Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-06
Thomas Dunn English. Edgar A Poe, ana
,bc Southern Literary Messenger.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
You once referred to me for answer
| some questions in reference TO the above.
| As yet no reply has been made, because
| there was in contemplation more ex-
| tended communication which would en-
| brace those subjects, but required some
| further information that could he op-
| tanned only by research and inquiry.
Since the time above alluded to you
| have told me you would like to have
| what | stated to you about the republic
| cation OF 1.-The Raven" in the Southern
Literary Messenger. Moreover, very
| DISTINGUISHED gentleman and a friend or
the Messenger has urged me to write It's
| history. This labor of love and justice
was the one already in contemplation,
| and partly because a modern hyprlu
| critic of the rod-snapper species had pup
| Icly belttled that honored pride OF the
| South and rid!culed as It's padaihs
| those fine addresses with whlch ~
so literally and judiciously adorned us
pages. For they were the pest eApiea
| sion of the most gifted ana hlshIy..uI
,urod mind of the South, and the Mes
eengcr enabled thousands to enjoy them
| hesidos the few hundreds before whom
tbav were delivered In those DAYS Vas
&c stiu largely the case), many or our
hest writer's and most literary men dld
| NOT and would not become aulhoIs IA
anv other form; and any magazine niis u
| have been glad to rank them among us
contributors. ,,...t,ory
Awaiting the future. this preliminary
naper is respectfully tend cred YOU
As IN the personal relations between
| Mr.. English and Mr.. Poe? You had sup
| from Boston newspaper when i.l'o
| scented those relations as having wv d"
| very intimate and abiding. There II e~
| colIert authority for stating that they
go once friendly. II not intimate. but
| were interrupted by Mr.. Englishs having
| resented a discourtesy which he h%iHVei
| Mr.. Poe offered to a lady. Then MT
| Poe turned inimically against MN
| And vet Mr.. Poe is generally oredited by
his biographers and dpoloSisis WIN
having been courteous and defcrential TO-
| wards the fair sex.
| 9. Was Mr.. English ever the editor OF
| the Southern Literary Messenger as
| well-known citizen of Richmond had lhU-
| mated? 400,
| He never was Mr.. English Is still
| living, and engaged in active pchticai
| life as member Of Congress from New
| Jersey. and there are ALREADY several
| good blogra phical sketches Of him which
| give an account of his editorial ana HE
| rary Iabors; but they make no mention
| Of this. Indeed. Mr.. English says he
| never had any editorial connection win
| the Messenger. He was Il contributor TO
| it under my successor. Mr.. John H.
| ThcmIson, and WAS a resident III Nir-
| ghia for several years and took some
| part In her public Affairs.
! . THE Raven" and the Messenger?
never knew Mr.. Poe. personally. but we
| /
| him employment, and helped TO support
| him when he was in great necessity.
The Southern Literary Messenger had a
| rule even when Mr.. Poe was its editor,
! not to repubish any American produc-
| ton 1t did republish some things from
| England and the continent Of Europe.
| But when 1.-The Raven" first appeared In
| the American Wing Review of New York
its now famous author wrote me one
| of his kindest and most persuasive let
| tiers, saying that he knew the rule, but
| requested me to make an exception in
his favor: TO take out the line which d.
vided the pages of the Messenger. and
give 1.-THE Raven" its full length in the
beautiful typography of that magazine"
Mr. White, the founder of the Messenger.
took great pride in its neat typography.
| was then entirely friendly TO Mr. Poe.
and willing to oblige him, and when l
read the poem ! at once determined to
make the solicited exception. Hence 1.-THE
Raven" did appear in the Messenger for
March. 1915.
one OF Mr.. Poc's bographers, a Mary
lander, | think, in speaking of Mr.. Poes
plain chrography and exceedingly clean
manuscript. says that In his compost
tons he never made any alterations. He
must have been misled by the complete
and tidy form to which he reduced them
before he exhibited them. My recollection
was that one reason he gave for request
ing me to repubish 1.-THE Raven" was
that he did wish to make some emenda-
lions. Therefore, / took the Messenger
and the American Wing Review and care
fully colated the two versions, and there
were some alterations. They were not
numerous but In my humble Judgment
every one of them was an improvement
Besides, what was thus done to crafty
him in regard TO "The Raven" | paid
him what he asked-s3.O per printed
page-for his contributions. But not one
that he offered me was worthy Of his
genius or reputation, and yet they were
issued. because he sent them and greatly
needed the compensation of which their
rejection would have deprived him. Still
he swindled me, and when I resented
II by ignoring him. he turned spitefully
against me- as he did against Mr.. Eng
lish. But the details are not now necessary.
Peace TO his ashes.
One OF the contributions for which he
was paid was: "The Literary Life of
Thingum Bob. Esq. Late Editor of the
Goosetherumfoodle; BY Himself" Decem.
ber 1874 r. r. MINOR
Richmond. May 2. 1894.