Text: John C. Miller, ed., “Entry 118: John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman, Nov. 4, 1875,” Poe's Helen Remembers (1979), pp. 353-355 (This material is protected by copyright)

[page 353, continued:]

118. John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman

My dear Friend,

I duly received Lotos Leaves (for which many thanks), and have today received your letter of the 22nd Ulto. containing an enclosure which did my heart good, viz., your vigorous & magnificent demolition of “The Mad Magazinist” who will now see that he must seek other sources of income. I looked so eagerly for a Tribune, fearing that the powers which be pro temp might suppress your letter and feeling ashamed that I had not done something in the case, especially as Scribner sells in England, & I wish the foe to see that every movement is seen. But you have done the work so much better than I could have hoped to, & it is better for it to be done by a personal friend & countryman. I should have liked to have said a word, however, about [page 354:] the absurdity of basing the alleged mania upon Poe's latest works & quoting (so far as his prose stories are concerned) his very earliest tales. But you have done all that is needed & Mr. Fairfield will be careful in future as to how, in suiting his wares to his market, he selects his subject.

I hope Browne has had a copy of the Tribune. I deem the editorial remarks very needless, & not friendly, but I think I shall have a screw to put on W.R. one of these days.(1)

Lotos Leaves is very poor — nothing new, save the Griswold stories, which are of no use. Your resumé of Laurel Leaves does not look very promising as to its contents.

Beware of Sartain's adventures. I have some of that gentleman's (or his editor's) reminiscences published at Poe's death, & I don’t think much of them.(2)

As regards the West Point matters: is it new? More than contained in Harper's “Poe at West Point,” which Stoddard garbled & misquoted so? If new, I shall be glad to see. I don’t believe anyone can, however, lighten that darkness so well as I can.

Have I had the passage from Poe's letter referring to the hoped-for ideal home? I have had that relating to Poe's hope of an ideal aristocracy of letters.

You do not mention anything of Poe's second visit to Europe being in Gill's essay. This seems to confirm my theory that he (Gill) neither knew where Clarke was, nor bought his collection! He may, however, be keeping this history back for more new facts. I think you could honorably ask him why he does not refer to this journey (without alluding to me), as he once told you that Clarke informed him (Gill) that Poe did again visit Europe.

The portrait may not be the one in my book — there are so many, & the one belonging to Mrs. Houghton (which was stolen) is not to be heard of.

Dr. Holland has not replied, so I shall repeat the question thro’ Appleton's.(3) “Japp” was the name of the writer in the British Quarterly Review the ed. writes me. I only know him by name, & as a great admirer, & collector of information about, Poe. If you wish to ask or say anything to him I’ll forward your letter, or you can send “care of Strahan & Co., Ludgate Hill, London, E.C.”

Oh! you’ve not had the Dublin Univ. Mag. I’ll get copy & send. I’ve directed copy of the London to be sent you. A note in Providence Journal or elsewhere, would please Williams, if you can send it. I have given Browne copy of the paper for Southern Mag. & asked him to send you copy. I don’t think I shall publish any more of Politian, as it is not worthy of Poe's fame — what do you say?

I shall not hurry my Life of Poe — it must & shall be not only [page 355:] exhaustive, but critically good. I have hopes to get it out next year, but if delay will increase its value shall keep back. It shall be monument to Poe more enduring than his Baltimore stone! There is scarcely a year of his life now which I cannot give account of. I do hope you will live to read it, & I to write it. That is my chiefest fear — to die without the completion of my labour. But I must do it.

I won’t worry with longer epistle now. I’ve written to your Rose & sent her my photo. Not thro’ vanity. I’ve a versifying fit on me — vide proof.

Write when you can, & ever believe me, tout à vous.

 

1. “W. R.” was Whitelaw Reid (1837-1912), editor and chief proprietor of the New York Tribune from 1872 to 1905.

2. There was an editorial, “Edgar A. Poe,” in Sartain's Magazine, 5 (Dec. 1849), 386-87.

3. Dr. Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819-1881) was editor of the Springfield, Mass., Republican and a founder of Scribner's Monthly (later the Century Magazine), which he edited from 1870 to 1881.