I

these things only as having served, in a measure, to lighten the gloom of unhappiness, by a gentle and not unpleasant sentiment of mingled pity, merriment and contempt. That, as the inevitable consequence of so long an illness, I have been in want of money, it would be folly in me to deny but that I have ever materially suffered from privation, beyond the extent of my capacity for suffering, is not altogether true. That am "without friends is a gross calumny, which I am sure you never could have believed, and which a thousand noble-hearted men would have good right never to forgive me for permitting to pass unnoticed and undenied. Even in the city of New York I could have no difficulty in naming a hundred persons, to each of whom when the hour for speaking had arrived I could and would have applied for aid with unbounded confidence, and with absolutely no sense of humiliation. I do not think, my dear Willis, that there is any need of my saying more. I am getting better, and may add

if it be any comfort to my enemies that I have little fear of getting worse. The truth is, I have a great deal to do; and I have made up my mind not to die till it is done.

Sincerely yours,

December 30th, 1846.

EDGAR A. POE.

POE TO DUYCKINCK.

[Duyckinck Collection.]

Dec. 30. 46.

DEAR DUYCKINck, Mrs Clemm mentioned to me, this morning, that some of the Parisian papers had been speaking about my "Murders in the Rue

Morgue." She could not give me the details merely saying that you had told her. The "Murders in the R. M." was spoken of in the Paris "Charivari," soon after the first issue of the tale in Graham's Mag: April 1841. By the enclosed letter from Stonehaven, Scotland, you will see that the "Valdemar Case" still makes a talk, and that a pamphlet edition of it has been published by Short & Co. of London under the title of "Mesmerism in Articulo Mortis." It has fairly gone the rounds of the London Press, commencing with "The Morning Post." "The Monthly Record of Science " &c gives it with the title "The Last Days of M. Valdemar. By the author of the Last Conversation of a Somnambule"

meric Revelation).

(Mes

My object in enclosing the Scotch letter and the one from Miss Barrett, is to ask you to do me a favor which (just at this moment) may be of great importance. It is, to make a paragraph or two for some one of the city papers, stating the facts here given, in connexion with what you know about the "Murders in the Rue Morgue." If this will not give you too much trouble, I will be deeply obliged. If you think it advisable, there is no objection to your copying any portion of Miss B's letter. Willis or Morris will put in anything you may be kind enough to write; but as "The Home Journal" has already said a good deal about me, some other paper would be preferable.

Truly yours

POE TO MRS. SHEW.

[Jan. 27, 1847.]

See page 265 of Biography.

POE.

CHAPTER X.

FEBRUARY, 1847-DECEMBER, 1847.

FORDHAM.

POE TO

[Ingram.]

NEW YORK, Feb. 16, '47. MY DEAR SIR, Some weeks ago I mailed you two newspapers which, from what you say in your last letter, I see you have not received. I now enclose some slips which will save me the necessity of writing on painful topics. By and by I will write you more at length.

Please reinclose the slips when read.

What you tell me about the accusation of plagiarism made by the Phil. Sat. Ev. Post surprises me. It is the first I heard of it — with the exception of a hint in one of your previous letters - but which I did not

then comprehend. Please let me know as many particulars as you can remember - for I must see into the charge. Who edits the paper? who publishes it? &c. &c. &c. About what time was the accusation made? I assure you that it is totally false. In 1840 I published a book with this title "The Conchologist's First Book: A System of Testaceous Malacology, arranged especially for the use of Schools, in which the animals, according to Cuvier, are given with