Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-05
A LITERARY MYSTERY.
did Poo Write t,e Ravenr

The following strange letter is pub
lished ia the New Orleans Times. Our
readers will judge for themselves how
much trust to repose in it
NEW ORLEANS, July %, 1670.-To the
Editor of the New Orleans Times i: en-
close herewith some interesting extracts
from private letter, recently received by
me from the Rev. ]. Shaver of Burling-
ton, n. j., formerly resident of this
city. Comment on my part is unneces-
sary, and if you think it worth inserting
in your valuable journal, you are at lib
erty to do so.
Your obed't serv't, G. G. MACON.
PINE Heirs HERMITAGE, BURLINGTON,
July 2, 1S70.-Clemont G. Macon, Esq,
New Orleans, La.-DEAR FRIENI:
This place is just now attracting great
deal of attention from antiquarians and
literateurs generally, on account of dis
covery lately made by me. l happened
to notice in LitteLpS Living Age, of
January last page 105, the following
paragraph:
SIT has just come to light that in an
| old barn in one of the villages of New
Jersey, is valuable collection of books
and manuscripts, formerly forming part
of the library of Mahlon Dickerson, an
| American statesman. They are all IN
possession of the rats, and of man who
will not let them be touched, because of
some family quarrel about property"
| Having often heard that such docu-
| mcnts existed in Burlington and were in
the hands of Mr.. John T. TOmpkins,
| requested and obtained permission to ex-
anime them, and among them found and
copied portion of letter from Edgar
A. Poe to MIR. Daniels, of Philadelphia,
dated Richmond, Sept. 20, 1S49, in
which an admission is made that will, to
a certain extent, upset that persons claim
to the authorship of the "Raven."
could not make out all the writing on ac.
count of its age and neglected condition,
but what | could decipher was in these
words:
ses'Shortly before the death of our good
friend, Samuel Fenwick, he sent to me
from New York for publication most
beautiful and thrilling poem, which he
called the Raven wishing me, before
| pruning IL, 10 Sec III IL udu LhollIJ anu u
make any alterations that might appear
necessary. SO perfect was it in all Its
parts that the slightest improvement
seemed to me impossible. But you know
| a person very often depreciates his owl
talents, and he even went so far as tC
suggest that in this instance, or in any
future pieces he might contribute,
should revise and print them in my owl
name to insure their circulation.
''This proposal rejected, Of course, anC
one way or other delayed printing the
Raven, until, as you know, it came out II
Tile Regie1, and -. 1t was published
when / was, unfortunately, intoxicated, ant
not knowing what did signed my nam
to il, and thus it went to the printer, ant
was published.
''The sensation it produced made M
dishonest enough to conceal the name
the real author, who had died, as yo1
know, some time before it came out, ant
by that means now enjoy all the credl
and applause myself. simply make TIN
statement to you for the -. L shal
probably go to New York tomorrow, bu
will be back by Oct. II, 1 think.
As you are fohd of such matters, SEN
you the above assomething interesting an
important.
l am, as ever, your friend,
J. SHAVER.