Text: John C. Miller, ed., “Entry 022: John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman, Mar. 11, 1874,” Poe's Helen Remembers (1979), pp. 71-75 (This material is protected by copyright)

[page 71, continued:]

22. John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman

My very kind friend,

Although I have today sent you a long scrawl, I am, perforce, compelled to send you another letter in order to acknowledge the safe arrival of the portraits. I was almost frightened to look at them at first, and now that I have gazed “long and deep,” I feel that I must have seen them before! Have either been printed? Perhaps it was in Duyckinck. I refer on Saturday at the Museum. I have not the work in my own library. The portrait, or rather a gross copy of it, of Griswold's 4-vol. collection, appears in Hotten's Edgar Poe & Stoddard's portrait is the same as in S. Lowe & Co.'s Poems of E. Poe, with the so called “original Memoir” written, I fancy, by Briggs of the Broadway Journal. I must have both these portraits engraved for my biography, as well as the one in Stoddard's. You allow this, I presume.

The Temple Bar paper's publication may be some time yet before it appears. I therefore send you the proofs but, as already pointed out, they must not be published in America till they have appeared here, or [page 73:] till I give the word. This paper was written before I had heard from you, which explains some of its discrepancies. I have marked various parts as follows, please preserve it until you get it again in Temple Bar for fear of any accident. 1st query — Mr. Powell, who is (or was) English, although resident in the States, is my authority for the adoption of Rosalie by the Allans. Poe's reminiscences of Mrs. H[elen] S[tanard] would seem to shew that the Allans were not kind. I am not quite certain of Poe's birth date — now — even. Born 19th Feb. 1809 as entered by Poe in University matriculation book, but he did not enter West Point Academy until 1 July 1830, the authorities tell me. Now I believe the rules are that no cadets be admitted after they have attained 21. Perhaps Mr. Allan's influence got this point overruled. “Five years residence in England” I am not sure was quite so long, but all these matters of detail, I shall eventually work out with the precision of a mathematical axiom. “Various academies”: do you know if Powell is right? The name of any one might help me. I would write to Richmond about it. His skill as draughtsman: did you ever see or hear of any drawing of his? I think he knew something of everything. I fancy we must forego “the first honours” — we spell it with the “u.” Dr. Maupin does not allude to it. As for St. Petersburg, I do not recollect a single allusion to it in Poe's works, and Mr. Eugene Schuyler, Secretary to your Legation, has kindly had the books and papers of both Legation & Consulate searched without result. The Legation during the whole time “Mr. Middleton was Minister from 1820-30,” and the Consulate for 1828-29.

Was Mrs. Allan kind? If Mrs. S[tanard]'s kindness had such effect, Mrs. A[llan] could not have been very demonstrative. I always picture “in my mind's eye” Mr. A[llan] as a rather vulgar, purse-proud despot. I have no authority, therefore, should not say so, but I do feel it. Is a child of Mr. Allan alive, I wonder? I can scarcely ask Mrs. Allan anything, I fancy, even if alive. See my remarks about Poe's books — Powell is my authority. Do you think it probable? Date of return on visit to Baltimore? Now Poe was dismissed West Point on 6th March 1831, and, according to Powell, was going to help the Poles. I cannot hear of him till autumn of 1833, when he was in Baltimore. Can you give anything between those dates? ’Tis important, because of Griswold's story of the enlistment & desertion. I should like to reduce that to an improbability. Refer to Griswold's “Memoir” & see what he says about Poe's editorship of S. Literary Messenger. It deceived me (i.e., Griswold's reference). Can’t you “shew it up” in Providence Journal? He, Griswold, says, “In the next number of the Messenger Mr. White announced that Poe was its editor, &c.” & then proceeds to prove Mr. White a liar.(1) It is a specimen of Griswold's criminal carelessness, for, had he gone through the Messenger with the slightest [page 74:] care, he would have discovered that it was not Poe who was appointed, but a gentleman who subsequently resigned, and Poe was not appointed until Sept. My notes are in another room. I quote from memory, but I think you will find it was announced as an “Editorial” in Sept. Griswold says at 500 dollars per annum. I have a copy of letter from Poe to Kennedy, saying 520. Griswold never is correct. Mrs. Clemm says (vide your letter) that E.P. & V. Clemm were married in 1836, in Richmond. I should like to get the month — it might make the letter quoted by Griswold more improbable. “Gold Bug” was published in Dollar Magazine, says Allibone — but I am not sure of year yet. Dunn English, I hear is alive & very prosperous. I wonder whether he really wrote “Don’t you remember Sweet Alice, Ben Bolt”? See Broadway Journal & Poe's defence of English. I have an American song book edited by Howard Paul in which authorship is given elsewhere. That reminds me — there is a pretty poem by Mrs. M. St. Leon Loud. I think there is a sneer at her in the “Eulogium” in Messenger. Allibone gives a short notice of her & says “see Poe's autobiography.” I know nothing of this autobiography — it may be important. I have written to Allibone & asked him (En passant, I always send No. 2 of “New Facts” when I write to Americans). Griswold speaks of Poe's life written by himself for Brooks's Museum & quotes a so-called portion of it. Do you know or can you hear of this publication? I can not see it, or hear of it. Fordham cottage, was it little? Duyckinck says it was furnished by means of the damages got from English for the libel. “Reminiscences of Poe” in the extinct Sixpenny Magazine — I wrote to Ed. twice & sent stamps for reply, asking author's name, or, if he’d forward letter, but got no reply.(2) This was years ago. Now I would force a reply. Do you know the paper at all? ’Tis very interesting & speaks of visits to Fordham & of conversations with Poe. If you don’t know it, I’ll forward it, but shall want it for much use in the life — it appears very friendly. Do you think I am correct about Mrs. Osgood's aid & her sheltering Mrs. Clemm? I fancy ’tis not so. Your letters have not denied it, however. The Lewis family are made the aiders in Griswold, apparently. The Home Journal story, I gather from your previous letters, was the Wyatt “Conchology” story. Wyatt published the Conchology book with his own name in 1838. Poe's name must have appeared later. Brown's book, says Griswold's note, 1833 — but it passed through 2 or 3 editions, I think. I am quoting entirely from memory, which is very good, however, on these points. How about the portrait [illegible] at the end? Do you object to this? The “Eulogium” copied Griswold without due acknowledgment — that explains that, but if J. M. Daniel wrote, it, he did not acknowledge his authorities in full. I must leave that paragraph. You will perceive I had written paper before I learned to [page 75:] know you. In my “Life” I shall not only give honour where ’tis due but shall be able to give something very different to this paper in Temple Bar. Still you will see my tone is faithful to my subject. There! no more tonight — ’tis past 12 — will send off early tomorrow & with heartfelt thanks for all your kindness, I remain, ever believe me, yours most devotedly,

 

1. Thomas Willis White (1788-1843) was a printer and publisher in Richmond before he founded the Southern Literary Messenger in 1834. He apparently recognized his own lack of editorial abilities, for at one time or another he employed or sought editorial advice from James E. Heath, Edward V. Sparhawk, Lucian Minor, Judge Beverley Tucker, and, of course, Poe.

2. Mrs. Mary Gove Nichols published “Reminiscences of Edgar Allan Poe” in the Sixpenny Magazine, Feb. 1863. The Union Square Book Shop, New York, reprinted a private edition of 450 copies of her article, with an Introductory Letter by Thomas Ollive Mabbott, in 1931.