Text: Editors, “Editorial Note,” Studies in Poe's Pym (1975), pp. 111-113 (This material is protected by copyright)

[page 111, unnumbered:]

With this issue, the University of Rhode Island assumes the publication of the American Transcendental Quarterly. Founded in 1969 by Kenneth Walter Cameron, the ATQ has published articles and materials relating to the Renaissance of American literature in the 19th century, a period ranging roughly from 1820 to 1860. Its contribution to literary scholarship is unique and well-known to students of American literature.

For the most part, we have inherited the contents of this issue: the Symposium on Pym was devised under the editorship of Professor Cameron and conducted by Professor Richard Benton. Readers will note, however, that the format of the ATQ has changed, and subsequent issues will introduce alterations with respect to content. Most apparent will be the ATQ's emphasis on the New England writers of the 19th century and their culture.

Amongst the many people who have assisted and encouraged us in pursuing this venture, we would Tike to thank especially the following: Professor Barry Marks, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Rhode Island; our colleagues in the Department of English; Mary Matzinger and Larry Pearce of the Publications Office at the University of Rhode Island; Robert M. Gutchen of the Biscuit City Press; and finally, Professor Cameron, whose generosity and patience made for a smooth passage of transition.

Request for Essays

Books Received and Forthcoming

Remembrances of Concord and the Thoreaus: Letters of Horace Hosmer to Dr. S. A. Jones. Edited by George Hendrick. Urbana: University of I11inois Press. 1977 xxvi. 157 pp. $8.95.

Addenda and Corrigenda

Edward W. Pitcher of the University of Western Ontario has sent us the following:

One might also have hoped for a better identification of item No. 48. It is correct to cite George Fisher, accomptant, as author of The Instructor, but it is doubtful that Fisher was a colonial working in Philadelphia. Certainly the earliest London edition was not 1763. The fourth edition for 1737 was reviewed in The Gentleman's Magazine, VII, 706 — published by Bettesworth, et al. As the earliest American edition cited is the 9th in 1748, it is still possible that the work had appeared first in the colonies, but the date must have been c.1730. It is logical, although not necessarily significant, that the London edition of 1737 was entitled simply The Instructor, or Young Man's Best Companion.

A Note on the Illustrations

The cover for this issue of the ATQ is taken from the Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition, During the Years, 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842 written by Charles Wilkes, U.S.N., Commander of the Expedition and published in 1844. The general importance of this work is described in William Stanton's The Great United States Expedition of 1838-1842 (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1975) and its topical and timely significance to The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym is noted by Alexander Hammond (pp. 9-20 this issue; see also his fn. 17). The six-volume work is generously illustrated, and our cover reproduces [page 113:] (in considerable enlargement) a detail from a drawing entitled “View of Antarctica,” one of several executed by Wilkes himself. (It appeares [[appears]] as a plate between pp. 324 and 325 of Vol. II of The Narrative and measures 17.8 x 11.5 cm. Although reduced by half its original size, it appears below in its entirety.)

The tailpieces which appear throughout this issue are also taken from the Wilkes Narrative. “Ice-Island,” (pp. 34, 72, 110 this issue) was sketched by G. M. Totten and “Iceberg” (pp. 56, 92 this issue) was sketched by Wilkes. (They appear on p. 338 and 332 respectively in Vol. II of the Narrative, and both are reproduced in this issue in slightly reduced form.)

Copies of these illustrations have been made from the 1845 edition of the Narrative published in Philadelphia by Lea & Blanchard and are reproduced here by the permission of Special Collections of the Library of the University of Rhode Island. [page 114:]

The artistic capabilities of Charles Wilkes are again demonstrated in this slightly enlarged detail of a sketch entitled “Vincennes in Disappointment Bay.” It appears as a plate betwen pp. 310-311 of Vol. II of the Narrative; the full plate measures 17.6 x 11.7 cm.