University of Virginia Library

Poe Collection: Letter from Edgar Allan Poe to John Allan, 1829 May 29
Manuscript, Valentine Museum, Richmond, Virginia

I am now going to make a request
different from any I have ever yet made -
As I wrote you, sometime since, I have been
several times to visit Mr. Wirt, who had
treated me with great kindness & attention.
I sent him, for his opinion, a day or two ago,
a poem which I have written since I left
home -& in the letter which I now enclose
you have his opinion upon its merits -From
such a man as Mr. Wirt the flattering char-
acter he has given of the work, will surely be
to you a recommendation in its favor.
In the conclusion of the letter you will see
that he advises me to "get a personal intro-
duction to Mr. Walsh" the editor of the Ame-
rican Quarterly Review & get his interest in
my favor -that interest, and his highest
encomiums on the poem are already obtained
as Editor of the Review he promises to notice it
which will assure it, if not of popularity,
of success.

Under these circumstances I have thought

it my duty to write to you on the subject.
Believing you to be free from prejudice, I think
you will aid me, if you see cause;
At my time of life there is much in being
before the eye of the world -if once
noticed I can easily cut out a path to
reputation. It can certainly be of no
disadvantage as it will not, even for
a moment, interfere with other objects
which I have in view.

I am aware of the difficulty of getting
a poem published in this country -Mr
Wirt & Mr. Walsh have advised me of
that -but the difficulty should be no
object with a proper aim in view.
If Mssrs Carey, Lea, & Carey, should
decline publishing (as I have no reason
to think they will not. They having inva
riably declined it with all our Ame-
rican poets) that is upon their own risk
the request I have to make is this —
that you will give me a letter to Messrs Carey, Lea, & Carey saying that if in
publishing the poem "Al Aaraaf"

they shall incur any loss you will make it good to them.

The cost of publishing the work, in a style
equal to any of our American publications,
will at the extent be $100. This then,
of course, must be the limit of any loss
supposing not a single copy of the work
to be sold. It is more than probable
that the work will be profitable & that
I may gain instead of lose, even in a
pecuniary way.

I would remark in conclusion that I
have long given up Byron as a model
for which , I think, I deserve some credit.
If you will help me in this matter
I will be always grateful for your
kindness.

If you conclude upon giving me a trial
please enclose me the letter to Messrs
Carey, Lea, & Carey -I shall wait anx-
iously for your answer.