Edgar Allan Poe to George Washington Eveleth — March 11, 1847
Poe discusses his libel verdict, The Stylus, Hawthorne and his Valdemar story, explicitly calling the latter a hoax in the postscript. Read the locally hosted manuscript images and searchable letter text.
All three repository images are preserved: two written faces and the addressed postal face. The address spells the recipient’s name “Evelette”; the catalogue identifies George Washington Eveleth. The enclosed printed Reply to English is mentioned in the letter but is not part of this object. The reading includes the postscript; the cancelled word before the closing is omitted from the reading and remains visible in the scan. The reading was checked against the visible handwritten letter, with comparison to the Poe Society transcription. Line breaks and superscripts are simplified; this is a reading text rather than a diplomatic transcription. The scans remain authoritative for punctuation, cancellations and layout.
Original publication
Edgar Allan Poe to George Washington Eveleth — March 11, 1847
Date
1847-03-11
Credits
Edgar Allan Poe; Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin (source images)
Published in
New York
Where to find it
3 source images; 1 Poe letter
Reference collection
Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin
Collection reference
MS-03283; Box 1, Folder 28
Checklist identity, source metadata, date, recipient, signature, complete supplied views and file hashes checked. No matching individual document found in existing holdings. Modern source commentary excluded.
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All three repository images are preserved: two written faces and the addressed postal face. The address spells the recipient’s name “Evelette”; the catalogue identifies George Washington Eveleth. The enclosed printed Reply to English is mentioned in the letter but is not part of this object. The reading includes the postscript; the cancelled word before the closing is omitted from the reading and remains visible in the scan. The reading was checked against the visible handwritten letter, with comparison to the Poe Society transcription. Line breaks and superscripts are simplified; this is a reading text rather than a diplomatic transcription. The scans remain authoritative for punctuation, cancellations and layout.
All three repository images are preserved: two written faces and the addressed postal face. The address spells the recipient’s name “Evelette”; the catalogue identifies George Washington Eveleth. The enclosed printed Reply to English is mentioned in the letter but is not part of this object. The reading includes the postscript; the cancelled word before the closing is omitted from the reading and remains visible in the scan. The reading was checked against the visible handwritten letter, with comparison to the Poe Society transcription. Line breaks and superscripts are simplified; this is a reading text rather than a diplomatic transcription. The scans remain authoritative for punctuation, cancellations and layout.
All three repository images are preserved: two written faces and the addressed postal face. The address spells the recipient’s name “Evelette”; the catalogue identifies George Washington Eveleth. The enclosed printed Reply to English is mentioned in the letter but is not part of this object. The reading includes the postscript; the cancelled word before the closing is omitted from the reading and remains visible in the scan. The reading was checked against the visible handwritten letter, with comparison to the Poe Society transcription. Line breaks and superscripts are simplified; this is a reading text rather than a diplomatic transcription. The scans remain authoritative for punctuation, cancellations and layout.
All three repository images are preserved: two written faces and the addressed postal face. The address spells the recipient’s name “Evelette”; the catalogue identifies George Washington Eveleth. The enclosed printed Reply to English is mentioned in the letter but is not part of this object. The reading includes the postscript; the cancelled word before the closing is omitted from the reading and remains visible in the scan. The reading was checked against the visible handwritten letter, with comparison to the Poe Society transcription. Line breaks and superscripts are simplified; this is a reading text rather than a diplomatic transcription. The scans remain authoritative for punctuation, cancellations and layout.
All three repository images are preserved: two written faces and the addressed postal face. The address spells the recipient’s name “Evelette”; the catalogue identifies George Washington Eveleth. The enclosed printed Reply to English is mentioned in the letter but is not part of this object. The reading includes the postscript; the cancelled word before the closing is omitted from the reading and remains visible in the scan. The reading was checked against the visible handwritten letter, with comparison to the Poe Society transcription. Line breaks and superscripts are simplified; this is a reading text rather than a diplomatic transcription. The scans remain authoritative for punctuation, cancellations and layout.
Compare reading text with the preserved source. Line breaks and spacing are retained; long lines wrap to fit the screen. A file's role does not establish that its text has been checked.
Checked letter reading text
Reading transcription · Review label: Known limitations
Edgar Allan Poe to George Washington Eveleth — March 11, 1847
All three repository images are preserved: two written faces and the addressed postal face. The address spells the recipient’s name “Evelette”; the catalogue identifies George Washington Eveleth. The enclosed printed Reply to English is mentioned in the letter but is not part of this object. The reading includes the postscript; the cancelled word before the closing is omitted from the reading and remains visible in the scan. The reading was checked against the visible handwritten letter, with comparison to the Poe Society transcription. Line breaks and superscripts are simplified; this is a reading text rather than a diplomatic transcription. The scans remain authoritative for punctuation, cancellations and layout.
New-York March 11. 47.
My Dear Sir,
I am still quite sick and overwhelmed with business — but I snatch a few moments to reply to yours of the 21rst ult.
I really forget whether I did mail you one or two papers — but presume that the slips enclosed in my letter, covered all.
The “scholar and gentleman” referred to, is Evert A. Duyckinck, of this city, formerly editor of “Arcturus” now of “The Literary World”.
I fear that according to the law technicalities there is nothing “actionable” in the Post's paragraphs — but I shall make them retract by some means.
My suit against “The Mirror” has terminated, by a verdict of $225, in my favor. The costs and all will make them a bill of $492. Pretty well — considering that there was no actual “damage” done to me.
I enclose you my reply to English — which will enable you to comprehend his accusations. The vagabond, at the period of the suit's coming on, ran off to Washington for fear of being criminally prosecuted. The “acknowledgment” referred to was not forthcoming, and “the Mirror” could not get a single witness to testify one word against my character.
Thank you for your promise about “The Stylus”. I depend upon you implicitly.
You were perfectly right in what you said to Godey.
I cannot tell why the review of Hawthorne does not appear — but I presume we shall have it by and bye. He paid me for it when I sent it — so I have no business to ask about it.
Most truly your friend Edgar A Poe
P. S. “The Valdemar Case” was a hoax, of course.
“Edgar Allan Poe to George Washington Eveleth — March 11, 1847.” 1847-03-11. Edgar Allan Poe to George Washington Eveleth — March 11, 1847. Crypt of Echoes evidence ID LED-2026-2e25bd60e0364095a3d798c75d08ee65. https://cryptofechoes.com/evidence/LED-2026-2e25bd60e0364095a3d798c75d08ee65. Accessed [date].
Catalogue citation: Edgar Allan Poe to George Washington Eveleth, March 11, 1847. RCL-679. Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin; MS-03283; Box 1, Folder 28.
The Harry Ransom Center identifies this material as No Copyright - United States (NoC-US). Credit: Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin. All supplied manuscript images are preserved without alteration.
