University of Virginia Library

Letter from Edgar Allan Poe, Baltimore, to John Allan, 1829 July 26
Manuscript, Valentine Museum, Richmond, Virginia

I received yours of the 19th on the 22d ulto
& am truly thankful for the money which you sent
me, notwithstanding the taunt with which it was
given "that men of genius ought not to apply to your
aid"—It is too often their necessity to want that
little timely assistance which would prevent such
applications—

I did not answer your letter by return of mail
on account of my departure for Washington the next
morning—but before I proceed to tell the event
of my application I think it my duty to say something
concerning the accusations & suspicions which are
contained in your letter—

As regards the substitute, the reason why I did not
tell you that it would cost $75— was that I could
not possibly foresee so improbable an event—The bounty
is $12—& unless but for the absence of Col. House
& Lt Howard at the time of my discharge it
would have been all that I should have had to
pay. The officer commanding a company can (if he
pleases) enlist the first recruit who offers & muster
him as a substitute for another, of course paying
only the bounty of 12$ but as Lt Howard & Col House
were both absent, this arrangement could not be effected.
As I had told you it would only cost me $12 I
did nt wish to make you think me imposing upon
you—so upon a substitute offering for $75—I
gave him $25 & gave him my note of hand for
the balance—when you remitted me $100— thinking
I had more than I should want I thought it my
best opportunity of taking up my note—which I did.

If you will take into consideration the length of
time I have been from home, which was occasioned
by my not hearing from you (& I was unwilling
to leave the city without your answer, expecting it
every day) & other expenses, you will find that
it has been impossible for me to enter into any
extravagances or improper expense—even sup
-posingI had not lost the $46—the time which
intervened between my letter & your answer in
the first instance was 22 days— in the latter
one month & 4 days—as I had no reason to
suppose you would not reply to my letter as I
was unconscious of having offended it would
have been imprudent to leave without your
answer—this expense was unavoidable.
As regards the money which was stolen I
have sent you the only proof in my possession
a letter from Mosher in which there is an
acknowledgement of the theft—I have no other.
On receiving your last letter, I went immediately
to Washington, on foot, & have returned the
same way, having paid away $40 for my
bill & being unwilling to spend the balance. when
I might avoid it, until I could see what pros
-pects were in view. I saw Mr Eaton, he
addressed me by name, & in reply to my questions
told me—"that of the 47 surplus, on the roll, which
I mentioned in my former letters, 19 were rejected
9 dismissed & 8 resigned—consequently there

was yet a surplus of 10 before me on the roll
On asking for my papers of recommendation, which
might be of service elsewhere— he told me that
in that case my application would be considered
as withdrawn, which he strongly advised me
not to do—saying that there were still hopes of
my obtaining the appointment in Sepr. as during
the encampment every year there were numerous
resignations— if the number exceeded 10 I should
be sure of the appt without further application in
Sepr. if not I would at last be among the
first on the next roll for the ensuing year— when
of course my appointment was certain—when
I mentioned that I feared my age would interfere
he replied that 21 was the limit—that many
enteredat that time—& that I might call
myself 21 until I was 22—On leaving the
office he called me back to endorse on my
papers the name of my P. Office—I wrote Richmond.
He said that I should certainly hear from him
& that he regretted my useless trip to Washington—
These are his precise words—

Having now explained every circumstance that
seemed to require an explanation & shown that
I have spared no exertions in the pursuit of my
object. I write to you for information as to what
course I must pursue—I would have re-
-turned home immediately but for the words
in your letter "I am not particularly anxious
to see you" I know not how to interpret them

I could not help thinking that they amouted to a
prohibition to return—if I had any means of support
until I could obtain the appointment, I would not
trouble you again—I am conscious of having
offended you formerly—greatly—but I thought
that had been forgiven. at least you told me so—
I know that I have done nothing since to deserve
your displeasure—

As regards the poem, I have offended only in asking
your approbation—I can publish it upon the
terms you mentioned—but will have no more
to do with it without your entire approbation—
I will wait with great anxiety for your answer
you must be aware how important it is that I should
hear from you soon—as I do not know how to act