The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Edgar Allan Poe [1318]
How long before the book will be published and the Stylus started? I am eager to see them. What is to be the character of the Stylus, and who are to be contributors to it? I hope Hawthorne, Lowell, Miss Fuller, T. Buchanan Read, R. A. Locke, Wm. Kirkland, and John Neal will be among them. The notice of Hawthorne didn’t appear in the January “Godey” it seems. Of course there was some reason for the failure. I shall be glad to receive “The Rationale of Verse,” and to give my poor opinion of its merits. It is a fact, I like to see your “usings up” of those “Pundits,” still I should advise you not to nettle them too much — let not prejudice speak too often and too loudly. It will only create you enemies, where if it were otherwise, you would make admirers and friends. You will say, doubtless, that you ask not the good graces of the little things; still you must be aware that these j are necessary to you. These are the dispensers of your destiny in a great measure. Quacks, you know bear rule in this country. —
Tell us the truth about your “Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar.” My organ of Marvelousness is so fully developed that I am inclined to believe almost any thing that can bring reason to bear in the finishing, though the starting be unsupported by good evidence. But the starting here does have evidence of its truth — that one can be put into the mesmeric sleep under certain circumstances there are too many reliable witnesses for me to gainsay it.! Admitting this, then — that the sleep can be produced so that the body will lose all sensation — etc. etc. etc. — it is not so hard to believe the rest. The I crumbling, rotting away into a loathsome liquid so soon after the removal of the magnetic fluid (if it be this) looks like a big one — but in Bell’s Anatomy page 245, I find the following (the Author is speaking of the life of the muscles) — “for the moment this lingering portion of life is gone the body dissolves and falls down — .” Now, why couldn’t it be that there was virtue in the magnetism to preserve this life of the muscles after the life of the nerves had become extinct, after the mind had gone out — and that your mind had somehow or other taken the place of his, and was that which spoke? — in short why couldn’t it be that a portion of the life of your body had been conveyed into his, and that a portion of your mind had become infused into the place of his? I think it is in some such way as this that Mermerism must be accounted for. This is the manner in which I have argued (or talked) about the “Facts” with those that have spoken to me upon the subject — and I have strenuously held that it was true. But I tell you that I strongly suspect it for a hoax in spite of its ingenious management, and of its coloring of truth. If you tell me, in confidence, about it, I shall believe it, let it come on which side it may. — The Balloon Hoax Ive (I’ve) seen mention of, and heard it said that you were its author — You were, were you? I have not seen it. — What English Journals have you written articles for — and on what topics were those articles and for what French publications — and on what subjects?
I think your “Opinions” of Willis are correct, his friend Morris’ “say”, to the contrary notwithstanding — there is evidence in almost every thing he does of his propensity to “push” himself, though there does not seem to be any design in his pushing — it seems to be done, as it were, by accident. — I have got Hawthorne’s “Mosses” and I like them. — I have just received, too, Miss Fuller’s “Papers” but haven’t had time to read them as yet. —
Here’s the letter slovenly enough, and long enough! — I’ll try to do better next time.
Yours most respectfully
Geo W. Eveleth
24 Phillips Tuesday eve. — Jan. 19.
Edgar Allan Poe to George W. Eveleth — February 16, 1847
New-York: Feb. 16. 47.
My Dear Sir,
Some weeks ago I mailed you two