Text: James A. Harrison, “Seventh Letter,” The Last Letters of Edgar Allan Poe to Sarah Helen Whitman (1909), pp. 41-43

[page 41:]

Sunday evening 26.

IWROTE you yesterday, sweet Helen, but, through my fear of being too late for the mail omitted some things I wish to say. I fear, too, that my letter must have seemed cold — perhaps even harsh or selfish — for I spoke nearly altogether of my own griefs. Pardon me, my Helen, if not for the love I bear you, at least for the sorrows I have endured — more, I believe, than have often fallen to the lot of man. How much have they been aggravated by my own consciousness that, in too many instances, they have arisen from my own culpable weakness or childish folly! — my sole hope now, is in you, Helen. As you are true, to me or fail me, so do I live or die.

I forgot to reenclose your poem and do so now. Why have you omitted the two forcible lines —

— is that dawn no longer perceptible? [page 42:]

Who wrote the verses signed “Mary,” I am unable to say.

Can you solve me the riddle of the poem enclosed ? It is from last Saturday's “Home Journal.” Somebody sent it to me in MS.

Was I right, dearest Helen, in my first impression of you? — you know I have implicit faith in first impressions. Was I right in the idea I had adopted before seeing you — in the idea that you are ambitious? If so, and if you will have faith in me, I can and will satisfy your wildest desires. It would be a glorious triumph, Helen, for us — for you and me. I dare not trust my schemes to a letter — nor, indeed, have I room even to hint at them here. When I see you I will explain all — as far, at least, as I dare explain all my hopes even to you.

Would it not be “glorious,” darling, to establish, in America, the sole unquestionable aristocracy — that of intellect — to secure its supremacy — to lead and to control it? All this I can do, Helen, and will — if you bid me — and aid me.

I received yesterday a letter from Mr. Dunnell. He says that they have “lost” their lecturer for the 6th. prox. and offers me that night instead of the 13th. I have written him, however, that I cannot be in Providence before the 13th.

My kindest regards to Mr. Pabodie.

Devotedly ———— [page 43:]

[Mrs. Whitman adds this:

Signature and postscript cut out and given to James T. Fields, 1865.]

“P. S. — ” Preserve the printed lines. I send the MS. — Perhaps you may recognize it. As one of the signs of the times I notice that Griswold has lately copied my Raven in his Hartford Weekly Gazette — I enclose his editorial comments so that you have quite a budget of enclosures.”

[The letter now continues:]

P. S. — I open this letter, dearest love, to ask you to mail me, as soon as possible, three articles of mine which you will find among the critical papers I gave you viz.: “The Philosophy of Composition” — Tale Writing — Nathl. Hawthorne — and a review of Long fellow's poems. I wish to refer to them in writing my Lecture and can find no other copies. Do not fail to send them dear — dear Helen, as soon as you get this. Enclose them in a letter — so that I may be sure to get them in season.

Mrs. B's. “Ida Grey” is in “Graham” for August — 45.