Frederick William Thomas to Edgar Allan Poe — April 11, 1841 (letter) — reading text

Washington April 11th. 1841. My Dear Poe — Yours of April 1st I duly rec'd. I regret in these hard times for us scribblers that I could not make arrangements with your publisher for the periodical publication, of the novel proposed, but of course he is the best judge of what will [best?] advance his magazine — I would not write you until I could send you a contribution, which I do herewith. A gentleman of address, if not of character (as I believe I wrote you) did me the honor to borrow feloniously my coat with one hundred and ten dollars in it — This has shortened my finances. I therefore hope that you will jog your friend Graham's memory should it be needful (which it will not be from what I understand of him) [in] the matter of making me a remittance for it as soon as convenient — So have the proof sheets corrected closely — I think you will like it. As you say that you are sure Graham that Graham would be happy to have a detached tale or sketch from me "& I send it to him, and refer to you — You ask me what I am doing? Why I have been lecturing upon "oratory," "The early struggles of Eminent men" & "all for glory" — And if you wish to see how I am glorified just refer [yourself?] to the National Intelligencer of May 10th. I shall stay here for some months longer — I wish to witness a session of Congress and see the magnates of the land — who they say are more attractive in the distance — Poe I have seen "character" here in two months which to a scribbler is worth two years hard study in the closet — By the bye you are a shabby fellow — Do you think by love! that I thought you, with your comments upon the "test pens" as old Towson used to say, of such severity were to get over "Howard Pinkney" without "abusing it" — No sir, and be it known to you that I consider this no good reason in the eye of friendship why you should not notice it — Better be damn'd — Dont you know that to be before the public is the thing — Poe I dont like that — and that's flat — Since the bank affair in Philadelphia I have received a discouraging letter with regard to publishing at present from my publishers — and this will prevent my seeing you as soon as I hoped — My poem I am very anxious to publish — as I do not expect to make anything by it, but some accession of reputation from what you and Prentice say of it, I am desirous of getting it out — My present plans are to stay eastward until fall, get my books out and then depart for New Orleans there to practice law — Speaking of law reminds me of your tale: the "Murders in the Rue 'Morgue'" and you wish to know how I like it in "my capacity of a lawyer" — I will speak frankly, and without flattery I think it the most ingenious thing of the kind on record — It is managed with a tact, ability and subtlety that is wonderful — I do not know what in the devil to make of your intellectuals. I like your criticism on "Night and Morning" though I have not read the book — yet your remarks upon Bulwer strike me as correct — [I read?] in an exchange paper yesterday [from the] "Madisonian" office your criticism on "Barnaby Rudge" — I am not so certain about that — I have not read anything of Barnaby — You say [that] imagination is the great faculty of Poe — maybe so I must read Barnaby — Poe dont forget that Henry Clay said, that at the extra session of Congress he meant to bring up the Copyright law — Are you not going to give an editorial on the subject — Do prick the Senators' memory and I will have the article copied here — I think when Congress meets that your humble servant will lecture on the subject — Our friend Dow has been removed from office. I am more than sorry for it — It is though what he ought to have expected for he could not keep his pen from wandering into politics — But this proscription for opinion sake is contrary to the spirit of our government — Dow has a wife and three children with soon [to be] a fourth, and yet he bears up like a man — He has even quit hard cider since his removal, and stimulates only with tea and coffee — He boards next door to me. I see him daily. We walk often together and I do not think we have ever taken a walk without speaking of you — Poe you must remember me most affectionately to your wife and mother — Tell Mrs Clemm that my mother and sisters often speak of her. I live in the hope of seeing you out in "the Penn" yet — Can I be of any service to you here? Have you seen "Specimens of Western Literature"? The work is edited by Gallagher — He puts all his pieces in it — & seven of your humble servant's present — He's a modest man now ain't he by the "foot of Pharaoh" as Captain Bobadil says — I have not seen the book — [one line illegible] — Write me as soon as you get this. Yours truly, F. W. Thomas. [Address leaf: "Edgar A. Poe Esq., Editor Graham's Magazine, Philadelphia, Penn." — F. W. Thomas. Washington City D.C. postmark, May 11.]