The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Edgar Allan Poe [1375]
With sincere esteem
Yr Ob. St
Edgar A Poe
KELLEY, WILLIAM DARRAH
Edgar Allan Poe to William D. Kelley — before June 25, 1841
(. . .) the inspired man, Christ (. . .) the incomprehensible doctrine of original sin and the Salvation of man by the Redeemer (. . .)
KENNEDY, JOHN PENDLETON
Edgar Allan Poe to John Pendleton Kennedy — about November 19, 1834
Balto: Nov. 1834.
Dr Sir,
I have a favour to beg of you which I thought it better to ask in writing, because, sincerely, I had not courage to ask it in person. I am indeed too well aware that I have no claim whatever to your attention, and that even the manner of my introduction to your notice was, at the best, equivocal.
Since the day you first saw me my situation in life has altered materially. At that time I looked forward to the inheritance of a large fortune, and, in the meantime, was in receipt of an annuity sufficient for my support. This was allowed me by a gentleman of Virginia (Mr Jno Allan (John Allan)) who adopted me at the age of two years, (both my parents being dead) and who, until lately, always treated me with the affection of a father. But a second marriage on his part, and I dare say many follies on my own at length ended in a quarrel between us. He is now dead, and has left me nothing. I am thrown entirely upon my own resources with no profession, and very few friends. Worse than all this, I am at length penniless. Indeed no circumstances less urgent would have induced me to risk your friendship by troubling you with my distresses. But I could not help thinking that if my situation was stated — as you could state it — to Carey & Lea, they might be led to aid me with a small sum in consideration of my M.S. now in their hands. This would relieve my immediate wants, and I could then look forward more confidently to better days. At all events receive assurance of my gratitude for what you have already done.
Most respy (Most respectfully)
Yr Obt St (Your obedient servant)
Edgar Allan Poe
Jno. P. Kennedy Esqr
John Pendleton Kennedy to Edgar Allan Poe — December 22, 1834
Dear Sir, — I have recd your note, and should have apprised you of what I had done, but that Carey’s letter only reached me a few days ago as I was stepping into a carriage to go to Annapolis, whence I returned only a day or two since.
I requested Carey immediately upon the receipt of your first letter to do something for you as speedily as he might find an opportunity and to make some advance on your book. His answer let me know that he would go on to publish, but the expectation of any profit from the undertaking he considered doubtful, — not from want of merit in the production but because small books of detached tales however well written seldom yield a sum sufficient to enable the bookseller to purchase a copyright. He recommended however that I should allow him to sell some of the tales to the publishers of the annuals. My reply was that I thought you would not object to this if the right to publish the same tale was reserved for the volume. He has accordingly sold one of the tales to Miss Leslie for the Souvenir at a dollar a page, I think, with the reservation above mentioned, — and has remitted me a draft for fifteen dollars, which I will hand over to you as soon as you call upon me, which I hope you will do as soon as you can make it convenient. If the other tales can be sold in the same way you will get more for the work than by an exclusive publication.
Yours truly
John P. Kennedy.
Balt. Dec. 22, 1834.
Edgar A. Poe, Esq.
Edgar Allan Poe to John Pendleton Kennedy — December 19, 1834
Balt. Dec. 19 / 34
Dr Sir,
About four weeks ago I sent you a note respecting my Tales of the F. Club (Tales of the Folio Club), and matters have since occurred to me that make me doubt whether you have recd. (received) it. You would confer upon me the greatest favour by dropping a few words for me in the P.O.
Very respy
Edgar Allan Poe
Jno. P. Kennedy, Esqr.
Edgar Allan Poe to John Pendleton Kennedy — March 15, 1835
Sunday —— 15th