University of Virginia Library

Letter from Edgar Allan Poe to John C. McCabe[1], 1836 March 3
Manuscript, University of Virginia

A press of other engagements has
prevented me, hitherto, from replying to your letter of the 24th
ult: — but I have not the less borne it in mind.

I need not speak to you of the difficulties I
have to encounter daily in selecting from the mass of M.SS.
handed in for The Messenger[2]. Personal applications from perso-
nal friends, of course embarrass me greatly. It is, indeed
almost impossible to refuse an article offered in this manner
without giving mortal offence to the friend who offers it. This
offence, however, is most frequently taken by those who have
the fewest pretensions to merit. In the present instance I
feel perfectly sure that I shall neither wound your feelings,
nor cause you to think less of me as an acquaintance by
returning your Poem — which I now enclose.

My reasons for declining it, relate as much to your-
self, individually, as to the Magazine. I feel exceedingly de-
sirous that you should be even more favorably known to the
public than you are at present, and that this object should be
accomplished thro' the medium of the Messenger. I have fre-
quently seen pieces from your pen which I would have been hap-
py to insert — one long poem, especially, whose title I cannot
call to mind — with some lines lately printed in the Baltimore
Athenaeum — that great bowl of Editorial skimmed milk and water.

I think you will agree with me that “The Consumptive Girl” is not,
for my means, a fair specimen of your talents. Like all I have
seen of your compositions, it breathes the true spirit of poetic sen-
timent and feeling — it has fine and original images — and
has all the proper material of the Muse. But it is deficient
in the outward habiliments. The versification, in especial, is
not what you can make it. The lines in most instances,
are rough, & owing to your frequent choice of words abounding
in consonents. Thus in the beginning.
.
In some cases the verses are more seriously defective, and cannot
be scanned — or even read. For example.

And again —

I know you will reply, and with some appearance of justice, that
much worse verse, have appeared in The Messenger, since my Edi-
torship, and are still appearing. But these are poems which have
been long on hand, and to the publication of which Mr. W. [3]had
bound himself, by promises to their respective authors, before my
time. Such difficulties shall not occur again.

Suppose you were to try a series of brief poems — say
sonnets — one to appear regularly in each number of the Maga-
zine. Embodying multum in parvo[4] — laboured out with
scrupulous care in their metre — and signed with your in-
nitials — they will not fail (if done as well as I know you
can do them) to gain you a high and permanent reputa-
tion.