The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Edgar Allan Poe [1356]
Philadelphia June 20, 1843.
Dear Madam.
It gives me pleasure to comply with the very flattering request contained in your letter to my sister of March 26th.
With the Highest Respect I am, Madam,
Yr Mo. Ob. St
Edgar A Poe
Miss Lucy D. Henry.
HERRON, JAMES
Edgar Allan Poe to James Herron — early June 1842
(. . . .) anticipated my design, and a notice had already been inserted, but only as a communication — not editorially.
Believe me that I sincerely rejoice in your good fortune; or rather in the success which you so well earned and deserved; but my means of serving you through the papers have been less than my desire to do so. You have learned, perhaps, that I have retired from “Graham’s Magazine”. The state of my mind has, in fact, forced me to abandon for the present, all mental exertion. The renewed and hopeless illness of my wife, ill health on my own part, and pecuniary embarrassments, have nearly driven me to distraction. My only hope of relief is the”Bankrupt Act”, of which I shall avail myself as soon as possible. Had I resolved upon this at an earlier day, I might now have been doing well — but the struggle to keep up has, at length, entirely ruined me. I have left myself without even the means of availing myself of the act, [. . . .]
You will be pleased to hear that I have the promise of a situation in our Custom-House. The offer was entirely unexpected & gratuitous. I am to receive the appointment upon removal of several incumbents — the removal to be certainly made in a month. I am indebted to the personal friendship of Robert Tyler. If I really receive the appointment all may yet go well. The labors of the office are by no means onerous and I shall have time enough to spare for other pursuits. Please mention nothing of this — for, after all, I may be dis appointed.
Mrs Poe is again dangerously ill with hemorrhage from the lungs. It is folly to hope.
With sincere esteem & friendship
Yours
Edgar A Poe
Jas. Herron Esqre
Edgar Allan Poe to James Herron — June 30, 1842
Philadelphia, June 30. 1842.
My Dear Mr Herron.
Upon return from a brief visit to New-York, last night, I found here your kind letter from Washington, enclosing a check for $20, and giving me new life in every way. I am more deeply indebted to you than I can express, and in this I really mean what I say. Without your prompt and unexpected interposition with Mr Tyler, it is by no means improbable that I should have failed in obtaining the appointment which has >>now<< become so vitally necessary to me; but now I feel assured of success. The $20, also, will enable me to overcome other difficulties — and, I repeat, that I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have shown yourself a true friend.
My wife’s health has slightly improved and my spirits have risen in proportion; but I am still very unwell — so much so that I shall be forced to give up and go to bed.
Your own brilliant prospects must be realized; for it is not Fate which makes such men as yourself. You make your own Fate. There is such a thing as compelling Fortune, however reluctant or averse. As regards myself — I will probably succeed too. So let us both keep a good heart.
Wishing you the high success which you deserve,
I am your sincere friend,
Edgar A Poe
Jas. Herron Esqre
HEWITT, MRS. MARY ELIZABETH
Mary E. Hewitt to E. A. Poe – March 15, 1845]
To Edgar A Poe, Esq.
Dear Sir,
Mr Gillespie tells me that he has mentioned to you the singular coincidence that I related to him, of the simultaneous appearance of your admirable poem, “The Raven”, and the receipt of a letter by myself, from a very dear brother resident in Manilla, containing a marvelous history of a “white bird”, the which, although the very opposite of the “raven,” struck me as being so singularly like it in ground work as to constitute a “remarkable coincidence”.
Mr Gillespie tells me that you would like to see the paraphrase which I have endeavoured to frame out of my subject.
I need not say how much honored I feel by your