University of Virginia Library

Letter from Edgar Allan Poe to John Allan dated October 30, 1829
Manuscript, Valentine Museum, Richmond, Virginia

I received your letter this evening
and am grieved that I can give you no
positive evidence of my industry & zeal as
regards the appt. at W. Point: unless you will
write to Mr. Eaton himself who well remembers
me & the earnest tones of my afflication
. But you are labouring under a mistake
which I beg you to correct by reference to all
my former letters — I stated that Mr. Eaton
told me that an appt. could be obtained by Sepr :
provided there were a sufficient number rejected
at the June examination & regretted that I had
not made an earlier application — that at all
events with the strong recommendations I had
brought that I should have an appt. at the
next term which is in June next —
So far from having any doubts of my appt. at
that time, I am as certain of obtaining it
as I am of being alive —

If you find this statement to be in correct then
condemn me -otherwise acquit me of
any intention to practise upon your good nature
— which I now feel myself to be above—

It is my intention upon the receipt of your
letter to go again to Washington &, thō
contrary to the usual practice, I will get
Mr. Eaton to give me my letter of appt. now

-it will consist of an order to repair to W. P.
in June for examination &c — & forward
it to you that all doubts may be removed-
I will tell him why I want it at present
& I think he will give it.

I would have sent you the M.S. of my
Poems long ago for your approval, but
since I have collected them they have
been continually in the hands of some
person or another & I have not had them
in my own possession since Carey & Lea
took them. I will send them to you at
the first opportunity—

I am sorry that your letters to me
have still with them a tone of anger
as if my former errors were not forgiven
-if I know how to regain your affection
God knows I would do any thing I
could.