The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-02-06
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
From the Springfield Republican.
Message from Edgar A. Poe.

II the spiritual writing manifestations" are
a adeiusion, they are getting to be something
more-something approaching very ingeDl-
Gus, persistent and INSCRIPTIONS attempt to
palm an utter fraud upon the credulous, by
men OF rare power and genius. From recent
developments, in this quarter, we are led in
evitably, by the plainest deductions of reason
and common sense, to the conclusion that
ihere is little or no selEdeception in the matter
Either the manifestations are of the general
nature that they claim to be, viz Those of
other than incarnate intelligences, or they are
the result of studied deception and guilty
collusion, unequalIed in the worlds history.
Ihe last number of the Spirit Messenger
contains a message and poem, purporting to
M have issued from the spirit OF Edgar A. Poe.
Inc poem, and the prose message introducing
II, challenge attention, at once, by their in.
trInsic literary merit, and by a mayellously
close alliance to the style of versifcation,
thought and genius of the author from whose
spirit they are alleged to have enanated. They
Were communicated through the writing me-
dnm," Lydia Tenny. We ask for these pro.
ductions close examination by all who have
studied the erratic genius of Poe, who, whether
good' pad, or Indifferent, as writer, never had
parallel. We may over.rate these produc-
tions, yet while we are aware of certain Iimp.
ings IN the measure, they appear to US to be
STEPPED IN the very spirit of Poe, whether they
emanated from his spirit or not. The allusion
to the Fearful spirit-spasm," phrase most
felicltous In describing Poe's life of darkness;
the "hideous but alluring fancies" in which
he groaned and on which he gloated; the in
cidental, hardly perceptible, allusion to that
one soat that haunted all his poems-the "Lost
Lenore"-all tend to show that it is the work
OF rare master of deception, most thorough
adept in art, or that it is precisely what it
claims to be.
We present these productions without fur
ther comment, simply remarkiDg that, regard
ed as Curiosity in literature, we have not
seen its equal in many day:
"Listen to me, and l will tell you of beautiful
things-of thoughts both wild and tender, both
soothing and tumutous, which dwelt in human
heart. A question which has moved the minds of
millions is, What is the end and aim of Imagination
for what was it implanted in the human organiZa
tiona What was my ownl but vortex rushing
within ITSELF upon whose brink could seemto stand,
and see what was being swallowed and reproduced
-thorns jagged rocks, beautiful flowers all in the
whirl OF this ceaseless current merged.
o, the dark, the awful chasm
o, the fearful spirit spasm!
Wrought my unresisted passion,
In my heart
Fancies hideous but alluring,
Love- pure, but unenduring,
From time to time securing,
Each part
Then embraced by seraph hands
Drawn by tender, loving hands
From those treacherous, hateful sands
Of despair
How my soul was walked to gladness,
And cast off the deadening sadness,
And the soul devouring madness
Whiting there.
Then came dreams so sott and holy,
OUerroses aoandering slouly,
Wth sceet mas icsteatiag loply
To my ear.
Hark Ihear-I hear her calling,
In tones more of wailing
But in dewy sweetness falling
"Here-up here!'
Thanks Great Heaven / am stronger
Slave to earthly lust no longer,
| am free.
o, hisIghtness, o, this brightness!
O,this pure and hedcenly phiteaess,
Marking thee!
Freed from earth and sin forever
Death can US no more discover,
Humbly thank Great God together
Thou and me.