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a friend of mine I am anxious to put his mind to rest — He can and I have no doubt will furnish you many interesting articles for your Magazine. I wish indeed that you had a friend here who had “both brains and funds”, as you say, to embark in the Penn. It will all come right some day. I believe you can make the best Magazine extant; and your friends, if you were embarking in your own boat, would feel much deeper interest, and give more aid to your exclusive work than to any other — Write me —

In haste your friend,

F. W. Thomas

You have read “Modern Chiv(alry”) of course — What do you think of it — The biography is true (and) very good — Is it too long for your Magazine —

Notes:

The end note is written on the side of a page.

The “enclosure” is a letter from H. M Brackenridge to F. W. Thomas:

Washington Novr. 6: 1841 —

Dear Sir: —

About ten days ago I gave to our friend W. Colton, Esqr. a MSS biography of my late father, H. H. Brackenridge, with a view of having it published in the N. American, or some other journal of Philadelphia. This publication was intended as a precursor to the publication of a new and improved edition of “Modern Chivalry” now about to be put to press by: Messrs. Kay, brothers & Co. I have since been convinced that some well known periodical would be preferable to a dayly (daily) print, because the length of the article would be too great for one paper, and it would not do so well to break it up into numbers, or parts. You mentioned to me Graham’s Magazine, as well adapted to my purpose, and were so good as to say that you would interest yourself in procuring its insertion in that paper. The article is intended to be reprinted in the new edition of Modern Chivalry, provided it can be conveniently comprised in the first vol. of the work, which will depend on the quantity of matter; perhaps an abridgement may be all that can be admitted. With this understanding, I shall be thankful if you can procure its publication in Mr Graham’s paper. Mr. Colton on seeing this letter will hand over the MSS. to Mr E. A. Poe, the editor of the Magazine, unless the publication shall have been commenced in the N. American —

I am respectfully

Yours

H. M. Brackenridge

F. W. Thomas, Esqr.

This enclosure still accompanies the manuscript letter from Thomas to Poe.

Frederick W. Thomas to Edgar Allan Poe — November 10, 1841

Washington November 10, 1841.

My dear Friend —

This morning I received yours with regard to Judge Brackenridge’s MS: Thanks for your punctuality and promptness. I read the Judge what you said (of course leaving out what Graham said about its “heaviness”) at which he seemed much pleased.

The Judge wishes it sent to the Messenger. Please therefore, by return of mail, if convenient, to send the MS: to the Judge under cover directly: —

To Walter Fosward Secretary of Treasury Washington

The Judge will then hand it to me and I will send it to White.

I am sorry that your lady likes not the music to which my song is married — discord must be the result — the opposite of what was anticipated. Lea has sent me no copies. I think I wrote you that I liked your autographic article very much. It is very pointed and shrewd. Everything is dull here as death in the political line.

You, my dear Poe, have a very high reputation here among the literatti and more than once in “dining out” I have discussed you and made conversational capital out of you — If I were permanently fixed in office, I could get leave of absence, without stoppage of pay, and then I could slip on to the city of brotherly love and shake you by the hand.

God bless you. I was at a wedding last night, among beautiful women. Can’t you see it by my hand, for it is “Byronic” like the hands when he wrote about “The dark eye in women.” I wish I had his chances — it’s damned little I’d write about any thing except to subscribe myself ever your friend.

(F. W. Thomas)

Frederick W. Thomas to Edgar Allan Poe — November 23, 1841

Washington November 23. 1841.

My dear Friend —

Mr. Willig has not done me the honor of sending me the