Edgar Allan Poe to G. W. Eveleth — 1849-06-26

Edgar Allan Poe to G. W. Eveleth — 1849-06-26 Historical printed text from James A. Harrison, The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe, volume XVII (1902). Catalog identity: RCL-803. The heading uses the checklist date; the transcription retains the historical edition’s dateline and wording. The edition may contain older readings, omissions or date assignments. This is a printed transcription, not a manuscript facsimile. Modern website corrections in double brackets and navigation are omitted. Independent word-by-word proofreading has not been completed. POE TO ———. [[G. W. Eveleth]] [Ingram.] NEW YORK, June 26, 1849. On the principle of “better late than never” I avail myself of a few moments’ leisure to say a word or two in reply to your last letter — the one from Brunswick. You have had time to form an opinion of “Eureka.” Let me know, frankly, how it impresses you. It is accomplishing all that I prophesied — even more. In respect to D——. By a singular coincidence, he is the chief of the very sect of Hogites to whom I refer as “the most intolerant and intolerable set of bigots and tyrants that ever existed on the face of the Earth.” A merely perceptive man, with no intrinsic force — no power of generalisation — in short, a pompous nobody. He is aware (for there have been plenty to tell him) that I intend him in “Eureka.” I do not comprehend you about my being the “autobiographer of Holden's Magazine.” I occasionally hear of that work, but have never seen a number of it. “The Rationale of Verse” appeared in the last November and December numbers of the Southern Literary Messenger. In the February number I published (editorially) a review of “The Fable for Critics” — It is not much. Lowell might have done better. I have never written any poem called “Ullahana.” What makes you suppose I have? I enclose the last poem (of any length) which I have published (i. e., “For Annie”). How do you like it? You know I put much faith in your poetical judgments. It is from Willis's H. Journal. Do you ever see the Literary World? Touching the Stylus: Monk Lewis once was asked how he came, in one of his acted plays, to introduce black banditti, when, in the country where the scene was laid, black people were quite unknown. His answer was: “I introduced them because I truly anticipated that blacks would have more effect on my audience than whites — and if I had taken it into my head that, by making them sky-blue the effect would have been greater, why sky-blue they should have been.” To apply this idea to the Stylus — I am awaiting the best opportunity for its issue; and if by waiting until the day of judgment I perceive still increasing chances of ultimate success, why until the day of judgment I will patiently wait. I am now going to Richmond to “see about it” — and possibly I may get out the first number next January. Write soon and more frequently. I always receive your letters with interest. Cordially your friend, EDGAR A. POE. Please re-enclose the verses.