Edgar Allan Poe to Joseph Evans Snodgrass — 1841-01-17 — reading text

Edgar Allan Poe to Joseph Evans Snodgrass — 1841-01-17 Historical letter reading from George E. Woodberry, The Life of Edgar Allan Poe: Personal and Literary, volume I (1909). Catalogue identity RCL-267. The record heading uses the scholarly checklist date; the historical text retains the edition’s dateline and wording. This is a later printed transcription, not a manuscript facsimile or a modern critical text. Historical postscript and address material are retained where printed; source footnote callouts and modern website apparatus are omitted. The text has not been independently proofread word by word. PHILADELPHIA, January 17, 1841. MY DEAR SIR, — Your letters are always welcome — albeit “few and far between” (what an infamous tautology is that, by the bye, for visits that are few must be far between) — and your last letter was especially so. I thought you had forgotten me altogether. You write to know my prospects with the “Penn.” They are glorious, notwithstanding the world of difficulties under which I labored and labor. My illness (from which I have now entirely recovered) has been, for various reasons, a benefit to my scheme rather than a disadvantage; and, upon the whole, if I do not eminently succeed in this enterprise the fault will be altogether mine own. Still, I am using every exertion to insure success, and, among other manœuvres, I have cut down the bridges behind me. I must now do or die — I mean in a literary sense. Thank you for your offer of aid. I shall be delighted to receive any prose article from your pen. As for poetry, I am overstocked with it. I am particularly anxious for a paper on the International Copy Right law, or on the subject of the Laws of Libel in regard to Literary Criticism; but I believe these topics are not “in your line.” Your friend, David Hoffman, Esqr has been so kind as to promise me his aid; and perhaps he would not be unwilling to send me something on one or the other of the heads in question. Will you oblige me by speaking to him on this subject? Above all things it is necessary that whatever be done, “if done, be done quickly”; for I am about to put the first sheet to press immediately, and the others will follow in rapid succession. In regard to my plans,&c., the Prospectus will inform you in some measure. I am resolved upon a good outward appearance — clean type, fine paper,&c., — double columns, I think, & brevier, with the poetry running across the page in a single column. No steel engravings; but now and then a superior wood cut in illustration of the text. Thick covers. In the literary way, I shall endeavor, gradually (if I cannot effect the purpose at once), to give the Magazine a reputation for the having no articles but from the best pens a somewhat negative merit, you will say. In criticism I will be bold and sternly, absolutely just, with friend & foe. From this purpose no thing shall turn me. I shall aim at originality in the body of the work, more than at any other especial quality. I have one or two articles of my own in statu pupillari that would make you stare, at least on account of the utter oddity of their conception. To carry out the conception is a difficulty which — may be overcome. I have not seen the January “Messenger”; but “Quotidiana” is a very good title. “Quadlibetica” is also good, and even more inclusive than the other. I am fond of such articles as these; and in good hands they may be made very interesting. Mr. Burton, that illustrious “graduate of St. John's College, Cambridge, is going to the devil with the worst grace in the world, but with a velocity truly astounding. The press here in a body have given him the cut direct. So be it — suum cuique. We have said quite enough about this genius. Mr. Graham is a very gentlemanly personage. I will see him to-morrow, and speak to him in regard to your essay; although to prevent detection, Burton may have destroyed it. And now, my dear Snodgrass, will you do me a favor? I have heard some mention of a new magazine to be started in Baltimore by a Virginian & a practical printer. I am anxious to know all the details of the project. Can you procure and send me (by return of mail) a Prospectus? If you cannot get one, will you write me all about it the gentleman's name,&c.,&c.,&c.? I have underscored the word “anxious” be cause I really mean what I say, and because, about a fortnight ago, I made to the Hon. N. C. Brooks, A. M., a request just such as I now make to yourself. He did not reply; and I, expecting of course the treatment which one gentle man naturally expects from another, have been put to the greatest inconvenience by the daily but fruitless expectation. Very truly & respectfully yours, EDGAR A. POE.