University of Virginia Library

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1

Letter from Edgar Allan Poe to Frederick William Thomas[1], 1841 September 1
Manuscript, University of Virginia

Griswold left a note for me at the office, the
other day, requesting me to furnish him with some memoranda
of your life; and it will, of course, give me great pleasure to
do so; but, upon sitting down to the task, I find that neither
myself, nor Mrs Clemm, upon whom I mainly depend for infor.
mation, can give all the necessary points with sufficient pre-
cision for G's purpose. Just send me a line, therefore, answering
the following queries, and I will put your responses into
shape. Most of the points we know, but not with full certainty.
What is your father's Christian name? Had your parents more
children than yourself, Lewis, Frances, Susan, Martha, Isabella &
Jackson? -if so, what were their names? When & where were
you born? With whom did you study law? What was (exactly) the
cause of your lameness? How did you first become known to the
literary world? Who were your most intimate associates in
Baltimore? When did you remove to Cincinnati? With what
papers have you been occasionally connected -if with any? Be-
sides answering these queries -give me a list of your writings
published & unpublished -and some memoranda respecting your
late lectures at Washington. Reply as soon as possible, as
the volume is in press.

I understand that Dow has a paper in Alexandria-
how does he get on with it?

I am still jogging on in the same old way, and
will probably remain with Graham, even if I start the
"Penn" in January. Our success (Graham's I mean) is
astonishing -we shall print 20,000 copies shortly. When
he bought Burton out, the joint circulation was only 5000.
I have had some excellent offers respecting the "Penn" and
it is more than probable that it will go on.

How do you get on yourself? I have been expecting
a letter from you.