The Portable Edgar Allan Poe - Edgar Allan Poe [266]
Truly your friend,
EDGAR A POE.
Poe here expresses his commitment to the life of writing as he reflects on the rush for California gold. He also urges Thomas, then a newspaper editor in Louisville, to perform a literary service by criticizing the “Frogpondians” (Bostonians) as a group; his animus toward Lowell has been occasioned by Lowell’s caricature of Poe in “A Fable for Critics.” Poe describes himself as “full of energy and bent upon success” prior to a striking decline in physical and mental health during the spring and summer of 1849.
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO MARIA CLEMM
New York [Philadelphia] July 7. [1849]
My dear, dear Mother,—
I have been so ill—have had the cholera, or spasms quiet as bad, and can now hardly hold the pen. . . .
The very instant you get this, come to me. The joy of seeing you will almost compensate for our sorrows. We can but die together. It is no use to reason with me now; I must die. I have no desire to live since I have done “Eureka.” I could accomplish nothing more. For your sake it would be sweet to live, but we must die together. You have been all in all to me, darling, ever beloved mother, and dearest, truest friend.
I was never really insane, except on occasions where my heart was touched. . . .
I have been taken to prison once since I came here for spreeing drunk; but then I was not. It was about Virginia.
[UNSIGNED]
Poe’s drinking in Philadelphia earned him a night in Moyamensing Prison, from which he was liberated by literary friends. The illness to which he refers may have been delirium tremens; while in prison he reportedly had a nightmare in which Mrs. Clemm was mutilated. His explanation of the binge drinking is poignantly succinct: “It was about Virginia.”
EDGAR ALLAN POE TO MARIA CLEMM
Richmond Va Tuesday—Sep 18—49.
My own darling Muddy,
On arriving here last night from Norfolk I received both your letters, including Mrs Lewis’s. I cannot tell you the joy they gave me—to learn at least that you are well & hopeful. May God forever bless you, my dear dear Muddy—Elmira has just got home from the country. I spent last evening with her. I think she loves me more devotedly than any one I ever knew & I cannot help loving her in return. Nothing is yet definitely settled and it will not do to hurry matters. I lectured at Norfolk on Monday & cleared enough to settle my bill here at the Madison House with $2 over. I had a highly fashionable audience, but Norfolk is a small place & there were 2 exhibitions the same night. Next Monday I lecture again here & expect to have a large audience. On Tuesday I start for Phila to attend to Mrs Loud’s Poems—& possibly on Thursday I may start for N. York. If I do I will go straight over to Mrs Lewis’s & send for you. It will be better for me not to go to Fordham—don’t you think so? Write immediately in reply & direct to Phila. For fear I should not get the letter, sign no name & address it to E. S. T. Grey Esqre.
If possible I will get married before I start—but there is no telling. Give my dearest love to Mrs L. My poor poor Muddy. I am still unable to send you even one dollar—but keep up heart—I hope that our troubles are nearly over. I saw John Beatty in Norfolk.
God bless & protect you my own darling Muddy. I showed