The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Edgar Allan Poe [1374]
I have not yet published the “Lecture[”], but, when I do so, will have the pleasure of mailing you a copy. In the meantime, permit me to state, succinctly, my principal results.
GENERAL PROPOSITION. Because Nothing was, therefore All Things are.
1 — An inspection of the universality of Gravitation — of the fact that each particle tends not to any one common point — but to every other particle — suggests perfect totality, or absolute unity, as the source of the [p]haenomenon.
2. Gravity is but the mode in which is manifested the tendency of all things to return into their original unity.
3. I show that the law of the return — i.e the law of gravity — is but a necessary result of the necessary and sole possible mode of equable irradiation of matter through a limiter space.
4. Were the Universe of stars — (contradistinguished from the universe of space) unlimited, no worlds could exist.
5. I show that Unity is Nothingness.
6. All matter, springing from Unity, sprang from Nothingness. i e, was created.
7. All will return to Unity; i e — to Nothingness. I would be obliged to you if you would let me know how far these ideas are coincident with those of the “Vestiges”.
Very Respy Yr. Ob. st
Edgar A Poe
P.S. Please return the printed slip when you have done with it.
Geo. E. Irbey Esqr
JONES, JOHN BEAUCHAMP
Edgar Allan Poe to J. Beauchamp Jones — August 8, 1839
Philadelphia August 8th 1839
My Dear Sir,
I have just received your favor of the 6th, and thank you sincerely for the friendly interest you manifest in my behalf. At some future time I hope to have the pleasure of making your acquaintance. In the Sun of the 6th I saw the paragraph to which you allude — the other attacks have not met my notice. I would be much obliged to you if you could make it convenient to procure me the paper or papers, and forward them to me by mail — or, if this cannot be done, would it be too much to ask you to transcribe the passages referred to, and send them in a letter?
I presume it is the “Athenaeum” which has honoured me with its ill-nature. I notice nothing in the Republican, Chronicle, American, or Patriot.
It is always desirable to know who are our enemies, and what are the nature of their attacks.
I intend to put up with nothing that I can put down (excuse the pun) and I am not aware that there is any one in Baltimore whom I have particular reason to fear in a regular set-to.
I would take it as a great favor if you would let me know who edits the “Sun” — also who are the editors of the other papers attacking me — and should be thankful for any other similar information.
You speak of “enemies” — could you give me their names? All the literary people in Baltimore, as far as I know them, have at least professed a friendship.
Very truly Yr Ob. St
E A Poe (over
I presume the “Sun” has expressed the opinion that the August No: of the Mag: is not well edited, because it has been more than usually praised in this respect. No number ever issued from this office has recd. l/4 of the approbation which this has elicited. We are run down with puffs especially from the North — the South has not yet been so entirely heard from. Here lies the true secret of the spleen of the little fish.
KEESE, JOHN
Edgar Allan Poe to John Keese — May 26, 1845
Mr John Keese,
Dr Sir,
Permit me to thank you for the many expressions of good will in your letter of the 24th — also for the books you were so kind as to send me a few days before — very especially for Mrs Smith’s beautiful Poems.
It will give me great pleasure to hand you, in the course of this week, a brief article for “The Opal”.
With respect & esteem,
Yr Ob. St.
Edgar A Poe
May 26.th.
Edgar Allan Poe to John Keese — June 9, 1845
My Dear Sir,
With this note I have the honor to send you a brief sketch for “The Opal” — and hope that I am not too late.
Whatever you yourself think the value of the article, please remit to the Office of the “Broadway