The Museum CollectionPoe Letter to Marguerite St. Leon Loud, September 18, 1849
Signature
Letter
The text reads: "Dear Madam,
Not being quite sure whether a letter addressed simply to 'Mr John Loud' would reach your husband -- that is to say, not remembering whether he had a middle name or not -- I have taken the liberty of writing directly to yourself, in regard to a proposition which he made me while here; having reference to your Poems. It was my purpose and hope to have been in Philadelphia by the 7th of this month; but circumstances beyond my control have detained me; and I write now to say that I find it impossible to leave Richmond before Tuesday next -- the 25 th. On the 26 th I hope to have the pleasure of calling on you at your residence in Philadelphia. There will be quite time enough to have your book issued as proposed: -- but should this unavoidable delay on my part have caused you to change your views in any respect, may I beg of you the favor to let me know, by return of mail, if convenient? Under any circumstances I should, of course, feel honored in receiving a letter from you. Most Respy. Yr. Ob. St Edgar A. Poe" 
Address
The back of the letter bears the address, postmark, and doodles drawn by the recipient.
Description: This is one of the last letters Edgar Allan Poe wrote before his death on October 7, 1849. In the letter, sent to Philadelphia poet Marguerite St. Leon Loud (1800-1889), Poe details his plan to visit Philadelphia on September 26 in order to edit a volume of Loud's poetry. He states that he intends to leave Richmond on September 25, but, Poe would not actually leave Richmond until the early morning hours of September 27. Before reaching Philadelphia, Poe would die in Baltimore's Washington College Hospital from unknown causes.In Poe's 1841 article "A Chapter on Autography," Poe describes Loud as "one of the finest poets of this country; possessing, we think, more of the true divine afflatus than any of her female contemporaries. She has, in especial, imagination of no common order, and unlike many of her sex whom we 3 could mention, is not content to dwell in decencies forever." Since Poe was unable to edit Loud's volume of poetry, Park Benjamin edited it instead, and the book, Wayside Flowers, was issued in 1851. The letter came to the Poe Museum from Mrs. Loud's grandson, John H. Lucas, on behalf of his mother, Mrs. Clara Ellen Loud Lucas, and himself on January 23, 1965. Search CollectionCategories
|
