe too! But, envente, I do not seem to get a moment to inquire about, or do anything, save at the risk of leaving something else of importance undone. I shall get into a complete maelström one of these days & “finish off” in a flourish.

Do you know a Mr. —— Fiske Harris? He has sent me a catalogue of his American library of Poetry & the Drama!(8) Perhaps at your suggestion? As soon as I can I will look thru it. Have you seen any American notices of my “Memoir”? Now to your letter —

I should have remembered that it was Anna & not Elizabeth Blackwell who boarded at Fordham, but to Mrs. Nichols I merely said Miss Blackwell, so she might have recollected, but I certainly understood her to ignore Miss Blackwell's residence at Fordham. I will ask her again in my next. By the way, did not Mrs. Clemm ever mention Mrs. Shew to you? She was very much indebted to Mrs. S[hew], apparently. The letter Miss Blackwell received from Poe, have you now? If so, dare I ask a copy? When I see Gill's account I shall be glad to get any corrections of yours to it. Also I shall always be glad to get your corrections & suggestions re. my present & proposed “Memoir.” I have seen about 40 reviews of my book & only the Saturday Review unfavourable, & that not so bad for it. I fancy the Spectator was the best, that is, the most talented. I did not care much for the Examiner — but there, I don’t believe in reviews.

You speak of the 1850 edition (Redfield's). Is not that the one might Griswold's “Memoir” [sic]. I am ending this from home — Oh! of course it is! But I did not seem to recollect that it gave a positive date for Poe's leaving Fordham. Don’t trouble to answer this paragraph. All your suggestions are valued & will receive my most careful consideration &, doubtless, in many instances be acted upon but, if not in all, you will know that only weighty reasons will prevent their use. But my next life of Poe will be an entirely new &, I feel, a far better & more literary work. My only dread is that I may not live to complete it.

And now, my ever dear friend, once more a mental shake hands. Never forego sending me a few lines, whenever you can, because you do not think you have anything of importance to tell me. I value every word of yours, it is no flattery but honest truth to say, and look for your letters most longingly. But now, goodbye for the present. I hope to write again soon. And remain, believe me, so long as thought is mine, yours most faithfully & affectionately.

P.S. My paper on Poe has appeared in the New York International & I will request Davidson to send you a copy. On looking thro’ it, it has [page 264:] occurred to me that you may not like the second paragraph allusion to ancestry, but I hope you will not be annoyed — pray forgive me — I did not think of your labours at the moment. In fact the allusion tells as much against me as against anyone. But, perhaps, you will not look at it in an unfavourable light.

 

1. For Eugene Benson's “The American Critic,” see p. 129, n. 4.

2. “Poe at West Point,” Harper's New Monthly, 35 (Nov. 1867) 754-56, is unsigned: it was written by Thomas W. Gibson, a classmate of Poe's at the academy. See Item 542 in the Ingram Poe Collection.

3. Thomas Low Nichols, Forty Years of American Life, 2d ed. (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1874). Materials about Poe are on pages 230-31.

4. A reprint follows.

5. Mrs. Marie Louise Barney Shew Houghton (d. Sept. 3, 1877) was truly to be of great help to Ingram in his efforts to build Poe biography. At times she was puzzling, if not actually exasperating, but he never lost faith in her, nor, apparently, she in him. Her letters to him are reproduced in Building Poe Biography, pp. 89-145, admittedly incomplete, for, volumnious as they are, they were all written in 1875, and her correspondence certainly continued until her death. Trouble developed between Ingram and her family, aided by Eugene L. Didier of Baltimore, as they attempted to regain the many valuable letters from Poe, manuscripts, books, and the miniature of Poe's mother that Mrs. Houghton had sent to Ingram which he understood to be gifts. The supposition is that Ingram separated from his Poe papers those letters from her that would help to prove his case and they were never replaced.

Daughter and granddaughter of well-known New York physicians, Mrs. Houghton certainly thought of herself as a doctor, too. After her introduction into the Poe household at Fordham by Mrs. Mary Gove Nichols, she nursed Virginia until she died, provided her burial clothes, and after the funeral continued to nurse Edgar through a long sickness that followed, during which time he dictated to her fanciful accounts of a trip he had made to France, a duel he had fought, poems and a story he had written, all of which Mrs. Houghton relayed to Ingram; he in turn muddied the waters of Poe biography with them.

Mrs. Houghton correctly diagnosed Poe's principal physical trouble as a lesion of the brain, and she took him to the famed Dr. Valentine Mott for confirmation. It was she, too, who made the only painting known of Virginia Poe; after Virginia's death they propped her body up in bed, and Mrs. Houghton, who could paint with water colors, made the portrait that is now so well known.

6. In imitation of Poe's “Autography,” Ingram began publishing a series of articles called “The Philosophy of Handwriting,” by Don Felix de Salamanca, in which he attempted to analyze the characters of contemporary British and American authors as they revealed themselves in their autographs.

7. John Henry Hopkins (1820-1891) was a divinity student in a New York seminary when he met Poe, through Mrs. Shew, and heard him expound his pantheistic ideas. Hopkins was a very close friend of Mrs. Shew's and he was apparently afraid that Poe's ideas and personality would prove to be socially and morally dangerous for her; she, in turn, seemed to be inexplicably afraid of offending Hopkins.

8. This is one of the most incomprehensible sentences in any of Ingram's letters. He had known Caleb Fiske Harris, through Mrs. Whitman, for certainly over a year, had written to him and had borrowed copies of Poe's books from him, as well as seeking his advice and help, and even heeding both sometimes.