The Portable Edgar Allan Poe - Edgar Allan Poe [249]
The letter which I looked for & which I wished returned, is not on its way—reason, no money forthcoming—Lowell had not yet sent it—he is ill in N. York of opthalmia. Immediately upon receipt of it, or before, I will forward the money you were both so kind as to lend—which is 8 to Dow—and 3 ½ to Thomas—What a confounded business I have got myself into, attempting to write a letter to two people at once!
However—this is for Dow. My dear fellow—Thank you a thousand times for your kindness & great forbearance, and don’t say a word about the cloak turned inside out, or other peccadilloes of that nature. Also, express to your wife my deep regret for the vexation I must have occasioned her. Send me, also, if you can the letter to Blythe. Call also, at the barber’s shop just above Fuller’s and pay for me a levy which I believe I owe. And now God bless you—for a nobler fellow never lived.
And this is for Thomas. My dear friend. Forgive me my petulance & don’t believe I think all I said. Believe me I am very grateful to you for your many attentions & forbearances and the time will never come when I shall forget either them or you. Remember me most kindly to Dr Lacey—also to the Don, whose mustachios I do admire after all, and who has about the finest figure I ever beheld—also to Dr Frailey. Please express my regret to Mr Fuller for making such a fool of myself in his house, and say to him (if you think it necessary) that I should not have got half so drunk on his excellent Port wine but for the rummy coffee with which I was forced to wash it down. I would be glad, too, if you would take an opportunity of saying to Mr Rob. Tyler that if he can look over matters & get me the Inspectorship, I will join the Washingtonians forthwith. I am as serious as a judge—& much so than many. I think it would be a feather in Mr Tyler’s cap to save from the perils of mint julep—& “Port wines”—a young man of whom all the world thinks so well & who thinks so remarkably well of himself.
And now, my dear friends, good bye & believe me
Most Truly Yours.
EDGAR A. POE
Mess Dow & Thomas.
Upon getting here I found numerous letters of subscribers to my Magazine—for which no canvas has yet been made. This was unexpected & cheering. Did you say Dow that Commodore Elliot had desired me to put down his name? Is it so or did I dream it? At all events, when you see him present my respects and thanks. Thomas you will remember that Dr. Lacey wished me to put him down—but I don’t know his first name—please let me have it.
This letter pertains to Poe’s notorious visit to Washington in quest of a government appointment. Thomas was ill and had failed to arrange the desired interview with the president. Upon his arrival Poe began drinking heavily, and here he apologizes to two offended friends while reiterating a rationalization for Dow’s letter to Thomas Clarke, who had recently agreed to publish Poe’s monthly magazine. As a temperance man, Clarke would have been appalled by Poe’s actual escapades, which included wearing his cloak turned inside out, insulting several people (including Mr. and Mrs. Robert Tyler as well as novelist Thomas Dunn English), and walking out of a barber shop without paying.
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL
Philadelphia March 30, 1844.
My Dear Friend,
Graham has been speaking to me, lately, about your Biography, and I am anxious to write it at once—always provided you have no objection. Could you forward me the materials within a day or two? I am just now quite disengaged—in fact positively idle.
I presume you have read the Memoir of Willis, in the April No: of G. It is written by a Mr Landor—but I think it full of hyperbole. Willis is no genius—a graceful trifler—no more. He wants force & sincerity. He is very frequently far-fetched. In me, at least, he never excites an emotion. Perhaps the best poem he has written, is a little piece called “Unseen Spirits”, beginning “The Shadow lay—Along Broadway”.
You inquire about my own portrait. It has been done for some time—but