Poe solicits a contribution from Edward Everett for the Southern Literary Messenger and describes plans for an issue by distinguished American writers. Read the locally hosted letter transcription.
Complete letter text as presented in the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore’s manuscript-based transcription. This local file is a text-only reading copy; no photograph of the original manuscript has been acquired or independently inspected. The source identifies the manuscript at Massachusetts Historical Society, Edward Everett Papers. Paragraphs and words were compared with the source transcription; spacing, line breaks and superscript styling are simplified. Modern commentary and explanatory apparatus are omitted. The web reading omits the crossed-out word “first” recorded in the critical edition; it is therefore a reading text, not a diplomatic transcript of cancellations. This is the Everett letter, with wording different from the related Kennedy, Anthon and Irving solicitations.
Original publication
Edgar Allan Poe to Edward Everett — June 7, 1836
Date
1836-06-07
Credits
Edgar Allan Poe; Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore (source transcription)
Published in
Richmond
Where to find it
1 letter (text only)
Reference collection
Massachusetts Historical Society, Edward Everett Papers
Checked against the source transcription and current holdings; original manuscript image not inspected. The distinction between a reading copy and a manuscript facsimile is stated explicitly.
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Complete letter text as presented in the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore’s manuscript-based transcription. This local file is a text-only reading copy; no photograph of the original manuscript has been acquired or independently inspected. The source identifies the manuscript at Massachusetts Historical Society, Edward Everett Papers. Paragraphs and words were compared with the source transcription; spacing, line breaks and superscript styling are simplified. Modern commentary and explanatory apparatus are omitted. The web reading omits the crossed-out word “first” recorded in the critical edition; it is therefore a reading text, not a diplomatic transcript of cancellations. This is the Everett letter, with wording different from the related Kennedy, Anthon and Irving solicitations.
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.
Local text-only reading copy
Reading transcription · Review label: Known limitations
Edgar Allan Poe to Edward Everett — June 7, 1836
Complete letter text as presented in the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore’s manuscript-based transcription. This local file is a text-only reading copy; no photograph of the original manuscript has been acquired or independently inspected. The source identifies the manuscript at Massachusetts Historical Society, Edward Everett Papers. Paragraphs and words were compared with the source transcription; spacing, line breaks and superscript styling are simplified. Modern commentary and explanatory apparatus are omitted. The web reading omits the crossed-out word “first” recorded in the critical edition; it is therefore a reading text, not a diplomatic transcript of cancellations. This is the Everett letter, with wording different from the related Kennedy, Anthon and Irving solicitations.
Richmond June 7. 1836.
Dr Sir,
At the request of Mr T. W. White, proprietor of the “Southern Literary Messenger” I take the liberty of addressing you, and of soliciting some little contribution for our Journal. I am aware that your time is occupied with more serious matters, and that you are frequently pestered with similar applications. I am, therefore, ready to believe that I have very little chance of success in this attempt to engage you in our interest. Yet I owe it to the Magazine to make the effort.
One consideration will, I think, have its influence with you. Our publication is the first successful literary attempt of Virginia, and has now been, for eighteen months, forcing its way, unaided, and against a host of difficulties, into the public view and attention.
We wish to strike, if possible, a bold stroke — to issue, as soon as may be, a number of the Journal consisting altogether of articles from distinguished Americans whose names may give weight and character to the work. To aid us in this attempt would cost you no effort, as any spare scrap in your portfolio would answer our main purpose. To us such aid would be invaluable.
With the highest respect
Yr. Ob. St
Edgar A. Poe
“Edgar Allan Poe to Edward Everett — June 7, 1836.” 1836-06-07. Edgar Allan Poe to Edward Everett — June 7, 1836. Crypt of Echoes evidence ID LED-2026-393af814d6564e6586058fc65d236385. https://cryptofechoes.com/evidence/LED-2026-393af814d6564e6586058fc65d236385. Accessed [date].
Catalogue citation: Edgar Allan Poe to Edward Everett, 1836-06-07. Manuscript-based transcription supplied by the Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore, p3606075.htm. RCL-147b.
Underlying nineteenth-century letter text by Edgar Allan Poe (died 1849); modern scholarly commentary, editorial notes and page design are excluded. This is a local reading copy of Poe’s words, with attribution to the supplying transcription.
