Text: Edgar Allan Poe to John R. Thompson — January 31, 1849 (LTR-302a)

New-York — Jan: 31. 49.
Jno: R. Thompson, Esq.

My Dear Sir,

Accompanying this letter, by mail, are eleven pages of “Marginalia”, done up in a roll. Would it not be advisable to preface the series with the prefatory remarks I made use of originally — in the “Democratic Review”? They would serve to explain the character of the papers. You have the original preface in the printed pages I enclosed you. — Please re-enclose them when you have done with them. Should you re-print the remarks in question, it would be necessary, of course, to mention, editorially, that they were a reprint, and why you gave them. — In publishing the “Marginalia” it would be as well, in order to avoid confusion, to number the different subjects (in Arabic numerals — 1,2,3,4&c). I have made the distinction by a line drawn quite across the MS. — Should there be any of these gossiping affairs which, for any reason, you disapprove, just cut them out (whole) & preserve them for me. Publish only those which suit you entirely. The order in which they appear is immaterial. — Who is your N. Y. agent?

Truly yours,
Edgar A. Poe.