Edgar Allan Poe to Hiram Haines — 1840-04-24

Edgar Allan Poe to Hiram Haines — 1840-04-24 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 Americana, January 1942, volume 36, pages 70–71. This record preserves the electronic letter text, not a scan of that printed witness or the autograph. Poe thanks Haines for offering Virginia a pet fawn and offers help promoting the Virginia Star. The underlying letter was published in a serial for which the University of Pennsylvania reports no issue or contribution renewals. Manuscript scans have not been acquired. Typography is simplified. The transcription has not been independently proofread word by word. Philadelphia April 24. 1840. My Dear Sir, Having been absent from the city for a fortnight I have only just received your kind letter of March 24th and hasten to thank you for the “Star”, as well as for your offer of the fawn for Mrs P. She desires me to thank you with all her heart — but, unhappily, I cannot point out a mode of conveyance. What can be done? Perhaps some opportunity may offer itself hereafter — some friend from Petersburg may be about to pay us a visit. In the meantime accept our best acknowledgments, precisely as if the little fellow were already nibbling the grass before our windows in Philadelphia. I will immediately attend to what you say respecting exchanges. The “Star” has my very best wishes, and if you really intend to push it with energy, there cannot be a doubt of its full success. If you can mention anything in the world that I can do here to promote its interests and your own, it will give me a true pleasure. It is not impossible that I may pay you a visit in Petersburg, a month or two hence. Till then, believe me, most sincerely Your friend Edgar A Poe H. Haines Esqr Office Gentleman's Magazine