Text: John C. Miller, ed., “Entry 069: John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman, Oct. 7 and Oct. 13, 1874,” Poe's Helen Remembers (1979), pp. 215-220 (This material is protected by copyright)

[page 215, continued:]

69. John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman

My very dear friend,

“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick” — For weeks I have waited, but waited in vain, to hear from you & begin sadly to dread that all is not well. Oh, I do so long to hear from you; if not able to write, do let someone send me a line — a word to say that all is well.

Since my last long letter & its various enclosures was sent off, I have had a sad, sad loss. Just as I had my traps packed for my annual trip & all arrangements for a visit to Paris through Normandy, a letter arrived to say that a very dear friend, my best & kindest, & related by marriage, was dangerously ill at the town in South Devon coast, where he was staying with his wife & three little boys. I was for going to him at once but, persuaded to call on his brother, found that he had just received a telegram to come at once with the family doctor. I need not give you further details; suffice to say that in four days my friend was no more of this life. I cannot express how unspeakably wretched this sad event has made me. My friend was one of the truest & noblest men who ever lived, &, I sincerely believe, never imagined, much less did, a mean thing. He was only 39 & rising rapidly in his profession as a [page 216:] barrister. Again a perfect blank seems to have usurped the future — hope seems folly, & but that others are dependent upon my well being, I feel that I could gladly & cheerfully go down to my grave “where the weary are at rest.” I know that time does & will bring a nepenthé for such sorrows, but that does not ease the wound in its newness. But I will turn to different matters.

I have told you how well I got on with Miss Peckham. I looked forward to meeting her again in Paris & having some pleasant hours together, but my holiday has been broken up & I am back at my office again. I desired to go back, because the daily routine & the constant contact with careless or heartless people are the best salves for such sores; continual irritation wears out the pain. I had a long chat with Miss Peckham about the poisonous ivy, & what she said makes me very anxious about your health — & your sister, Miss Power, was also ill, was she not?

I have not much by way of news. I have just received a letter from an English acquaintance, resident in New York, in which he answers my inquiries about the Poe family by saying that a friend in Baltimore “knew the surviving members of Poe's family quite intimately,” but that “he could not succeed in enlisting the sympathies of the Poes in the matter, that they were very reticent,” and that they asserted that I was “in correspondence with one of them & that he had given you{i.e., me} all they cared to say relative to the poet.” This seems to show that Neilson Poe is not the sole survivor & it confirms my suspicion that efforts are being made to stifle inquiry. Neilson Poe, I have learned from three correspondents, has said that he has written to me & that I have written to him. This latter assertion is incorrect, or was until yesterday, when I sent off a letter to him. I need scarcely remark that I have never received any communication from him. I hope for some information from Mr. Hand Browne's investigations. I hope you received his letter safely, with the other enclosures I sent you early last month.

Vol. 1 of Poe's works is not out yet. Of course a copy will be sent to you at the earliest moment. We have been waiting for Mr. Linley Sambourne's illustrations, but I have desired Messrs. Blacks not to wait. I have not heard for some days from them, but expect to by every post. I do long for you to get my “Memoir” — tentative though it be — & get your opinion on it, on the portrait, &c.

I have no news & only wait & wait for your next letter, meanwhile remaining now, & forever, most affectionately yours,

P.S. This is a stupid letter but better than silence, n’est ce pas? [page 217:]

Oct. 13: Post by post I have waited to hear from [you] & thankful I indeed am to at last get your kind & ever dear handwriting, [Sept. 29]. I would not lose a scrap of it.

Miss Peckham's letter shall go off at once as she is also anxious at not hearing of or from you.

I return your slip of Edgar Poe & His C.. I think you should preserve all these notices — (I fancy I still have some — Mr. O’Connor's, &c.) — reprint them at the end of the book, or selections from them. You’ll see what I have said, & what use I have made, of E.P. & His C. in the “Memoir.” I long for its appearance & for you to get it. Dear little book that yours is, I should not like it altered more than the few slight things you mention. ’Tis a friend that — although I know every word of it, I often consult.

Whilst I think of Mr. O’Connor, last week's Academy had a review of W. Whitman's Leaves of Grass — very favourable — by George Saintsbury, a fine critic, who will, I believe, review my edition of Poe. Same number had a long paragraph re. my forthcoming “Memoir” & the Works. H. F. Curwen, who translated Baudelaire's Essais for Hotten's ed. of Poe, has a book announced for early issue, entitled Sorrow & Song, taking as representatives of both, Poe, Petöfi, &c. You know Petöfi, the great Hungarian poet? I have written Curwen re. Poe, but hope that he has done him justice. Several papers announce my book as preparing. Routledge announce cheap ed. of Poe's poems as edited by Stoddard. I’ll get it & see what he says.

So Mr. Gill is nervous! Never mind, all will help to bring Griswold v. E. Poe before the world. I don’t fancy Mr. G[ill] will do me any harm. I hope he’ll fight well, as he is on the right side. I wish he kept a little nearer the truth.

The Ed. of the International (through Davidson) has engaged me to write a life of Poe & I am getting on with it quickly, but don’t mention to anyone or Gill might spoil that.

Thanks for Mr. Dwight's note, but I think there's a mistake. In “The Balloon Hoax” Poe speaks of “the guide rope” as the invention of Green the aëronaut & I fancy he was right. I know it has been used a long time here.

The Poes seem determined to stop the E. Poe Memorial — as if they could cast his name into oblivion! ’Tis like Mrs. Partington sweeping back the Atlantic with her broom.

Well, I suppose I am “a tyro in the sublime science!” Let us hope — we can do no more — that some day all may be clear. Do keep me informed of your health. Your account is alarming: don’t injure yourself by long letters, but send me a line once a fortnight at least. It does certainly seem to bring us nearer, &. more palpably real, to have found [page 218:] a mutual friend, but you are near & dear to me without any other links being needed.

As for the story of my life — it depends upon my mood — ’tis a sad tragedy. I have, indeed, been as “the bird's unhappy master, whom unmerciful disaster, followed fast,” through life. I know troubles do affect me more & their impressions last longer, than with many, but my pangs have not been imaginary, or mere sentiment. My life since childhood has been one continual sacrifice — still is — & but for those dependent upon me, I would gladly go to my eternal rest. Why wait for your translation? Let the books appear unless you have some deep objection.

I also long to know more of the Stanard family &, perhaps, my investigations may bring something to light. Griswold, I fancy, was 42 when he died. Keep Mr. Wertenbaker's statement. Did I not say they sent me two copies? I’m not Scotch, but supposed to be descended from Scotch family — The Ingrams, Viscounts Irving, &c., &c.!! G. R. Graham is dead & has been some time, I firmly believe. Mrs. H. L. Williams who told me, & who is in London, knew him well & told me the whole story of his life & death. You may be quite satisfied with your book — it will last.

Yesterday came a kind letter from E. V. Valentine, a relative of Mrs. Allan (the 1st), as you know. A cousin of his father's accompanied the Allans when they brought Poe to Europe to school. E.V.V.'s brother heard Poe lecture & recite “The Raven” & Hood's “Bridge of Sighs.”

That is very nice & kind & may lead to something.(1)

Today came letter from E. L. Didier, Baltimore, saying that, besides other things, [page 219:]

Now some of this certainly seems valuable to me, but Mrs. Clemm's news I am shy of. Of Mrs. H. Stanard I am anxious to hear, but it strikes me Mr. Didier only knows what you said to Mrs. Clemm & published in your book. Miss Royster also we know name of (Mrs. Shelton). Poe's father & mother may only be Stoddard over again. West Point expulsion cannot be shaken — my “Memoir” makes the best of that. Poe's death is best left alone unless Neilson Poe will speak. The MS. poem, I fancy, is the one to E[liza] White, after changed for Mrs. Osgood. Poe's life from Jany. 1831 to Oct. 1833 would be valuable & might disprove the desertion story! £20 I could not afford, but must hear what Mr. D[idier] says in his reply to what I shall write him. English publishers won’t pay much, save to one or two writers, & I shall have to do all at my own risk. I may not get a penny for my forthcoming 4-vol. collection! This entre nous. Blacks I believe are honest & so I may get some remuneration, but little for time & energy expended, were it a mere work-done-account, but you know that it is not that. So you see I must only pay what is absolutely necessary. You’ll hear the result, in due course, of my correspondence with Mr. D[idier].

And now — not farewell — but au revoir from your ever faithful & affectionate friend.

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1. It led to a great deal, even though Valentine had no success in inducing Mrs. Allan to mention Poe's name, much less discuss him.

2. Didier's letter to Ingram, Oct. 1, 1874, is Item 174 in the Ingram Poe Collection.