Text: H. S. Cornwell, “Mr. Griswold's Notices of E. A. Poe,” Waverley Magazine (Boston, MA), vol. II, no. 38, May 24, 1851, p. 301, cols. 2-3

[page 301, column 2, continued:]

Written for the Waverley Magazine.

MR. GRISWOLD'S NOTICES OF E. A. POE.

It is known that, for some time previous to the death of Mr. Poe, an unfortunate enmity existed between Mr. Griswold and himself; yet it is evident that the motives entertained by Mr. Poe, in appointing that person his literary executor, could not originate in a heart so unwilling to forget the feuds of the past — could not emanate from a spirit so ignoble — a character so deeply sunk in moral degradation, as Mr. Griswold would evidently, in these notices, impress upon the public mind. Moreover, is it manly conduct to seize the advantage of calamitous circumstances, and blazon forth to the world the moral degeneracy of the defencless [[defenceless]] dead, and, obviously, for no better motive than the indulgence of his ow n vituperative propensities.

That Poe had faults — and who has not — we make no attempt at denial; but this magnifying of each trivial misdemeanor, this portrayal of every petty fault, in its worst possible colors, has very much the appearance of wilful exaggeration, Mr. Griswold being so evidently determined to carry his point, as to scrupulously avoid all approaches to commendation in this notice, (if we omit the quotations from the pen of Mrs. Osgood,) excepting a barely sufficient — as he supposed — degree of “faint praise,” to shield himself from the charge of prejudice.

This unwise conduct of the writer of this memoir is rendered more apparent, and is, therefore, the more deeply to be regretted, from the fact of its prefixture to works of which it could but be expected that they would command an immense circulation. As a cotemporary has observed, “Do unto others as ye would have them do unto you,” is no less applicable to ourselves, in regard to the dead than if they were living; and it should be remembered at to the dead the means of defence are unavailable. Mr. Poe, although an unfortunate man, a “creature of circumstances,” was a genuis [[genius]], of benevolent disposition, possessing a soul of high attributes. “The Literati” has a good motto [column 3:] from Lord Coke — ”Truth, peradventure, by force, may for a time be trodden down, but never, by any means whatsoever, can it be trodden out.” It is impossible to guard against too great a degree of caution in using the name of the dead ; let us remember their example no farther than it is beneficial; as for the memory of their error, let it decay with the mouldering clay.

Mr. I. [[J.]] R. Lowell says : Poe's early productions show that he could see through the verse to the spirit beneath, and that he already had a feeling that all the life and grace of the one must depend on and be modulated by the will of the other. We call them the most remarkable boyish poems we have ever read ; we know of none that will compare with them for a maturity of purpose, and a nice understanding of the effects of language and metre. This is the opinion of a poet j but the no-poet, Mr. Griswold, thinks, “they do not seem to evince, all things considered, a very remarkable precocity.” Certainly not, if otherwise: decided by the mighty intellect of Mr. G — he who under former circumstances could not, possibly, have been very intimately acquainted with the habits or character of Mr. Poe, yet still presumed, partially, to compare him to a conceited and misanthropic character, taken from a stray novel, in which he is misrepresented as being “ envious, irrascible, possessing little or nothing of the true point of honor — bad enough — but not the worst.” In the name of Truth, if this is considered “ not the worst,” where are we to look for that quality ? We look to Mr. Griswold for an answer.

N. P. Willis refutes these imputations thus, offering instances which, he says, “we think prove the existence of the very qualities denied to Mr. Poe. Humility, willingness to persevere, belief in another's kindness, and capability of cordial and grateful friendship. Such he assuredly was when sane; such only he was in all that we have happened personally to know him, through a friendship of five or six years; and so much easier is it to believe what we have seen and know, than what we hear of only, that we remember him but with admiration and respect.” Here, at last, is something tangible, from high authority; judgment, not from hearsay, but from a personal acquaintance “of five or six years.”

Further comment is unnecessary. Upon the whole, for presenting the world with a beautiful edition of the works of a great poet, Mr. Griswold deserves our thanks; but we do not imagine he has done himself the credit, or the memory of the dead poet that honor, which he so easily could have done and given, had this notice been written with a mind unblighted by the errors or the prejudices of the past. “Honor to whom honor is due.”

H. S. CORNWELL.