Text: John C. Miller, ed., “Entry 098: John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman, May 18 and May 20, 1875,” Poe's Helen Remembers (1979), pp. 289-294 (This material is protected by copyright)

[page 289, continued:]

98. John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman

My dear Mrs. Whitman,

This will not go off before Thursday 20th, next mail day, but my budgets grow so, & so much escapes my mind now-a-days when writing that I must begin when I can.

I am trying to find some means of sending your books by parcel instead of having to trust them to the untender mercies of the post. Although I long for you to have them, I shall be grieved for you to get them battered, or some vol. missing, for I don’t think they may all go, [page 290:] per post, in one parcel. A letter of Poe's to his wife, & a daguerreotype of Poe, both sent by Mrs. Houghton, have not yet reached me, although sent off last March. I do hope & pray that they are not lost. Out of all my correspondence with America, as yet, your vol. of poems is all — bad enough certainly — that I have yet lost. Even the paper in the Sixpenny — which I said I had sent you — has “turned up.” I had put it, apparently, into a letter of yours that I was answering, & omitted, I suppose, to enclose it.

I am now going through your letters again, & making extracts, & notes into a book, instead of the short précis which I made of the earlier letters. My biography must not omit, or, if possible, misstate a single item. The present one, I fear, is but too faulty in many respects.

And my dear, dear friend, I must here speak of something which is on my mind & must off. Doubtless it is only fancy, but I cannot help thinking that you do not write to me quite so confidingly — so affectionately — as of yore. Do write & tell me that you feel the same to me. It is only my fancy, of course, but I must have your words to satisfy me. Have I been indiscreet? Have I said or done anything to annoy you? You cannot believe how I cling to you & your good opinion. I have endured mental agonies & real terrible troubles in my little life, enough to overthrow a strong one's reason, & through my desert of existence there have been but few oases — but what I have undergone I cannot again undergo. My barque must have more pleasant sailing in future. But there! forgive my troublesome meanderings about self, only don’t forget the kindly words.

I am sorry that your name was ever introduced into the Civil Service Review notice, although everyone seemed to think Stoddard's behaviour of [sic] you the worst offence of all, especially after all you had suffered through Griswold's slanderous story. But you are mistaken in supposing the readers will look in vain for Stoddard's attack on your veracity. In his “Memoir” — the one addressed to “English readers” — he says, alluding to your account of Poe's affection for Mrs. Stanard, “the memory of this lady is said to have suggested. ... It is far more likely, however, that she remotely suggested , &c.” If that does not attack the veracity of the author of Edgar Poe & His Critics, I cannot comprehend English — that is, such as Mr. Stoddard writes. Had Poe been all that Griswold declared him to be, I should have infinitely preferred him, even without his genius, to these scurrilous, belittling, libellers of all who dare assert what they at least believe to be truth. But I thoroughly scorn & despise these loathsome reptiles & would rather their enmity than their friendship. For myself, I fear no man & defy the world. I could enjoy martyrdom, had I a few who believed in me. [page 291:]

* What he believes to be the right.

So you see, I shall never make a good American! From childhood upwards, from my father's words, my sister's love, & my own aspirations, I looked upon America as the land of liberty & her children as the elect, but of late, from their own lips, I have been so disabused of my ideas that once or twice I have asked myself, “Are there any good men in America?” Swinburne, to whom I put the query, says, these are his exact words, “As to the character of Americans generally, my own impression, (confirmed by experience) is that they are either delightful or detestable — the best & the worst company possible, there is no medium.” I suppose they are like women, angels or devils. Only I prefer real brimstone devils to sneaking backstair supernumaries. Mais c’ est assez pour cela!

I think it would be as well for you & I would wish it, as you are on friendly terms, to write to Stoddard, & say that you have not given any authority for the remarks made in the Civil Service Review — he has seen it — and that the use of your name therein was without your sanction, or authority, & that he is at perfect liberty to make use of your words. This may put you right with him & spare you any annoyance. It cannot possibly injure or annoy me, &, as long as I know that your heart is with me, I do not wish for anything else. In writing to Davidson you might kindly say the same thing. He is a friend of Stoddard's & may fear the use of his own name. I am just about writing to him (Davidson) & shall tell him that you were sorry to see the use made of your name, &c. He is a man & can defend himself so, although I should be sorry to get him any annoyance after his kindness, I need not trouble him with advice. In face, I do not suppose he needs it — he has taken care, & justly, of himself, I doubt not. And now to our own subjects.

Letters from Mrs. Houghton & others follow too fast for me to give you all details. I hope you got the portraits of Poe? What do you think of them? At last the Poe family have written. John P. Poe, son of Neilson Poe, thus writes, with promise of further particulars:

Now pray do let these various items be entre nous, my dear friend, for the present. Formerly, I was anxious to impart all information at once to help the good cause, but now will be silent save to you, till all is published. Even that Gill (to whom I sent so much information & who would not give any — could not, apparently) information, although, when Lotos Leaves, which I have not yet seen, was on the eve of publication coolly wrote & offered to sell me his collection — that Gill, it seems, is now going about the country asserting that “Mr. Ingram was much beholden to him for assistance.” After that, impudence can no further go. I do not believe that Lotos Leaves contains anything but what you & I have told him & the nice little account derived from George Graham. Davidson, Mrs. Nichols, & Mrs. Houghton say Graham died several years since, & H. L. Williams, of Philadelphia, says his father subscribed, several years ago, to the funeral. Gill, I suppose, consulted his spirit!

The Nation, I suppose, dare not publish my letter. In fact, it was so conclusive of their reviewer's utter untrustworthiness, that they could not have faced it out.(3) I did not fancy the two parodies by same author, but the printer altered the arrangement of them. Vol. II of the Broadway Journal is with the ed. of the C. Service Review. When he returns it, I will give you the exact words of the refusal to insert the “Ode to a Grecian Flute” to the “author” of which it is addressed & not to any name. I must get a copy made of my answer to the Nation for you. I must keep one copy.

I replied to Mr. Harris. Cannot answer all my correspondents now. Letters come by every mail. You have read of the terrible wreck of the Schiller? Some of the mail bags were recovered from the sea & from them I received three letters! Soaked, but dried, & the writing perfectly legible. Have never heard from Mrs. Botta or from Mr. Godey. One of the Schiller letters enclosed a letter of John Neal's, with copy of a letter from Poe — but, I fancy, you have had a copy of this. I have not written to Miss Anna Blackwell yet but will soon. Mrs. Nichols has not written recently. Call me “Don Felix” — ’tis better than cold Mr. Ingram. How I do sympathize with you suffering from that [page 293:] terrible neuralgia — it is the worst pain, I believe, ever sent to torment man. My dear friend, Eliza Cook, has lost her reason — ’tis feared forever — & I believe through this curse. Do not mention this, please.

20 May 1875 My dear Friend, you dear letter of the 7 May came to hand yesterday & I will just answer its few remarks. I am alarmed to hear of your continued ill health. It is still this terrible neuralgia? What do the doctors say? But I have little confidence in them. What will compensate us for all our sufferings in this life? We deserve something good. I only ask for peace. I shall watch for every letter so eagerly. Would we were not so far apart.

I think you have received my full opinion about the “Lizzie White” & other E. O. Smith matters? They are not only improbable but some impossible, as I have very politely pointed out. Mrs. Nichols did not think it strange that you knew nothing of Mrs. Shew. Dr. Shew is dead & Mrs. Houghton separated from Dr. Houghton — if not legally, really! I do not expect that Mrs. Houghton was quite blameless, but I do not know why women should be judged differently to men because they have to bear the heavier share of guilt or misfortune. Mrs. Houghton] is not a very highly educated woman — at once explained that she is not literary — but one can see she has natural talent for some things, & is thoroughly good-hearted, loving, but independent, & perhaps, somewhat too confiding & eccentric. She might worry one's life out to live with, but apart would inspire affection. I must like her, but that of course does not prevent me carefully weighing all her evidence. That letter, I have already remarked, betrayed symptoms of unusual excitement but I shall not use it, or any of it without due investigation. You should know that nothing would be “unkind or officious in you.” What I ask & beg of you is candid feeling. Abuse me, blow me up, anything, but tell me what you think.

Mrs. Houghton's kindness to Poe & his wife & desire to see his memory cleared is sincere but, of course, something more than intention is needed. But her letters are so naive & original that I am charmed with them.

I fancy the mezzotint portraits in the earlier edition were much better than the later ones — the plate had doubtless worn out & been retouched, so mine in Griswold's [edition] is not good — but what do you think of those sent? I must learn more about the curled hair. I believe most emphatically, let me say, en passant, that you have guessed exactly about that letter which I gave you extracts from. Have heard nothing of the Nation. I shall let that drop. It is forgotten now. Never mind powerful critics on your side of the Atlantic. I shall startle the enemy some day. [page 294:]

Have not heard from Mrs. Shelton, but she had my letter & a Richmond friend will call on her. Lippincott says her name is “Elmira.” Have not written to Miss Blackwell. Have heard from Davidson. I love your style, I, “Don Felix!” Everything will be duly weighed, be assured. What “Southern lady” do you allude to? Met Mrs. & the Miss Cleavelands (Greeley's people)[[(4)]] yesterday & spent evening with them — made myself most aimable [[amiable]] & entre nous pleased them, & am earnestly asked to call again. I never mentioned Poe matters until Mrs. C[leaveland] brought up the subject. I was so careful. She spoke of you so affectionately but (strictly private) said it was a pity you had reduced E.P. & His Critics, & not published it as originally written. Said you had reduced it greatly & omitted — so I understand — “a spiritualistic theory by which Poe's eccentricities were explained.” I merely responded, “I regard E.P. & His Critics as a poem — a beautiful poem,” but I could have flourished a tomahawk! The Miss C[leaveland]s are not like our Miss P[eckham]. Oh, no! Satyrs to Hyperion! But I should be butchered if the post gave up its secrets!

Au revoir! so much to say to you my dear, dear friend, in my next. Ever yours,

P.S. Did Gill return you the same copy of Wertenbaker's testimony you sent him, or only a copy? I ask to satisfy my own curiosity & not need [sic] any more evidence, having Wertenbaker's original paper now. You may comprehend my drift! What date does Gill give in Lotos Leaves of [Poe's] birth?

 

1. Josephine Emily Clemm Poe, Neilson's wife, was the daughter of William and Harriet Clemm, and therefore was stepdaughter to Maria Clemm.

2. John Prentiss Poe's letter of May 1, 1875, is Item 220 in the Ingram Poe Collection.

3. The Nation never did publish Ingram's letter. He later decided to couple it with another and publish them for private circulation, but there is no evidence that he did so.

4. Parker Cleaveland was professor of Geology in Bowdoin College in Maine.