University of Virginia Library

Letter from Edgar Allan Poe, The Court House Tavern, to John Allan [March 19, 1827]
Manuscript, Valentine Museum, Richmond, Virginia

After my treatment on yesterday and what
passed between us this morning, I can hardly think you
will be surprised at the contents of this letter. My determi-
nation is at length taken to leave your house and
endeavor to find some place in this wide world, where I
will be treated—not as you have treated me—
This is not a hurried determination, but one on
which I have long considered—and having so
considered my resolution is unalterable—
You may perhaps think that I have flown off
in a fashion, & that I am already wishing to
return; But not so—I will give you the
reasons which have actuated me, and then
judge—

Since I have been able to think on any subject,
my thoughts have aspired, and they have been
taught by you to aspire to eminence in public
life—this cannot be attained without a good
Education, such a one I cannot obtain at a
Primary school—

A collegiate Education therefore was what I
most ardently desired, and I had been led to
expect that it would at some future time be
granted—but in a moment of caprice
you have blasted my hope because forsooth
I disagreed with you in an opinion, which
opinion I was forced to express—
Again, I have heard you say (when you
little thought I was listening and therefore
must have said it in earnest) that you had
no affection for me—

You have moreover ordered me to quit your
house, and are continually upbraiding me
with eating the bread of Idleness, when you
yourself were the only person to remedy the
evil by placing me to some business—

You take delight in exposing me before those
whom you think likely to advance my interest
in this world—

You suffer me to be subjected to the whims &
caprice, not only of your white family, but the

complete authority of the blacks—these griev-
-ances I could not submit to; and I am gone
I request that you will send me my trunks
containing my clothes & books—and if
you still have the least affection for me,
As the last call I shall make on your bounty
To prevent the fulfillment of the Prediction
you this morning expressed, send me as much
money as will defray my the expences of
my passage to some of the Northern cities
& then support me for one month, by which
time I shall be enabled to place myself in
some situation where I may not only obtain
a livelihood, but lay by a sum which one
day or another will support me at the
university—Send my trunk &c to the
Court-house Tavern, send me I entreat
you some money immediately—as I am
in the greatest necessity—If you fail to
comply with my request—I tremble for
the consequence