two.

tions and educate in its readers a taste for belles lettres. Externally such a magazine should be fine, and it should be as independent in its business arrangements as editorially independent, sincere and original. Such a magazine might have unmeasured influence in literature, and become a permanent success financially. One hundred thousand copies might be sold after a year or - Such a publication might be undertaken by our men of letters uniting, a chosen lot combining silently, each one subscribing say two hundred dollars at the beginning, each one contributing according to a definite line agreed upon, a nominal editor having general directions. Could not the ball be set rolling that would introduce such a change? If writers, added Poe, do not defend themselves by some unity they will be eaten by such publishers as he himself had had experience with.

IDE TO POE.

[Griswold Collection.]

SOUTH ATTLEBORO', MASS., March 22d.

MY DEAR SIR, Since I wrote you last, (in the month of November, '43, I believe,) my employment and whereabouts have been such, that I have not been able to write you such a letter as I wish to. I am now at my old home again and, in the coming Spring and Summer, I shall plough the same old fields, and make hay on the greensward, that first gave me lessons in labor. I have had the good fortune, this winter, to make such acquisition of wealth as places me now before the world: and with such advantages, as I have from that source, I promise myself a pleasant life to come.

Among books which I have bought me, are Longfellow's, and Lowell's poems; Whittier's & Lunt's [sic]:

The New-Mirror Library, and some odd nos. of Reviews. -I wish you would mention to me, such volumes as you think would do me most profit to read - You can help me much, if you will do so

Notwithstanding the wearisome tasks I have performed this winter, I have written more, in a few months pass'd, than all before. These poems have been written in the small hours of dark and stormy nights. often when I could hear & feel the wind and rain and snow, against the roof and window of my room. I have published little. A total lack of acquaintance with gentlemen connected with the literary Magazines & newspapers, has withheld me from offering but few lines for publication. - I sent a brief poem to John Inman, (for the Columbian), which was immediately published; (in the March no.). You will find it on page 139- "Strife."

The first lines of mine that ever were printed, I rather think you have never seen; and I will send them you, at the time I send this letter. They were first printed in the "Ploughman at Boston ; & were copied by John Neal, (with whom I have no acquaintance) into the Bro. Jonathan, of No. 10, vol Six, with the name, and whereabouts and occupation of your present correspondent, and advice (public) to "Stick to my farm and reverence [sic] myself." If I ever get a no. of the paper to spare, I'll send The lines have since been copied into several papers in Mass. and R. I.

it you.

I sent you a magazine in January with a Poem I wrote at a week's notice, for some girls who know more of me now than before; to tell you the curious way in which I was selected to write the poem, would be a long story of itself.

And now, to thank you for so many friendly expressions, in your former letter to me, I will ask you for some items of advice as to future things. What publication would you advise me to send my poetry to; and ought I to send it anonymously, or not? You know better about those things than I do, and can speak freely. I have

thought some of sending a poem to Graham but the uncertainty has as yet led me to wait.

Which of the Philadelphia Magazines would you tell me to subscribe for? Do you now conduct the Reviews for Graham's?

Will you give me any knowledge of the plan and character of a new publication called the "Critic," which the papers said was to be started about this time, in New York?

I will finish this letter by copying a few lines from a poem, written some weeks since

"I toil where rude, unlettered men

Are laboring around;

Their voices are not low and sweet

And yet of welcome sound;

For, from their tongues come words of truth,

Their hands are brown and hard,

Our country's sinew and her strength,

Her glory and her guard!"

I hope you will write me, as soon as you can do so, and not encroach upon your occupations.

Yours very faithfully,

EDGAR A. POE, Esq.

A. M. IDE, Jr.

CHAPTER VII.

APRIL, 1844-DEcember, 1844.

FIRST MONTHS IN NEW YORK: LOWELL, R. H. HORNE, C. F. BRIGGS: "THE EVENING MIRROR."

POE TO MRS. CLEMM.

[From MS. in possession of Miss A. F. Poe.]

MY DEAR MUDDY,

breakfast, and I now sit

NEW YORK, Sunday Morning, April 7, [1844] just after breakfast.

In

It was

We

We have just this minute done down to write you about everything. I can't pay for the letter, because the P. O. won't be open to-day. — In the first place, we arrived safe at Walnut St. wharf. The driver wanted to make me pay a dollar, but I would n't. Then I had to pay a boy a levy to put the trunks in the baggage car. the meantime I took Sis in the Depôt Hotel. only a quarter past 6, and we had to wait till 7. saw the Ledger & Times - nothing in either —a few words of no account in the Chronicle. We started in good spirits, but did not get here until nearly 3 o'clock. We went in the cars to Amboy about 40 miles from N. York, and then took the steamboat the rest of the way. When Sissy coughed none at all. we got to the wharf it was raining hard. I left her on board the boat, after putting the trunks in the Ladies' Cabin, and set off to buy an umbrella and look for a

boarding-house. I met a man selling umbrellas and bought one for 62 cents. Then I went up Greenwich St. and soon found a boarding-house. It is just before you get to Cedar St. on the West side going up the left hand side. It has brown stone steps with a porch with brown pillars. "Morrison" is the name on the door. I made a bargain in a few minutes and then got a hack and went for Sis. I was not gone more than 1⁄2 an hour, and she was quite astonished to see me back so soon. She didn't expect me for an hour. There were 2 other ladies waiting on board - so she was n't very lonely. When we got to the house we had to wait about 2 an hour before the room was ready. house is old & looks buggy.1

The

taking into consideration the central situation and the living. I wish Kate could see it — she would faint. Last night, for supper, we had the nicest tea you ever drank, strong & hot wheat bread & rye bread cheese tea-cakes (elegant) a great dish (2 dishes) of elegant ham, and 2 of cold veal, piled up like a mountain and large slices 3 dishes of the cakes, and every thing in the greatest profusion. No fear of starving here. The landlady seemed as if she could n't press us enough, and we were at home directly. Her husband is living with her a fat good-natured old soul. There are 8 or 10 boarders. 2 or 3 of them ladies — 2 servants. - For breakfast we had excellent-flavored coffee, hot & strong - not very clear & no great deal of cream veal cutlets, elegant ham & eggs & nice bread and butter. I never sat down to a more plentiful or a nicer breakfast. I wish you could have seen - and the great dish of meat. I ate the first

the eggs

1 Portion of letter cut out.