The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-10-18

DEA4EI OF EDGAR A. PoE.-We sincerely regret
to hear of the melancholy death of Edgar A. Poe,
who expired in this city on Sunday morning (7Gh
inst) about O'Clock, at the early age of IS years,
of an illness Of about week. His disease was
congestion of the brain.
Mr.. Poe was equally remarkable for his genius
and his requirements He enjoyed uncommon adj
vantages Of early education, having spent his boy
hood at a school in the neighboFhood of London,
and afterwards received instruction at William and
Mary College, and At West Point. These advan-
tagessWoEe improved with considerable Rssiduity,
and ~ the time be reached has majority ha had
acquired accomplishments rarely attained by men
far advanced in years.
He was acquainted, in a greater or less dePres,
with the ancient languages, and with French
Spanish, Italian and German, and had an accurate
| knowledge Of most branches of science and an
His requirements in. Astronomy, Natural PhiIoso-
ply, Natural History, Botany, Chemistry, etc., are
said TO have been both extensive and accurate and
there were few branches Of human knowledge to
which he had not directed his attention, and with
which he had not, at least, such familiarity as to
enable him, in his writings, to draw upon them for
the purposes of illustration, with aptness and effect
Mr.. Poe's writings, both in prose and poetry
have, for several years past, bad an established
reputation They were peculiar, and far from
being without striking faults; but there is scarcely
one of them that can be read by person of judg-
ment, without leading him to the conclusion that
the author was man of a genius truly original /;
of taste refined by diligent study and comparison
and of information, varied, comprehensive and
minute. 1t is greatly to be regretted that his ex-
tTaOrdinary capacity was not more appropriately
employed than in the field of literary labor to
which circumstances obliged him to confne him
self For, under better auspices, he might have
produced works which would have been Of endu-
ring value to pesterity.
His writings disclose the most remarkable pow
ers of analysis and had his efforts been steadily
and judicousy directed, he would have left behind
him reputation inferior to that of no other Ameri
can writer whatever. AS-it is, what no has writ
ten will not fail to be rescued from the common fate
of the sphemeral productions of the day. The
learning, genius, taste, originality and nice dis
elimination exhibited in his prose, and the artist
cal construction; meliihuous flow, and often eGqui-
site imagery Of his verse, will nsVer cease to be
acknowledged and admired.
His eFiticisms of his contemporaries were univeF.
sally admitted to discoverths most acute perception
of the faults as well as merits of those whom he
reviewed; and although often impeached a. want
ing in impartialty, are now generally conceded e
have been equally just and discriminating.
Mr. Pos is said to have been a man OF polished
manners, fine colloquial powers, warm and amiablC
impulses, and of a high and sometimes naughty
spirit Ii is deeply to be deplOrsd that his grea
| powers, which might have enabled him 70 soar &c
! high and to have acquired for himself SO much o.
fame and prosperity, were .ObscuFed and crippled
| by the frailties and weaknesses which have tOC
often attended eminent genius in all ages.-BattS
more Patriot