Text: John C. Miller, ed., “Entry 064: John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman, Aug. 3, 1874,” Poe's Helen Remembers (1979), pp. 198-202 (This material is protected by copyright)

[page 198, continued:]

64. John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman

My dear Mrs. Whitman,

If I do not acknowledge your most welcome letter [July 21] at once I [page 199:] feel that I may not be able to nerve myself to reply for some days. I am in a feverish state of anxiety to do something and yet am scarcely able to do anything unless it be put directly before me. My correspondence — a large portion from old valued friends — has accumulated to an unanswerable extent. Many pressing & imperative letters are waiting replies & I cannot rouse myself to answer them. I cannot comprehend my lassitude. I no longer seem to take pleasure in anything & all my aspirations have shrunk into a dreamy carelessness.

The “Memoir” of Poe, that is to precede his works, is all printed and does not give me any satisfaction. I feel that so much better a life should have been written — could have been written even by me — and I know not what the world will say of it — what you will say of it. Oh! that something would stir me up! I feel that I could thankfully accept any kind of excitement so that it could arouse me from this lethargy. But enough! I will forego this egotism and try to discourse of something more to the purpose, merely remarking en passant that though I frequently fainted as a youth that I never previously had such an attack as I had in the Isle of Wight.

And you are suffering from languor — do you think it merely arises from sultry weather, or do you ascribe it to the remains of the ivy poisoning, or to any other cause? Let me forego all the kind things I would say and do feel, for while, and comment upon the subjects of your letter seriatim.

As regards the Comet just gone or the comet just coming, I do not think much can be said. Entre nous — I do not believe in these distant bodies exercising any influence on our bodies, whatever they may on our minds. You remember Poe's “Conversation of Eiros & Charmion” on the comet? The London Mirror is just going to publish it, as ’tis unknown in England. Two & a half vols., out of four, of Poe's works, of my edition, are in print, but the 1st vol. will not appear before the 1st of October. There will be illustrations by Sambourne (of Punch, &c.).

By the way, Mrs. Lewis has promised me some copies of her portrait of Poe, but she is out of town just now so I suppose I shall not get them till “the fall.” Her name reminds me of Griswold, whom Mr. O’Connor thinks I have not been savage enough with. It strikes me that Griswold got a very good share of the punishment he deserved before he left this life. I can now believe what Mrs. Lewis said — that Mrs. Ellet hastened G[riswold]'s death — and all that Poe said of that woman. In the British Museum I have just seen Griswold's printed letter about his bigamous marriage (do you know the story?) and therein he calls Mrs. E[llet] everything, & a great deal more, than Poe did &, I think, pretty well proves her to be unfit to be admitted into any decent house, or to be known by any decent person. No word is too severe for such a creature! But Griswold proves himself, I think, equally (or nearly so) as [page 200:] bad. What a horrid nest of villains! For goodness sake never come in contact with or have anything to do with Mrs. E[llet]. I believe she prejudiced several English people, when she was in England, against Poe. The Misses Kortwrights have suspended (protem) their receptions. I fancy Mrs. E[llet] prejudiced them from what I hear, but when I can call there again I shall “a tale unfold,” &c.

The Temple Bar paper, as printed, was really only the result of intuition — when written I scarcely had any proofs against Griswold — besides, our English press will not print, even when I write it, stronger language than that you have seen. Many hard words of mine, on this subject, have been deleted &, I believe, rightly. More credit is given to a calm, severe, summing-up, than all the fierce invectives of the English language, with the Irish into the bargain, to back it! You see I can think prudently sometimes.

I am glad, however, that even the Temple Bar article is being republished in America, as it will do something. All the deficiencies of The Templar [sic] letter I at once admit. ’Twas written off, on the spur of the moment, from the Isle of Wight. I was too unwell to reason logically & without proper references — so forgive it.

As for poor Miss Poe, I am ashamed of myself — after having obtained promises of support from so many, I have dropped the matter, but I must take it up at once & do my best for her.

I have been utterly used up in my mind since my illness. The name of Gill I have often seen in American papers as always coming but I cannot see that he ever comes anywhere. His letter, strange to say, I did answer.

The three editors I fancy are too poor fry for a decent pen; otherwise, I should like to do as Emerson's word & “stir the devils everywhere.” A free fight all round just now would do me good — “will any gentleman just tread on the tail of my coat — I am up for mischief.

Mr. Neilson Poe — oh, “by the pricking of my thumbs” (mentally understood), I instinctively feel there is mischief there. I feel assured that Mr. N.P. was & is no friend of Edgar Poe. What think you?

Of the Chevalier & his friend de Grammont you speak in your book, E.Poe & His Critics, of which more at some future time. At leisure I will jot down a few memoranda for the new edition which I yet hope to see.

I did not see the paper on Byron in St. Paul's by Roden Noel. I remember this name but know its owner not — it may be a nom de plume — the Noels are relatives of Byron by marriage.

And you have seen a copy of the 1831 edition of Poe! I would give something only to see it — is that impossible? I suppose Mr. Harris would not lend it to me for a few days per registered post? If not, could I have a faithful MS. copy of it? Do try & hear what he says. “The [page 201:] Paean” in the 1831 copy does not mention the name of “Helen,” does it? I’m not sure of my copy being quite exact but I believe it to be. Your copy is from the Southern Lit. Messenger, where Poe republished it with a few slight changes, including the name of “Helen” being inserted — doubtless, after the death of Mrs. Stanard — who appears to have died in 1831-2? Lowell mentions 1827 — Duyckinck 1829 — as the early edition. This latter was published by Hatch & Dunning, Baltimore — see my printed papers. Will Mr. Harris write to me? Perhaps I can do something for him here. I have a very large knowledge of American poets of the past generation & collect American editions. Can he tell me where to get the Poems of Ed. C. Pinckney — they are — or rather a small collection of them — is in the British Museum. I also want “Martin Faber,” by Wm. G. Simms.(1)

I know Hannay's edition of Poe well — some of my friends were great friends of Hannay. I have never seen a single illustration of Poe's works that I cared about.

I shall leave town next month for five weeks, but you will — I trust — hear from me again before I leave & whilst I am away. I had forgotten about the Index of the Tales & Poems of the 1845 edition. I return it herewith, as also the notice of Poe's Lowell lecture, which I fancied I had sent back before. I am looking up a lot of letters from Messrs. O’Connor, Davidson, Latto, & from Mrs. Clemm belonging to you & will return them, as also several cuttings, &c.

The early version of “The Paean,” is in Russell's Magazine (from S. Literary Messenger) as also is the “The Valley Nis.” I suppose you never got the letter or a copy thereof of Mr. John Willis, Poe's fellow student at Charlottesville? I will send some Mirror cuttings for Mr. Eveleth — if he has the Dunn-English letter, or any letter or paper by Poe, I should be thankful for a copy. I have never been able to get “The Elk.” Mr. Davidson — to whom I must write tomorrow — has been very kind but he is not so up to Poe matters as I am & is liable to overlook his writings. I shall never clear up matters, or get all the works until I visit America. “The Elk” was probably in the Gentleman's Magazine of Philadelphia. That & Brooks's Museum (of Baltimore) would have, doubtless, unknown writings of Poe. The Gift (1831? &c.), edited by Eliza Leslie, might have early & unknown tales.

I have discovered a quantity of “Marginalia.” The copy of Appleton's you spoke of did not arrive, but Mr. Davidson has kindly sent a copy. I shall write the editor to tell him that “The Raven” was not written at Fordham but in New York City. How can people continue to tell such things without any authority? I wish poor Poe had been born in Europe. How differently would his name & fame have been treated. Forgive me for saying so to you, but then all the world is our stage. How glad I am though that we can converse in the same language. [page 202:]

The paper on Hawthorne by Leslie Stephen was first published in the Cornhill, but is now in a book of essays styled Hours in a Library or some such title.(2) Some of Mr. Stephen's essays are very good & some very bad — notably, one on Balzac. His paper on Hawthorne & Poe is beneath contempt. Appleton's extract is but a portion. I know nothing of Mr. S[tephen?]. I sent you a piece of Eugene Benson's article in the Galaxy. I kept no copy & only what you sent me. The whole article is I suppose not available?

No more at present. As I have Graham's letter, I will return your MS. copy. Did you get the “Autography” papers? I will send the paper on Poe in the Sixpenny which kindly return (when perused) with comments. Will you do this — as I am doubtful about the author's correct[ness]. No more — no more — my ever dear friend from yours ever & ever faithfully,

 

1. William Gilmore Simms (1806-1870) published Martin Faber; the Story of a Criminal (New York: J. & J. Harper, 1833).

2. Leslie Stephen republished his paper on Hawthorne in Hours in a Library, I (London: Smith Elder & Co., 1874), 256-98.