Text: John C. Miller, ed., “Entry 114: John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman, Oct. 18, 1875,” Poe's Helen Remembers (1979), pp. 340-342 (This material is protected by copyright)

[page 340, continued:]

114. John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman

My dear Friend,

Yours of the 5th to hand. You have received the 4 vols. I suppose? I sent them separately because the post only carries up to 2 lbs., English, now.

Today I send you the paper from St. James Magazine — the London as soon as it appears (about the 25th), and the Dublin University when I get a copy. The British Quarterly, I cannot hear the writer's name — perhaps Japp. If so, I shall soon hear.

I have not got the copy of photo from Mr. Dodge, who seems a shuffler, entre nous, but I’ll have it. I enclose you one of my own, only just received (after a twelve months’ order!) from Germany.

Black's have just sent me a letter from J. J. Poë, of Riverston, Penagh, Ireland, who wishes my address, in order to communicate with me, & on Saturday I received a polite note from J. P. Poe, Baltimore, Neilson's son, saying his delay in writing arose from not being able to answer any of my questions, declining with thanks my offer of a set of my edition, as his father had already purchased it, saying they should be glad to see me on my visit to America, & that the Poe Memorial at Baltimore would be dedicated on the 25th & that I should be furnished with full particulars.(1)

I have just received a very nice letter from Stéphane Mallarmé, the translator of Le Corbeau, who is now preparing a complete translation of Poe's poems.(2) Unfortunately, whilst I was in Paris he was in London so we missed. He asks for your address as he wishes, I understand, to send you a Corbeau. He corresponds with Swinburne, & quotes in his letter some of Swinburne's remarks referring to me — these, Mallarmé will insert in his Preface to the poems. You see we shall have all [page 341:] Europe with us shortly. Swiss & French papers are continually referring to my “Memoir” & now I must look up the German, etc. But I am so engaged! My letters alone are one person's work. I cannot reply to all. I have never answered Miss Peckham — is it not too bad? Can you tell her that I am not forgetful? I must write to her.

And now, my dear friend, to the subject matter of yours of the 5th. You may rely upon Browne, but remember, he cannot be popular in the North because he is thoroughly South. With me North & South are all alike. I agree with him that “the Scribner article scarcely deserves a reply,” but it circulates here, & my blood boils when I see such venom vomited forth by these ignorant spiteful asses. If your letter is printed, send me copy at once, my dear friend, & I will quote from it & allude to it in Academy, or elsewhere, & send you my letter. Stoddard is in force in New York. Didier, Snodgrass, & others are his allies. Didier in one of his papers acknowledges this. Snodgrass has furnished Stoddard with the electioneering account. I am on the track of the woman who gave the eleven broadcloth coats, & all the childhood's story to Stoddard — that known, & I know whence every paragraph of his “Memoir” came. I must publish a pamphlet on Poe's reviewers. I will not endure all this silent sliming process. But this [of] Fairfield's is beneath contempt.

Of Mary Star nothing is yet discovered — the Poes never knew such a lady, J. P. Poe says — but my allies are seeking all over the United States & the truth must appear. There was some M—— to whom Poe wrote his early poems, & “Alone” may have been to her. Oh, for a viva voce interview with you!

The poem “To M[arie] L[ouise]” could not have been “The Beloved Physician” (in which was this line, “the pulse beats ten then intermits”) for many reasons. Why Mrs. H[oughton] gave the 25 dollars for the poem was this (& why, I believe, entre nous, Poe altered the poem “with thy dear name as text,” to the published form): Mrs. H[oughton], then Mrs. S[hew], was just going to be married to Dr. H[oughton] & the lover-like style (so those who knew not Poe's fervour deemed it) of the lines “To M.L.S.” excited comment. Poe showed her, (Mrs. S[hew]), “The B[eloved] P[hysician]” & said that he was to get 20 dollars for it. Mrs. S[hew] saw that it was more fervent than ever — she was rich & Poe was poor, so she asked him to give it to her & she would pay 25 dollars. This was done — does not this seem la verité? ’Tis strictly entre nous, as Mrs. H[oughton] does not want the world to know of these transactions. The poem was not written for Mrs. H[oughton]'s money.

Another poem was written at her bidding though — i.e., “The Bells.” He came to her house ill & depressed & said, “I have to write a poem & do not know what to say.” (I quote from memory.) He sat at the open [page 342:] window & the sound of church bells — sad & gay — came in & Mrs. H[oughton] suggested them as a subject & Poe wrote the first draft of “The Bells” as given in Stoddard's “Memoir.” And on the MS. (the first) wrote, “The Bells by M. L. Shew.” That MS. I have, so there is no mistake about it.

The New Eclectic is or was American, but I’m not sure whether ’tis the same Eclectic which reprinted my Temple Bar article. I have Browne's article, which is very good, but I fear to risk it by post again, unless you wish greatly to see it, because he had trouble to get it & I mean to quote from it some day. I’ll send date in my next. Davidson had not sent me his new address, so many thanks. Widdleton did express his intention to accept my free-will offering, but I fear Gill has frightened him off. Ten to one Gill goes over to the Stoddardites! You see — he’ll try Stoddard's Iago, innuendo style. I always thought C. Briggs was the “original Memoir” author.(3) I’ll see & tell you in my next. ’Twas for that, I alluded to him (not by name) as I did in my “Memoir” re. Broadway Journal vide as one of the two journalists.

Did Dr. Porteus lecture for Poe's sister? Have you misrecollected? He lectured about Poe (you sent me a slip of his lectures) but therein made no allusion to her. A Revd. Powell did, and raised some money for her. He, I fear, was a sham — he could not write English.

And now, my very dear friend & faithful ally, a short goodbye. My physical health is so much better that I feel ready for anything after my long depression & as it is not in my nature to be idle, at least mentally, you may hope for something before long. Au revoir, and believe me ever yours devotedly,

 

1. John Prentiss Poe's letter, dated Oct. 2, 1875, is Item 247 in the Ingram Poe Collection.

2. Les Poèmes d’Edgar Poe, by Stéphane Mallarmé, was finally published in 1888 (Bruxelles: Demond Deman).

3. For Charles Frederick Briggs see p. 68, n.2.