Text: John C. Miller, ed., “Entry 148: John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman, Apr. 22, 1876,” Poe's Helen Remembers (1979), pp. 415-417 (This material is protected by copyright)

[page 415, continued:]

148. John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman

My dear Providence,

I duly received yours dated 4th [7th] and will briefly reply. I cannot say much, as I am feeling unwell again. I might almost say “light” or rather misty-headed & ready every now & then to lapse into insensibility. I am working hard at something — when ’tis done I must vegetate again for a while, at least as regards literature.

Re. Horne — have you seen his paper on Psyche Apocalypté, from St. James's? It is a drama he & Mrs. Browning were to have written together. He reprinted a few copies (only 25, I think) of the article; & gave me a copy, &, I fancy, (at my suggestion) sent Hand Browne one.(1) If there be a spare copy I’ll get him to send it to you. You’ll value it.

The American Bookseller has sent me some copies with my [page 416:] “Rejoinder.” From same number I learn that at “The Book Fair” books sold very badly — far below all expectation — the only works realizing good prices being Widdleton's editions of Poe. The “unhappy master” does not seem decreasing in popularity, although the Stoddards, Fairfields, &c. “o’er his cold ashes upbraid him.”

Mallarmé is publishing translations of Poe's “Marginalia” in La République des Lettres. Did I send you a copy? I fear not, but will, ’Tis the best periodical of the day.

Re. the 1827 edition. Of course I cannot object to Mr. Harris knowing, but I am anxious that the matter goes no further until my paper has appeared. Even in that I have suppressed the fact that the poems are “by a Bostonian,” instead of bearing Poe's name on imprint. This fact has hitherto baffled inquirers, and I trust you & Mr. Harris will oblige me by still keeping it sub rosa for a while. I enclose such particulars as may interest Mr. Harris. Although I am, probably, the only person in England knowing that this little book is by Poe, it is not in my possession, but in the national collections, & I do [not] suppose could be bought for any money. I would give something to obtain a copy, as you may imagine. I would not have republished these poems, at least until my life was ready, but feared they might come to light elsewhere. Oh! have I told you there are several unpublished pieces in the collection?

How did you know that “Alone” appeared in Mrs. Balderston's album? I have her address, but have not had time to write yet. Swinburne says he thinks it “worthy of its alleged parentage.”

Did you see the death of Revd. Dr. Houghton, Mrs. Houghton's husband?(2) Suddenly. She sent me the news. I wish she’d come to Europe for a change. She could tell me more facts than anyone.

Mrs. Nichols has sent me her “Recollections,” they are short & contain little beyond a reproduction of the Sixpenny Magazine paper. Nothing of any value whatever.

In my next edition of Poe's Works I hope to give the whole of his poems — will you tell Mr. Harris? I cannot find time to write him, or might send him some useful notes. Does he want to know anything in the British Museum? I had better send him copy of Mrs. Lewis's (i.e., “Stella's”) drama Sappho.(3)

Philobiblion, I fancy, was the first place (as far as I know) where Stoddard “published his insinuation.” In Round Table, &c. he repeated it. I have not thought it worth while to refute Mrs. Smith's stupid scandal: all her “facts” as I told her when she sent her paper (the MS.) to me were fictions. I like her mental deductions, in part, but her imagination is very diseased. Her article is only the repetition of an old, effete, & utterly exploded pack of scandal. By this post, I send you a number of New York Review containing a reply to her Beadle paper [page 417:] (the basis of the Home Journal [article]). Kindly return it to me when perused — also, the enclosed scraps published at time of the poet's death. Be assured Mrs. Smith wrote the Home Journal paper. I don’t think you could do any good by writing to her. I forget her address but will look it up & send it to you. A personal letter, I feel assured, however, will not obtain any satisfaction.

The account of Poe's death I gave in the International Review was the true one, be assured. It was the “cooping” which murdered him.

I cannot say anymore now, so, for a while, goodbye.

 

1. Psyche Apocalypte: A lyrical drama. Projected by E. B. Browning and R. H. Horne. Reprinted from the St. James Magazine & United Empire Review, Feb. 1876.

2. Dr. Roland Stebbins Houghton had died in Hartford, Conn., Thursday, Mar. 2.3, 1876. See Item 681 in the Ingram Poe Collection for an obituary.

3. Stella Lewis, Sappho: A Tragedy in Five Acts (London: Triibner & Co., 1875).