| | 1 | Author: | Poe, Edgar Allan, 1809-1849 | Add | | | Title: | Poe Collection: Letter from Edgar Allan Poe to John Allan, 1828 December 22  | | | | Published: | 1999 | | | | Description: | I wrote you shortly before leaving Fort
Moultrie & am much hurt at receiving no answer.
Perhaps my letter has not reached you & under that
supposition I will recapitulate its contents. It was chiefly
to sollicit your interest in freeing me from the Army of
the U.S. in which (as Mr. Lay's letter from
Lieut Howard
informed you) I am at present a soldier. I begged
that you would suspend any judgement you might
be inclined to form, upon many untoward circumstances,
until you heard of me again — & begged you to
give my dearest love to Ma & solicit her not to let
my wayward disposition wear away the affection
she used to have for me. I mentioned that all that
was necessary to obtain my discharge from the army
was your consent in a letter to Lieut J. Howard,
who has heard of you by report, & the high character
given you by Mr. Lay; this being all that I asked
at your hands, I was hurt at your declining to answer
my letter. Since arriving at Fort Moultrie
Lieut Howard has given me an introduction to
Col. James House of the 1st
Arty to whom I was
before personally known only as a soldier of his
regiment. He spoke kindly to me. told me that
he was personally acquainted with my Grandfather
Genl. Poe
[1], with yourself & family, &
reassured me
of my immediate discharge upon your consent.
It must have been a matter of regret to me, that
when those who were strangers took such deep interest
in my welfare, that you who called me your son
should refuse me even the common civility of
answering a letter. If it is your wish to forget
that I have been your son I am too proud to remind
you of it again. I only beg you to remember that
you yourself cherished the cause of my leaving your
family. Ambition. If it has not taken the channel
you wished it, it is not the less certain of its object.
Richmond & the U. States were too narrow a sphere &
the world shall be my theatre. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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