Edgar Allan Poe to Frederick William Thomas — 1841-09-01

Edgar Allan Poe to Frederick William Thomas — 1841-09-01 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 American Art Association sale catalogue, March 11–12, 1930, item 284 (facsimile), as documented by the scholarly checklist. This record preserves the electronic letter text, not a scan of that printed witness or the autograph. Poe requests biographical details for Griswold and reports the circulation of Graham’s Magazine. Typography is simplified. The transcription has not been independently proofread word by word. Philadelphia — Sep. 1. — 41. My Dear Thomas, Griswold left a note for me at the office, the other day, requesting me to furnish him with some memoranda of your life; and it will, of course, give me great pleasure to do so; but, upon sitting down to the task, I find that neither myself, nor Mr. Clemm, upon whom I mainly depend for information, can give all the necessary points with sufficient precision for G's purpose. Just send me a line, therefore, answering the following queries, and I will put your responses into shape. Most of the points we know, but not with full certainty. What is your father's Christian name? Had your parents more children than yourself, Lewis, Frances, Susan, Martha, Isabella & Jackson? — if so, what were their names? When & where were you born? With whom did you study law? What was (exactly) the cause of your lameness? How did you first become known to the literary world? Who were your most intimate associates in Baltimore? When did you remove to Cincinnati? With what papers have you been occasionally connected — if with any? Besides answering these queries — give me a list of your writings published & unpublished — and some memoranda respecting your late lectures at Washington. Reply as soon as possible, as the volume is in press. I understand that Dow has a paper in Alexandria — how does he get on with it? I am still jogging on in the same old way, and will probably remain with Graham, even if I start the “Penn” in January. Our success (Graham's I mean) is astonishing — we shall print 20,000 copies shortly. When he bought Burton out, the joint circulation was only 5000. I have had some excellent offers respecting the “Penn” and it is more than probable that it will go on. How do you get on yourself? I have been expecting a letter from you. Yours truly & constantly — Edgar A Poe.