University of Virginia Library

Letter from Edgar Allan Poe to John Allan, 1829 July 15
Manuscript, Valentine Museum, Richmond, Virginia

I have written you twice
lately & have received no answer-
I would not trouble you so often with
my letters, but I am afraid that
being up at the Byrd you might
probably not have received them—
I am very anxious to return home
thro' Washington when I have every
hope of being appointed for Sep-r &
besides by being detained at Baltimore
I am incurring unecessary expense
as Grandmother is not in a situation
to give me any accomodation—
I sometimes am afraid that you are angry
& perhaps you have reason to be—but
if you will but put a little more confidence
in me—I will endeavor to deserve it—

I am sure no one can be more an
xious, or would do more towards
helping myself than I would—if
I had any means of doing it—
without your assistance, I have
none—I am anxious to abide by
your directions, if I knew what
they were.

You would relieve me from a
great deal of anxiety by writing
me soon—I think I have already
had my share of trouble for one
so young—