The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Edgar Allan Poe [1548]
I have not forgotten how a “good word in season” from you made “The Raven,” and made “Ulalume,” (which, by-the-way, people have done me the honor of attributing to you) — therefore I would ask you (if I dared,) to say something of these lines — if they please you.
Truly yours ever,
Edgar A. Poe.
WIRT, WILLIAM
William Wirt to Edgar Allan Poe — May 11, 1829
Baltimore May 11, 1829.
Dear Sir: —
It occurred to me, after you left me this morning, that I was probably losing you a day on your journey to Philadelphia, by proposing to detain your poem even until tomorrow, as I understand the day-boat 1 has commenced her spring trips between the cities. I thought it due to your convenience, therefore, to read the poem at once, and send it tonight.
I am sensible of the compliment you pay me in submitting it to my judgment and only regret that you have not a better counsellor. But the truth is that having never written poetry myself, nor read much poetry for many years, I consider myself as by no means a competent judge (portion of letter cut out) poems. This is no doubt an old-fashioned idea resulting from the causes I have mentioned, my ignorance of modern poetry and modern taste. You perceive therefore that I am not qualified to judge of the merits of your poem. It will, I know, please modern readers — the notes contain a good deal of curious and useful information — but to deal candidly with you (as I am bound to do) I should doubt whether the poem will take with old-fashioned readers like myself. But this will be of little consequence — provided it be popular with modern readers — and this, as I have already said, I am unqualified to judge. I would advise you, therefore, as a friend to get an introduction to Mr. Walsh or Mr. Hopkinson or some other critic in Philadelphia, versed in modern (the rest of the letter, and the signature, have been clipped from the original letter)
WOOD, WILLIAM BURKE
William Burke Wood to Edgar Allan Poe — January 2, 1841
Jany 2nd 1841
Dear Sir,
Pray do not think me careless of my promise to see or write to you before the end of the past week — but really I have been so much employed myself, and disappointed of the results of four letters important to my plans, that I must beg your further patience for a few days.
Very Respy Dr Sir
Your obt.
Wm. B. Wood
E. J. (A.) Poe Esqr
WYATT, THOMAS
Edgar Allan Poe to Thomas Wyatt — April 1, 1841
Philadelphia, April 1. 1841.
My Dear Mr Wyatt,
I received your letter yesterday morning — and, believe me, I was delighted to hear from you — for we could not imagine what had become of you. Upon making inquiries for you at 8th & Chesnut I was told that you were gone South, and that Mr Ackerman was somewhere in N. Jersey — but both “the South” & “N. Jersey” are terms that include a good deal of space.
I am truly sorry to hear that Mr A. has been so ill — present our best respects to him.
I called yesterday upon Duval. He says that it will be impossible to execute the alterations mentioned in Prof. Millington’s letter, without ruining the drawing — and that the cost of them, even if executed, would exceed that of a new drawing. I am convinced that what he says upon this point is nothing more than fact. In truth the drawing by Mr Pinkerton is shockingly botched and “touched up” — so that it would be useless to attempt doing anything farther with it. Mr D. refuses to put his name to it — so you may imagine how bad it is — for Mr D. has put his name to some of the most execrable things.
As the alterations cannot be made, Mr D. thinks it better not to put the writing at the foot of the stone until he hears from you again — lest you might think it advisable to have the whole done anew. Were I in your place I would refuse to pay Pinkerton for what he has so botched, and get the design executed