Text: Rebecca C. Tansil, “Chapter I,” French Language and French Influence in the Works of Edgar Allan Poe (1827), pp. 3-21

[page 3:]

The first step taken in this investigation has been to discover Poe's training in the French language and his contact with French literature. Poe constantly worked in the journalistic field and many foreign periodicals came to his attention. Periodical literature is seldom translated and in this field much of the work to be read at all must be read in the original.

Poe's education began at an early age and he was sent to the best private schools in Richmond. All of these schools were classical in nature and the children were instructed in Latin. This early training in Latin gave Poe a background for his later study of French and other modern languages.

As Mr. Allan, Poe's foster father, had business interests abroad the Allans in 1816 sailed for England, where they remained several years. After two [page 4:] years at an academy at Irvine(1) and a boarding school in London.(2) Poe was enrolled in the Manor House of the Reverend “Dr.” Bransby at Stoke Newington, then a suburb of London. It was here that the young writer laid the first firm basis for an education. “Oh, le bon temps que ce siccle de fer” says Poe in later years when referring to his school days here. The course of study at Stoke Newington included English, Latin, Mathematics and French. This is the first knowledge one has of Poe's studying French although he had studied Latin which furnished a foundation for his further study of languages. Poe was in school here for three years where he “learned to construe Latin and speak French.”(3)

In August 1824 [[1820]] the Allans returned to America and immediately upon his return to Richmond young Poe was placed in the English and Classical School of Joseph H. Clarke, a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin. The curriculum was that of the old-fashioned [page 5:] preparatory school of the day, a continuation of the Latin, French and primary mathematics of the English schools which Poe had already attended.(1)

Besides his formal training in the school room Poe gained much from reading. Records indicate that he was an omnivorous reader. The firm of Ellis and Allan handled many foreign periodicals and other publications. These were kept upon the second floor of the Ellis and Allan establishment and Poe is known to have spent much time among these books.(2) By reading these periodicals Poe had access to the criticisms and reviews of foreign books.

Poe's fondness for French and France was evinced by an episode in Richmond in 1824, when Lafayette visited the city. Lafayette visited Jefferson and was entertained very highly. Poe is known to have taken part in the celebration and entertainment of the French General.(3) Poe's [page 6:] interest in Lafayette was due, no doubt, to the friendship that had existed between Lafayette and Poe's grandfather, David Poe, who was an outstanding figure in the American Revolution. While in America Lafayette visited the grave of General Poe in Baltimore and made this remark. “Ici repose un coeur noble.”(1)

After leaving the preparatory school in March 1825 Poe spent the remainder of the year in preparing himself, with the aid of private instruction, for the University of Virginia where he entered in February 1826.

It is of interest to know something of the curriculum of the University of Virginia at the time of Poe's entrance. This was the second year of its existence. Jefferson having founded the institution in 1825. Joseph C. Cabel, a member of the Virginia Legislature, had also been an influential person in the establishment of the University. Both of these men had experienced the influence [page 7:] of European culture while in residence abroad and had made Paris the center of their European study. The University of Virginia was founded during the period of great French influence on Higher Education in America and soon after the unsuccessful attempt of Chevalier Quesnay to establish a French Academy in Richmond.(1) Jefferson had been thoroughly in sympathy with this attempt and had been one of the six counsellors chosen by the subscribers to assist Quesnay.(2) Jefferson at one time had an idea similar to Quesnay when in 1795 he began to talk about establishing a center of learning in Virginia and bringing the entire faculty of the Swiss College of Geneva to the country.(3) This institution at Geneva was thoroughly French in its form of culture. It is believed that Dupont de Nemours, a Frenchman of prominence, had much influence on the method of organization of the University. Jefferson corresponded with Nemours [page 8:] and while in this country he was a frequent guest in Jefferson's home at Monticello.(1) Jefferson also corresponded with Professor Pictet of the Swiss College of Geneva asking his advice about educational questions.(2)

Mr. William Trent in his essay upon “The Influence of the University upon Southern Life and Thought” says that the University of Virginia “was the first college in this country which taught modern languages as carefully as it did the classical ——— [[.]]” In connection with classical languages and science Jefferson took special pains to urge the cultivation of the modern languages. Speaking of French he says, “French is the language of general intercourse among nations, and as a depository of human science in unsurpassed by any other language living or dead.”(3) To carry out his ideas of European culture in the curriculum Jefferson looked to Europe for his faculty and sent [page 9:] this exact record in the books:

The following recollections by Mr. William Wertenbaker were drawn up in 1869. The aged Librarian says: “ — Poe was a little over seventeen when he matriculated. He entered the Schools of Ancient and Modern Languages, attending the lectures in Latin, Greek, French, Spanish and Italian. I was myself a member of the last three classes and can testify that he was tolerably regular in his attendance, and a successful student, having attained distinction at the Final Examinations in Latin and French; and this was at that time the highest honor a student could obtain. The present regulations in regard to degrees had not then been adopted. Under existing regulations he would have graduated in the two language above named, and have been entitled to diplomas ———— ”(2) [page 11:]

Mr. Tucker, one of Poe's classmates, in 1880 remembered his contemporary as “bow-legged, jerky and hurried in his movements, and with the air and action of a native-born Frenchman.”(1) Poe was a splendid Latin and French student and “could speak and read both languages with ease —— ”(2)

Thus one finds Poe a brilliant student although he did not lead the life of the ideal student as far as discipline is concerned. As further proof of his scholastic standing the University minute books yield these items:

At a meeting of the Faculty, December 15, 1826, Mr. Long made a report of the examination of the classes in Ancient and Modern Languages. The names of the students who excelled in the Senior French class as reported by the Professor of Modern Languages were as follows: [page 12:]

During this year at the University ninety students had “elected” the Modern Language Curriculum. Poe's name also appeared on the Latin honor roll and one hundred and seven had “elected” the Ancient Languages course.

It is of importance to know something of the French books to which Poe had access while a student in the University. In a letter to James Madison, dated February 17, 1826, after the House of Representatives of Virginia has voted against further funds for the University, Jefferson writes concerning the completion of a place in the library where new [page 13:] books could be placed. “In the meantime,” he says, “there have arrived for us in different parts of the United States, ten boxes of books from Paris, seven from London, and from Germany I know not how many —— in all perhaps, about twenty-five boxes. Not one of these can be opened until the book room is completely finished —— and all the shelves ready to receive their charge.”(1) This letter gives evidence that there were many foreign books in the Library of the University at the time of Poe's entrance and that a high percentage of these books were from Paris.

Mr. Wertenbaker, the Librarian during Poe's year the University, has given much valuable information concerning Poe's university life. He makes the following statement concerning Poe's use of the library: “During the year of 1826,” writes Mr. Wertenbaker, “there used to come into the library a handsome young student, perhaps eighteen years of age, in search of old French books, principally histories ——— “(2) [page 14:]

In a recent communication to the writer the present Librarian of the University of Virginia makes the following remarks:

“According to a letter of the Librarian in charge in 1826 when Poe was a student, he borrowed the following books from the library:

There is no way to decide just what books were in the library in 1826. Of course the list of books charged out is not co-equal with the total number of books. We have, in manuscript, the books proposed to be bought. This manuscript is dated June 3, 1826. The first printed catalog is that of 1826. Of the books charged to Poe I have discovered only one title in that catalog. I can only say that the catalog of 1826 shows a large per cent of French books.”(1) [page 15:]

A letter from John Allan to Edgar Poe while he was in the University states that he is sending him some supplies, books and other articles. Among the books sent is a copy of “Gil Blas” by Le Sage. This is of interest because in later writings Poe speaks of Gil Blas.(1)

After Poe's one year of intensive study at the University of Virginia his scholastic training ceased until his entrance of West Point, about three years later. The course of study at the Academy in Poe's day was very similar to that of today. The course of study was completed in four years, each year being devoted to a class, and included the French language, drawing, natural and experimental philosophy, chemistry and mineralogy, geography, history, ethics and national law, mathematics in the highest branches and lastly artillery and engineering.(2) Until Poe deliberately set out to neglect his studies he stood high in his classes and at the end of the semi-annual examination he ranked third in French and seventeenth in Mathematics, in a class of eighty-seven.(3) This gives [page 16:] further evidence that Poe was still attracted by the French language and though separated from it in the classroom for almost three years he was still a student in this field. One of Poe's classmates from West Point writes of him: “He was an accomplished French scholar, and had a wonderful aptitude for mathematics, so that he had no difficulty in preparing his recitation in his class and in obtaining the highest marks in these departments.”(1)

Although Poe's scholastic training ended with his dismissal from West Point a close study of his life shows that he never ceased to be a student. Thrown into the journalistic world and holding several prominent editorships, Poe felt the need of continued reading and study. His editorial work carried him to the larger cities and in this way he had the advantages of good libraries and the centers where gathered the literary men of the day. Poe's amount of literary criticisms is sufficient evidence of his wide and varied reading. Pinakidia and Marginalia, which were collections of criticisms that appeared at intervals, give evidence of his literary and journalistic reading. Mention [page 17:] is made of many French writers and French books in these selections.(1)

In the bibliography of the writings Poe prepared by Harrison there are found certain translations of French literature that are attributed to Poe. These appeared in the New Mirror in 1843 and in the New York Evening Mirror, the successor of the New Mirror, in 1844. The writer has not been able to find any criticism concerning the authenticity of the writings. The fact that they bear Poe's initials makes it interesting, and it would be valuable if someone would work this out as a research problem.

On the following pages will be given a list of these translations as taken from the bibliography of Harrison. [page 18:]

Contributions to the New Mirror published by Willis and Morris, New York. Attributed to Poe as follows:

1843

Souvenirs of Youth (headed “Original Translations from the French,” signed E. P.) May 13.

The Master Spirits of their Age. Translated from the French (signed E. P.) June 3.

Anecdotes of Sunwarrow. Translated from the French for the New Mirror. (signed E. P.) June 3.

The Head of St. John the Baptist. Translated from the French for the New Mirror (signed E. P.) June 17.

The Literary Pirate Foiled. An Incident in the Life of Anne Radcliffe. Translated from the French for the New Mirror (signed E. P.) June 24.

A Morning's Walk in the Luxembourg. Translated from the French for the New Mirror. (signed E. P.) July 15.

The Merchant's Daughter. Translated from the French for the New Mirror. (Signed E. P.) July 15.

The above continued with the heading “The Merchant's Daughter.” A Novel from the French of M. Scribe. Translated by a Lady for the New Mirror. (No initial signed) July 29.

The same story and title (signed E. P.) August 12.

The same (signed E. P.) August 19.

The same (signed E. P.) August 26. [page 19:]

The same (signed E. P.) September 2.

The same under the following heading: (Communicated) The Merchant's Daughter. A Novel from the French of M. Scribe (concluded) (Signed E. P.) Sept. 9.

Ennui, from the French of Eugene Guinot. Translated for the New Mirror. (signed E. P.) Sept. 23.

The Yellow Rose. Translated for the New Mirror from the French of Bernard. A novel in Four Parts. Part 1. Oct. 7.

The same. Part II. (not signed) Oct. 14.

The same. Part III. (not signed) Oct. 23.

The same. concluded (not signed) Oct. 28.

The Two Marines in India. From the French of A. Ligniers (signed E. P.) Nov. 4.

Women are Sometimes Fickle. Translated for the New Mirror from the French of S. H. Berthoud (signed E. P.) Nov. 25.

The Two Empresses. Translated for the New Mirror from the Gazette de Lausenne (signed E. P.) Dec. 2.

Expectation. Translated from the French of Souvestre (signed E. P.) Dec. 2.

The Story of a Cup of Tea. Translated for the New Mirror from the French of J. Lecompte (signed E. P.). Dec. 16.

The Poet's Laura. Translated from the French for the New Mirror. (signed E. P.) Dec. 23.

Three Visits to the Hotel des Invalides. 1705-1906-1840. Translated for the New Mirror from the French of Emile Marce de Saint Hilaire. (signed E. P.). Dec. 30. [page 20:]

Three Visits to the Hotel des Invalides. Second visit, 1806 (not signed), January 6.

Three Visits to the Hotel des In valides (signed E. P.), January 13.

Translated for the New Mirror from the French of Eugene Scribe. The Price of Life (signed E. P.), Jan. 13.

Translated for the New Mirror from the French of Louis Lurine. The jailer (signed E. P.), Jan. 20.

Translated for the New Mirror from the French of Laseaux. The Bracelet (signed E. P.), Feb. 3.

The Pearl of Geneva. Translated from the French of De Mirecourt (signed E. K., a typographical error for P.), Feb. 17.

Misfortune of having a Dowry. Translated from the French of Paul Merruau (signed E. P.), Feb. 24. Parisian Chronicle.

Translated for the New Mirror from the Courrier des 91ats Unis (signed E. P.), March 2.

The Oath that Was Kept. Translated for the New Mirror from the French of Mark Perrin not signed), March 9. The same (concluded) (signed E. P.), March 16.

Paris in Robe de Chambre (signed E. P.), March 23.

The Princess Pauline (signed E. P.), March 30.

The Professor's Daughter (signed E. P.), April 13.

Parisian Chronicle (signed E. P.), April 27. [page 21:]

The Love Letter; or, A Secret of the Confessional. (signed E. P.) May 18.

Parisian Chronicle. (signed E. P.) June 8.

Parisian Chronicle. (signed E. P.) June 15.

Parisian Correspondence. (signed E. P.) June 22.

A Cottage and a Palace. (signed E. P.) July 13.

The Passport — — A Parisian Story. (signed E. P.) August 3.

The Will. (signed E. P.) August 31.

The Times of the Emperour (signed E. P.) Sept. 7.

Little Tarts of Prince Bedridden. In two chapters. Chapter First, A Dinner by Careme (signed E. P.) Sept. 21.

[[Footnotes]]

[The following footnotes appear at the bottom of page 4:]

1. Allan, Hervey. Israfel. Vol. I, p. 72.

2. Ibid., Vol. I, p. 76.

3. Woodberry, George, Edgar Allan Poe, p. 18. Published by Houghton Mifflin and Co. 1898.

[The following footnotes appear at the bottom of page 5:]

1. Allen, Hervey, Israfel, Vol. I, p. 99 (Authority from the receipts for Poe's tuition under Master Clarke in the Ellis and Allan Papers.

2. Ibid., Vol. I, p. 129.

3. Harrison, James, Biography of Poe, p. 55. Published by Thomas Y. Crowell and Co.. New York, 1902.

[The following footnote appears at the bottom of page 6:]

1. Joyce, John A. Edgar A. Poe, p. 3. Published by F. Tennyson Neeley Company, 1901.

[The following footnotes appear at the bottom of page 7:]

1. Adams, Herbert B. Thomas Jefferson and the University of Virginia. U. S. Bureau of Education, circular of Information. No. 1 — 1888, p. 22. This information taken from Memoire, Status et Prospectus concernant l’Academic des Sciences et Beaux-Arts des Stats-Unis, de l’Amerique, establie a Richemond.

2. Ibid., p. 25. Information from the Virginia Gazette, May 1, 1786.

3. Letter from Jefferson to D’Ivernois at Geneva in 1796.

[The following footnotes appear at the bottom of page 8:]

1. Adams, Herbert B.. Thomas Jefferson and the University of Virginia, U. S. Bureau of Education circular of Information, No. 1 — 1888, p. 51. This information from Historical Sketches of Virginia published in the Old Dominion Magazine, Vol. IV, March 15, 1870.

2. Ibid., 52.

3. Ibid., p. 160. Adams does not give exact authority for this quotation but all the study is based on Jefferson's works and letters.

[The following footnotes appear at the bottom of page 9:]

1. Adams, Herbert B.. Thomas Jefferson and the University of Virginia, U. S. Bureau of Education circular of Information, No. 1,1888, p. 189. (Reprinted from the Andover Review, 1888, by Professor J. M. Garnett.

2. Harrison, James, Vol. I, p. 38. Published by Thomas Y. Crowell and Co. New York, 1902.

3. Entry, in the University of Virginia records.

[The following footnotes appear at the bottom of page 10:]

1. Harrison, James. Life and Letters of E. A. Poe. Vol. I, p. 38. Published by Thomas Y. Crowell, and Co. New York, 1902 (Note Allen is misspelled)

2. Harrison, James. Biography of Poe, p. 45. (From Memoirs by Wertenbaker)

[The following footnotes appear at the bottom of page 11:]

1. Reminiscences of Thomas G. Tucker, confirmed by other classmates of Poe and by the University records. [[Tucker's recollections first appeared in “Old Oddity Papers (part 2),” Virginia University Magazine, April 1880, pp. 426-446. While other former classmates remember Poe being a good student in Latin and French, Tucker is the only one to say that Poe was bow-legged or to comment on him having a distinctive walk. — JAS]]

2. Harrison, James. Biography of Poe, p. 40. Published by Thomas Y. Crowell and Co. New York, 1902.

[The following footnotes appear at the bottom of page 12:]

1. Allen, Hervey, Israfel, p. 155. Published by George H. Doran Company, New York, 1926. [[Note the names are listed alphabetically and not reflecting any kind of ranking — JAS]]

[The following footnotes appear at the bottom of page 13:]

1. Washington, H. S. Jefferson's Complete Works. Vol. VII, pp. 432-33. Published by Taylor and Maury. Washington, D.C. 1853.

2. Harrison, James, Vol. I, p. 37. Published by Thomas Y. Crowell and Co. New York, 1902. (Authority from the University of Virginia Magazine, Vol. XIX, p. 45.)

[The following footnotes appear at the bottom of page 14:]

1. Letter from John S. Patton, Librarian, University of Virginia, to Rebecca Tansil, dated December 10, 1926.

[The following footnotes appear at the bottom of page 15:]

1. Allen, Hervey, Israfel, Vol. I, p. 165. (Information taken from the Valentine Museum Poe Letters published by Lippincott of Philadelphia in 1925.

2. Ibid., p. 272. Authority for this information in The Northern Traveler, third edition, revised and extended, p. 21. Published by G. & C. Carvill, New York, 1828

3. Woodberry, George, Edgar Allan Poe, p. 55. Published by Houghton and Mifflin Co. 1898.

[The following footnotes appear at the bottom of page 16:]

1. Magruder, A. B. to Professor Woodberry. Woodberry's Life, p. 55. Published by Houghton Mifflin Co. 1898.

[The following footnotes appear at the bottom of page 17:]

1. Allen, Hervey, Israfel. Vol. I, p. 403. Published by George H. Doran Company. New York, 1926.

Notes: Authorship of the translations from the New Mirror in 1843, signed “E. P.,” has been disputed. James A. Harrison does attribute all of the items listed here to Poe in the bibliography at the end of volume 16 (pp. 368-371), but without explanation (other than the presumption of the initials). In general, the initials are now thought to be those of Emily Percival, and the translations by her, with the exception of two, which Poe himself appears to have pencilled his last initial in the set of the New Mirror that he gave to Sarah Helen Whitman in 1848. None of the translations from the Evening Mirror in 1844 are thought to be by Poe.