Text: John C. Miller, ed., “Entry 162: John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman, Nov. 2, 1876,” Poe's Helen Remembers (1979), pp. 455-457 (This material is protected by copyright)

[page 455, continued:]

162. John H. Ingram to Sarah Helen Whitman

My dear Providence,

Yours dated 19 Ultimo just to hand, & at risk of only sending you a short scribble, I answer right away. I was becoming very anxious at your long silence, but continually deferred my reply in hopes — from day to day — of hearing from you. I feared you were unwell ( — you do not speak now of your health — ) & not having yet replied to Miss Peckham, of course I have not heard through her. I have so much to say, too!

In the first place, let me tell you about “Landor's Cottage”: it must have been written about the time of your engagement; was sent to the Metropolitan (magazine?) in Dec. 1848 or Jany. [18]49; and was returned to Poe in March, unpublished, upon the stoppage of said publication.

Did you know & remember anything of the Flag of the Nation? Of Boston. I can also tell you that when Poe obtained no reply to his last letter of appeal to you, begging that you would contradict the scandals about his conduct at your last interview, he believed that his letter had been intercepted & kept from you.

Did you, or do you, know a Mrs. Osborne? Mr. O. Dodge has died suddenly, & I fear neither his portrait of Poe, or the promised copy, will now be obtainable, but I’ll try for it.

I take tea with Mrs. Lewis today, & will again ask about the portrait she has — copies are everywhere.

Bruckmann has lost two different photos I had of Poe, which you sent me but, happily, not the one my engraved portrait is from. His portrait is, I think, very good & I don’t know why he is delaying publication. I will call on him at earliest moment.

The Baltimore Memorial is to have a very fine unknown portrait, I am informed. We shall see. There are about 20 different portraits in existence that I know of.

This winter, Mallarmé assures me, his translation of the poems, with [page 456:] biographic sketch & portrait of Poe will appear — portrait from mine. The book will be inscribed to Mrs. S. H. Whitman — so you will not need the République des Lettres, with the translation, though you may get that.

I seem to have made Poe quite the hero in French literary society just now, although Mallarmé has long worshipped him. He says he sent you the Corbeau, but, as you have not received it, has sent another. I have not yet met him in the flesh, not having time to go to the watering place he was at this year. We shall, doubtless, soon meet.

Letters in Athenaeum & N&Q: “Uneda” in latter seems to have “shut up.” In former, I have not had time to answer Theodore Watts. It was so poor, & self-answered, that I don’t think I shall bother about it now.

Anent H. B. Forman (my friend): he is now bringing out the complete & best edition of Shelley in 4 vols — Vol. i ready.(1) I am reading all the proofs with him. ’Tis an interesting labour.

My “Memoir” of Poe for the Baltimore Memorial is the International Review life revised. I wonder what was “objectionable” in O’Connor's article! I received the Two Rivulets vol. from Walt Whitman a week or two ago, with fine portrait & autograph.(2)

Mrs. Richmond speaks in the highest terms of Poe. She, I fancy, saw nothing but his brightest side. I think she was very glad at the prospect of his marriage with you, but I cannot help deeming the result was the best that could have happened — at least for you. Oh, how I wish I could see you & talk all over with you. I shall never be able to publish my final biography until I have seen you. But there is no hurry.

I have never been able to get Gill's Laurel Leaf. Should you have any objection to lend it to me? I would return it quickly. If you have any disinclination do not hesitate for one moment to say so.

Didier will, doubtless, be very favourable to Poe, but as to his reliability? Well, you may remember the note heading the “Alone” poem in Scribner's. However, we have turned the tide in the right direction & now all will be easy sailing.

As to E[lizabeth] O[akes] S[mith], I had the MS. in my possession certainly, & certainly all, or nearly all, had been previously published by her: as to the exact words, I would not dare to assert anything, & my remarks to you referred to the whole paper & not to any sentence. I read your meaning that she denied authorship of the whole article. I did not notice (but will reread) “a woman whom he had betrayed & ruined.” I thought I had read it “a woman whose letters he had declined” &c. I will look to Scribner for the brickyard story: — it looks “very like a whale.”

I suppose Gill won’t sell out — if he has anything to sell? I wonder if Stoddard would? [page 457:]

Did you hear of Mr. Cleaveland's death? I wrote a short notice of John Neal for the Athenaeum — unfortunately it, through a mistake, got put into the Miscellanea at the end.(3) Miss Neal sent me a fine photo of the brave old man.

Happily, my health & spirits are very good. I mean to live & labour, & be famous yet, my dear friend. Like poor Chenier, “I have so much here” (in my brain) which must someday be wrought out.

Meanwhile, & forever, believe me to be your amicus fidelissimus,

 

1. H. Buxton Forman's four-volume edition of Shelley was published in 1880 (London: Reeves and Turner).

2. Two Rivulets, including “Democratic Vistas,” “Centennial Songs,” and “Passage to India,” was published as a companion volume to the 1876 (sixth) edition of Leaves of Grass in Camden, N.J., 1876.

3. John Neal's obituary, signed “I,” appeared in the London Athenaeum, Oct. 14, 1876.