Edgar Allan Poe to P. D. Bernard — 1843-03-24

Edgar Allan Poe to P. D. Bernard — 1843-03-24 Historical document reproduced in James A. Harrison, Life and Letters of Edgar Allan Poe, volume I (1903). Catalog identity RCL-425. The letter concerns purchasing the Southern Literary Messenger subscription list for The Stylus. The source page also includes surrounding historical commentary. The local PDF preserves the selected source pages unchanged. Searchable text is unreviewed repository OCR and retains recognition errors and historical editorial notes. This is a historical printed witness, not an autograph manuscript or a modern critical text. [Source scan page 237] 178 EDGAR ALLAN POE. Though out of immediate editorial work, Poe con- tinued to write with fiercest energy, and naturally re curred to his hope of establishing an independent" Poe" magazine. The following unpublished letter, kindly copied by Dr. B. W. Green for us from a MS. in the State Library, Richmond, is one of many explaining the projected enterprise : PHILADELPHIA, March 24, 1843. MY DEAR SIR, — With this letter I mail to your ad dress a number of the " Philadelphia Saturday Museum/' containing a Prospectus of "The Stylus," a Magazine which I design to commence on the first of July next, in connection with Mr. Thomas C. Clarke of this city. My object in addressing you is to ascertain if the list of "The South : Lit : Messenger " is to be disposed of, and, if so, upon what terms. We are anxious to purchase the list and unite it with that of "The Stylus," provided a suitable arrangement could be made. I should be happy to hear from you on the subject. I hear of you occasionally, and most sincerely hope that you are doing well. Mrs. Clemm & Virginia desire to be remembered to all our old acquaintances. Believe me, Yours truly, P. D. BERNARD, EsgRE.1 EDGAR A. POE. Poe was never famous for his tact, and it is doubt ful whether a review announced with such a battailous flourish of trumpets — so denunciatory in its character, especially of the "dull" and "dishonest" Quarter lies — so fierce, stern, uncompromising, and ideal in its aims as the new-born " Stylus " was to be — could 1 This Mr. Bernard was the husband of one of Mr. T. W. White's daughters, the brother-in-law of the "Eliza" to whom Poe ad dressed a poem. He was a prominent printer, publisher, and author connected with " The Messenger."