Text: John C. Miller, ed., “Entry 030: John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman, Mar. 24, 1874,” Poe's Helen Remembers (1979), pp. 90-92 (This material is protected by copyright)

[page 90, continued:]

30. John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman

My dear Mrs. Whitman,

I am glad you like the “New Facts,” as it was made up under pressure of events not likely to admit of much literary excellence. Thinking the paper I had originally written for the Mirror too closely trenched upon Temple Bar article, I had it back & cut out & put in, some parts as I deemed requisite — then I had the good fortune to obtain the correspondence of S.H.W.! Again, I had the paper home & again went to work with the scissors — by this time, I saw the whole thing required rewriting, but before I could commence an imperative demand for its return came from Ed. of the Mirror & it had to appear with all its “errors thick upon it.” Those errors are more than you point out. To one of yours, however, I must plead not guilty — J. R. Lowell, is, [page 91:] I have seen it authoritatively stated, “Dr.” I will look out my authority. So little is the fact known, however, that the Mirror called him “Mr.” in either the same, or next number. Mr. Wertenbaker's name was spelt correctly in my MS. & proof, from your letter, but in my hurry of correcting proof, I inadvertently altered it. Mr. Pabodie's name, &c. I copied, & I fancy verbatim, from the Tribune. All these matters of detail, which it is important should be accurate, will be very carefully looked after in my “Life of E.A.P.” I have sent you my proof of Temple Bar article & hope you will like it, but since it was written your kindly aid & my own discoveries have let in a flood of light on the subject.

I have engaged to write a “Life of Poe” — to extend to 30 pps. or so — for the New Quarterly Magazine: copy to be ready by end of April for publication in July next. This on dit had better be sub rosa. Besides this, I am in treaty with one of our best publishing firms for the publication of Poe's complete works in so many (4 to 6) vols. with “Memoir” prefixed, portraits, &c. The “Memoir” to extend to about 150 pps. If this treaty be only carried out you may expect, this year, to see a standard life & collection of Poe's works. But I must ask you to keep this treaty quite secret for the present. Publishers are slippery people, & these negotiations may fall through; if not, you shall learn the result immediately it is arrived at. To induce them to close I have written today offering to accept £25 (or say 100 dollars) less than they offer for first edition & if that does not sell out, to forego all remuneration. The collection is not proposed to be quite complete. To bring it within due compass, a large portion of Vol. 3 must be omitted, & some portions, I fear, of Vol. 4. The “Literati” includes few names known to English readers, save one or two like myself, who study American literature closely, & may nearly all be left out, in the circumstances. There are a few things in Vol. 4 which, even you, I fancy, can relinquish without regret.

You will have received my acknowledgment of the autograph letter long before this. I wish I could notify arrival of your anxiously expected vol. of poems. Thanks for the cuttings — they are interesting to me & will be carefully preserved & some day, all carefully returned. In one of my letters I have asked you not to send any more notices of E.P. & His Critics unless they throw additional light upon the subject of our researches. You will not misunderstand me — what I meant was, no review whatever will affect my favorable opinion, one way or another, of the beautiful little work.

If copies of the papers on cryptology, ciphers, &c. which appeared in Graham's could be obtained, I might get them inserted in the collection, but the papers on “Autography,” I fear, must be omitted. If you can kindly let me have copies of letters, or portions thereof, written by Poe, I shall be thankful, but, as you see, time presses for [page 92:] them. As soon as I settle with publishers, I must get the “Memoir” filled in, as it must accompany first vol. Can you point out any letter or letters from or even to Poe in Griswold's “Memoir” that is authentic? Those to Willis of course are. Can Mrs. Botta, or any literary friend of Poe's, with whom you are acquainted, give me copies of any portion of a letter of his? I have requested Mr. Davidson to kindly try. Part of Griswold's books & papers went to the New-York Historical Society — they might include some of Poe's letters — the slightest scrap would be useful. I am hoping to hear from the South in a day or two: Even a commonplace letter to Mr. Pabodie would be useful for my Life.

You may confidently rely upon my most careful manipulation of the “South Carolina lady” affair. Neither Mrs. E[llet]'s dignity nor Mrs. B[otta]'s love of keeping the peace shall be infringed. I was hoping to hear the sequel to your former reminiscences — why am I kept from hearing the result of the first interview, as promised? Anything that is confidential, do kindly mark, as otherwise, I may be debarred from using what you would permit me to use & which might be of importance.

Believe me ever to be yours most faithfully,

P.S. I think I shall most likely scratch both Dunn English & Briggs in my Life. J.H.I.