Edgar Allan Poe to Lydia Howard Sigourney — 1841-11-16

Edgar Allan Poe to Lydia Howard Sigourney — 1841-11-16 Local historical letter reading from the Poe Society’s manuscript-text page, with modern correction glosses and website material excluded. The scholarly checklist documents an early printed witness in Gordon S. Haight, Mrs. Sigourney, Yale University Press, 1930, pages 119–120. This record preserves the electronic letter text, not a scan of that printed witness or the autograph. The manuscript dateline says 1842; the scholarly checklist identifies the letter as November 16, 1841. The erroneous 1842 is retained in the historical text. Typography is simplified. The transcription has not been independently proofread word by word. Philadelphia Nov. 16. 1842 Dear Madam, I hasten to reply to yours of the 13th, and to thank you for your consent in the matter of contribution to our January number. We are forced to go to press at a very early period — for our edition is, in reality , twenty-five thousand — so that it would be desirable we should have your article in hand by the 18th December. We shall look for it with much anxiety, as we are using every exertion to prepare a number of more than ordinary attraction. So far, we have been quite successful. We shall have papers from Longfellow, Benjamin, Willis, Fay, Herbert, Mrs Stephens, Mrs Embury, Dr Reynell Coates, and (what will surprise you) from Sergeant Talfourd, author of “Ion” — besides others of nearly equal celebrity. Is it not possible that we can make an arrangement with yourself for an article each month? It would give us the greatest pleasure to do so; and the terms of Mr Graham will be at least as liberal as those of any publisher. Shall we hear from you upon this point? I regret that I am unable to answer your query touching the “Messenger”: — nor do I believe it answerable[.] Since my secession, I think that M’ White has had no regular editor. He depends pretty much upon chance, for assistance in the conduct of the Magazine — sometimes procuring aid from M’ James E. Heath, of Richmond — sometimes (but not of late days) from Judge Beverly Tucker, author of “George Balcombe”. Mr. Benjamin has occasionally furnished him with editorial or, rather, critical matters, and M’ R. W. Griswold has lately written much for the Magazine. I am, Dear Madam, With the highest respect, yr Ob. se Edgar A Poe Mrs L. H. Sigourney