Text: Frederick W. Thomas to Edgar Allan Poe — September 29, 1845

Washington   Septr. 29. 1845.

My dear Poe,

I received your journal regularly — Thank you for it — I see you have published two of my sketches (Randolph & Wirt) — I observed them kindly noticed — You have never said a word yet about my poem — have you? I thought you said you liked it!

A copy of your journal comes directly to my care, to Lacy — I am not now boarding at Fuller’s with Lacy, having taken private lodging in another part of the town; so that I seldom see him — I therefore have to redirect the “journal” and drop it in the post office for him — You had better tell your “folks” to send it direct to the doctor: —

I was in the hope of seeing you this summer — but circumstances have compelled me to remain in Washington, in these story times for officials. — I read the journal with great pleasure and profit —

Your book of “Tales”I have obtained, (I think though I wrote you so;) and I have made myself popular with several fair Ladies by reading portions of them to the persons in question — By the bye — a young gentleman, who boards in the house with me, is very anxious to see your handwriting, as he is a great admirer of yours. I have promised to show him the autograph in question — so I want you to write me, in answer, in your most intellectual style, such an epistle as may be proper to exhibit in the premises —

I see that Mr. Clay’s friend, Ex-speaker White of Kentucky, has committed suicide by shooting himself with a pistol — I knew him and thought him the last person who would have done such a deed —

Poe, I have gone to small, quite, private lodgings, and employ all my spare time in biblical reading — I have become interested, very much, in such subjects and have not read a novel for a twelvemonth! “Think of that Master Brooke — a man of my kidney” as Falstaff would say.

How is your mother and lady? Remember me most affectionately to them. I see that Thomas Dunn English — “The Doctor,” is one of your correspondents — He has certainly a fine vein of poetry in him — I like talent in friend or foe, and always try to do it justice —

I am most anxious to see you — How I do wish I could take a trip to New York —

Drop me a good autographic line — I mean a line to be exhibited as a characteristic of “Poe, the Author”, and believe me ever

Your friend,
F. W. Thomas

Edgar A. Poe,
New York