Edgar Allan Poe to John Allan — 1829-07-26 — reading text

Edgar Allan Poe to John Allan — 1829-07-26 Historical letter date: 1829-07-26. Source edition: Mary Newton Stanard, Edgar Allan Poe Letters Till Now Unpublished, 1925, letter fifteen. This is repository machine OCR of the printed transcription; spelling and recognition errors remain. Consult the accompanying local scan excerpt and manuscript facsimile. [Source scan page 187] LETTER NUMBER FIFTEEN Baltimore July 26 1829 Dear Pa, I received yours of the 19^ on the 22^ ult & am truly thankful for the money which you sent me, notwith- standing the taunt with which it was given "that men of genius ought not to apply to your aid " It is too often their necessity to want that little timely assistance which would prevent such applications I did not answer your letter by return of mail on account of my departure for Washington the next morning but before I proceed to tell the event of my application I think it my duty to say something concerning the accu- sations & suspicions which are contained in your letter As regards the substitute, the reason why I did not tell you that it would coSt $75 was that I could not possibly an foresee so improbable event The bounty is $ 1 2 & usless but for the absence of Col: House & U Howard at the time of my discharge it would have been all that I should have had to pay The officer commanding a company can (if he pleases) enlift the firSt recruit who offers & muSter him as a substitute for another, of course paying only the bounty of 12$ but as L^ Howard & Col: House were both absent, this arrangement could not be effe&ed As I had told you it would only coSt me $12 I did not 157 [Source scan page 188] 158 EDGAR ALLAN POE LETTERS wish to make you think me imposing upon you so upon a substitute offering for $75 I gave him $25 & gave him my note of hand for the balance when you remitted me $100 thinking I had more than I should want, I thought it my bet opportunity of taking up my note which I did. If you will take into consideration the length of time I have been from home, which was occasioned by my not hearing from you (& I was unwilling to leave the city without your answer, expedting it every day) & other expenses, you will find that it has been impossible for me to enter into any extravagancies or improper expense even supposing I had not loft the $46 the time which intervened between my letter & your answer in the firft instance was 22 days in the latter one month & 4 days as I had no reason to suppose you would not reply to my letter as I was unconscious of having offended, it would have been imprudent to leave without your answer this expense was unavoidable As regards the money which was Stolen I have sent you the only proof in my possession a letter from in which there is an acknowledgement of the theft I have no other. On receiving your laft letter, I went immedi- ately to Washington, on foot, & have returned the same way having paid away $40 for my bill & being unwilling to spend the balance when I might avoid it, until I could see what prospers were in view I saw [Source scan page 189] LETTER NUMBER FIFTEEN 159 M* Eaton, he addressed me by name, & in reply to my questions told me " that of the 47 surplus, on the roll, which I mentioned in my former letters, 19 were re- jefted 10 dismissed & 8 resigned consequently there was yet a surplus of 10 before me on the roll. On ask- ing for my papers of recommendation, which might be of service elsewhere he told me that in that case my application would be considered as withdrawn, which he Strongly advised me not to do saying that there were till hopes of my obtaining the appointment in Sep^ as during m the encapment every year there were numerous resigna- A tions if the number exceeded 10 I should be sure of the app-^ without further application in Sep 1 ^ if not I would at leat be among the firfc on the next roll for the en- suing year when of course my appointment was certain when I mentioned that I feared my age would inter- fere, he replied that 21 was the limit that many entered at that time & that I might call myself 2 1 until I was 22 On leaving the office he called me back to endorse on my papers the name of my P. office I wrote Richmond. he He said that I should certainly hear from him and that re- gretted my useless trip to Washington These are his precise words Having now explained every circumstance that seemed to require an explanation & shown that I have spared no exertions in the pursuit of my objecfh I write to you [Source scan page 190] 160 EDGAR ALLAN POE LETTERS for information as to what course I muft pursue I would for have returned home immediately but A the words in your letter "I am not particularly anxious to see you" I know not how to interpret them I could not help thinking that they amounted to a prohibition to return if I had any means of support until I could obtain the appointment, I would not trouble you again I am conscious of having offended you formerly greatly but I thought that had been for- given, at leaft you told me so I know that I have done nothing since to deserve your displeasure [Source scan page 191] LETTER NUMBER FIFTEEN 161 o s w PL P* O cc N) As regards the poem, I have offended only in asking your approbation I can publish it upon the terms you men- tioned but will have no more to do with it without your entire approbation I will wait with great anxiety for your answer. You muffc be aware how important it is that I should hear from you soon as I do not know how to a6t. I am yours affectionately Edgar A Poe