The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Edgar Allan Poe [1438]
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Could I obtain the most unimportant Clerkship in your gift-- any thing, by sea or land--to relieve me from the miserable life of literary drudgery to which I now, with a breaking heart, submit, and for which neither my temper nor my abilities have fitted me, I would never again repine at any dispensation of God. I feel that I could then, (having something beyond mere literature as a profession) quickly elevate myself to the station in society which is my due. It is needless to say how fervent, how unbounded would be my gratitude to the one who should thus rescue me from ruin, and put me in possession of happiness. I leave my fate in your hands.
Philadelphia
Most respy. & gratefully
Edgar A Poe
July 19. 1838.
PERCIVAL, CHARLES G.
Charles G. Percival to Edgar Allan Poe — December 19, 1845
City of Utica Dec. 19. 1845
Dear Sir
Having understood that you are skilled in deciphering any kind of cypher I have taken the liberty of sending you the above, with the request that you will send me its meaning when found out — I am confident it contains some hidden meaning — If you will bestow it some little attention I shall be greatly obliged as it is an Exact copy of a paper in my possession —
Very Respt. yours
Chas. G. Percival
Edgar A. Poe Esqr.
Edgar Allan Poe to Charles G. Percival - January 3, 1846.]
New-York: Jany -- 3. 46.
85 Amity St.
Chas. G. Percival Esqr
Dr Sir,
A few moments of leisure leave me at liberty to look at the cypher which you have done me the honor of submitting to my inspection. It is an illegitimate cryptograph--that is to say, the chances are, that, even with the key, it would be insoluble by the authorized correspondent. Upon analysis, however, independent of the key-solution, I find the translation to be the 3 first verses of the 2d chapter of St John.
Very Respy
Yr. Ob. St
Edgar A Poe
I should be happy to hear from you in reply.
PLEASANTS, JAMES, JR.
Edgar Allan Poe to James Pleasants, Jr. — November 17, 1824
To his Excellency the Governor & Council of Virga
Gentlemen
At the request of the members of the Richmond Junior Volunteers we beg leave to solicit your permission for them to retain the arms which they lately were permitted to draw from the armory. We are authorized to say that each Individual will not only pledge himself to take proper care of them, but we ourselves will promise to attend strictly to the order in which they are kept by the Company —
We have the honor to be
Gentlemen
Your Mo. Obt Servts
John Lyle Capt R J V
Edgar A. Poe Lieut
Richmond 17th Novr 1824
POE, GEORGE, JR.
Edgar Allan Poe to George Poe, Jr. — January 12, 1836
Richmond. Jan: 12, 1836.
Dear Sir
I take the liberty of addressing you in behalf of a mutual relation, Mrs. William Clemm, late of Baltimore — and at her earnest solicitation.
You are aware that for many years she has been suffering privations and difficulties of no ordinary kind. I know that you have assisted her at a former period, and she has occasionally received aid from her cousins, William and Robert Poe, of Augusta. What little has been heretofore in my own power I have also done.
Having lately established myself in Richmond, and undertaken the Editorship of the Southern Literary Messenger, and my circumstances having thus become better than formerly, I have ventured to offer my aunt a home. She is now therefore in Richmond, with her daughter Virginia, and is, for the present boarding at the house of Mrs. Yarrington. My salary is only at, present, about $800 per ann: and the charge per week for our board, (Mrs. Clemm’s, her daughter’s and my own,) is $9. I am thus