University of Virginia Library

Poe Collection: Letter from Edgar Allan Poe to John Allan, 1829 February 4
Manuscript, Valentine Museum, Richmond, Virginia

I wrote you some time ago from this place
but have as yet received no reply. Since that time
I wrote to John Mc.Kenzie desiring him to see
you personally & desire for me, of you, that you
would interest yourself in procuring me a
cadets' appointment at the Military Academy.

To this likewise I have received no answer, for
which I can in no manner account, as he
wrote me before I wrote to him & seemed to
take an interest in my welfare.

I made the request to obtain a cadet's appoint-
-ment partly because I know that (if my
age should prove no obstacle as I have since
ascertained it will not) the appointment
could easily be obtained either by your personal ac-
-aquaintance with Mr. Wirt or by the recom-
-mendationof General Scott, or even of the
officers residing at Fortress Monroe & partly
because in making the request you would
at once see to what direction my "future
views & expectations" were inclined.

You can have no-idea of the immense

advantages which my present station in the
army would give me in the appointment of
a cadet — it would be an unprecedented
case in the American army. & having al-
ready passed thro the practical part even
of the higher partion of the Artillery arm, my
cadetship would only be considered as a
necessary form which I am positive I could
run thro' in 6 months.

This is the view of the case which many
at this place have taken in regard to myself.
If you are willing to assist me it can now
be effectually done — if not (as late
circumstances have induced me to believe)
I must remain contented until chance
or other friends shall render me that assis-
-tance.

Under the certain expectation of kind news
from home I have been led into expences
which my present income will not support.
I hinted as much in my former letter, &
am at present in an uncomfortable situation
I have known the time when you would not
have suffered me long to remain so.

Whatever fault you may find with me
I have not been ungrateful for past services
but you blame me for the past which I
have taken without considering the powerful
impulses which actuated me. You will
remember how much I had to suffer upon
my return from the University.[1] I never meant
to offer a shadow of excuse for the infamous
conduct of myself & others at that place.
It was however at the commencement of that
year that I got deeply entangled in difficulty
which all my after good conduct in the close
of the session (to which all here can testify)
could not clear away. I had never been
from home before for any length of time.
I say again I have no-excuse to offer for my
conduct except the common one of youth—
— but I repeat that I was unable if[2]
my life had depended upon it to bear the
consequences of that conduct in the taunts
& abuse that followed it even from those
who had been my warmest friends.

I shall wait with impatience for an

answer to this letter for upon it depend a
great many of the circumstances of
my future life — the assurance of an
honourable & highly successful course in
my own country, or the prospect — no
certainty of an exile forever to another

Give my love to Ma—