Edgar Allan Poe to John P. Kennedy — 1840-12-31

Edgar Allan Poe to John P. Kennedy — 1840-12-31 Historical letter reading from George E. Woodberry, The Life of Edgar Allan Poe: Personal and Literary, volume I (1909). Catalogue identity RCL-264. 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, December 31, 1840. MY DEAR SIR, — I am about to commence, in this city, a Monthly Magazine somewhat on the plan of the “Southern Messenger,” and of which you may have seen a Prospectus in some of the Baltimore papers. The leading feature proposed is that of an absolutely independent criticism. Since you gave me my first start in the literary world, and since indeed I seriously say that with out the timely kindness you once evinced towards me, I should not at this moment be among the living — you will not feel surprise that I look anxiously to you for encouragement in this new enterprise — the first of any importance which I have undertaken on my own account. What I most seriously need, in the commencement, is caste for the journal — I need the countenance of those who stand well in the social not less than in the literary world. I know that you have never yet written for Magazines — and this is a main reason for my now begging you to give me something for my own. I care not what the article be, nor of what length — what I wish is the weight of your name. Any unused scrap lying by you will fully answer my purpose. The Magazine will be issued on the first of March, and, I believe, under the best auspices. May I ask your influence among your personal friends. I shall look with great anxiety for your reply to this letter. In the mean time believe me, my dear Sir, Yours ever gratefully & respectfully, EDGAR A. POE. JOHN P. KENNEDY, Esq r .