Edgar Allan Poe’s Writings in the Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine

1839 - February (vol IV, no. 2)

• Misc - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (Skating)” (rejected) (pp. 111-112) (attributed by H&C, but probably erroneously, as it would be too early. In any case, the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)

1839 - March (vol IV, no. 3)

• Misc - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (The Natural History of the Dog)” (rejected) (pp. 182-185) (attributed by H&C, but probably erroneously, as it would be too early. In any case, the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)

1839 - April (vol IV, no. 4)

• Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (The Natural History of the Dog)” (rejected) (pp. 237-240) (attributed by H&C, but probably erroneously, as it would be as too early. In any case, the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)

1839 - May (vol IV, no. 5)

• Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (The Natural History of the Dog)” (rejected) (pp. 299-302) (attributed by H&C, but probably erroneously, as it would be as too early. In any case, the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)

1839 - June (vol IV, no. 6)

(An announcement in the middle of the outside of the back cover states: “WILLIAM E. BURTON, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, [/] Has much pleasure in stating that he has made arrangements with EDGAR A. POE, ESQ. [[,]] late Editor of the Southern Literary Messenger, to devote his abilities and experience to a portion of the Editorial duties of the Gentleman’s Magazine.” This notice is repeated on the August 1839 wrapper as well. Inside the front paper cover, Poe is noted as “Assistant Editor.”)

• Misc - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (The Natural History of the Dog)” (rejected) (pp. 349-352) (attributed by H&C, but probably erroneously, as it would be as too early. In any case, the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)
• Review of New Books
  • Review of R.M. Bird - The Adventures of Robin Day   (attributed to Poe by T. O. Mabbott as “possibly Poe’s, but too doubtful, omit.”)
  • Review of Marryatt - The Phantom Ship   (This one notice was attributed to Poe by T. O. Mabbott and W. D. Hull.)
• [Prior to May 30, 1839, Poe wrote a harsh notice of Rufus Dawes, which Burton rejected. His letter to Poe states, in part, “I wish particularly to deal leniently with the faults of genius, and feeling statisfied that Dawes possesses a portion of the true fire, I regretted the word-catching tone of your critique.” This review likely formed the basis of Poe’s later article “The Poetry of Rufus Dawes: A Retrospective Criticism” from Graham’s Magazine for October 1842.]

1839 - July (vol. V, no. 1)

• Poem - “To Ianthe in Heaven” (reprint)  (text?) (p. 49) (signed, “BY E. A. POE”)
• Poem - “Spirits of the Dead” (revised reprint)  (text?) (p. 51) (unsigned)
• Misc - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (Archery)” (rejected) (pp. 52-55) (attributed by H&C, but the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)
• Review of New Books  (pp. 56-62)
  • Review of J. F. Cooper - History of the Navy Review of Dimitry - Lecture on the Study of History
  • Review of J. P. and W. P. Robinson - Francia’s Reign of Terror
  • Review of H. T. Tuckerman - Isabel; or Sicily
  • Review of G. P. R. James - Memoirs of Celebrated Women Review of Advice to A Young Gentleman on entering Society
  • Review of Thomas Wyatt - A Synopsis of Natural History
  • Review of Henry Lord Brougham - Sketches of Public Characters, Discources, and Essays

1839 - August (vol. V, no. 2)

• Tale - “The Man That Was Used Up” (first printing) (pp. 66-70)
• Poem - “Fairyland”  (reprint)  (p. 70)   (signed “P”)
• Poem - “To ——”  (reprint)  (p. 75)
• Poem - “To the River ——”  (reprint)  (p. 99)   (signed “P”)
• Article - “An Opinion on Dreams”  (rejected) (p. 105)  (Attributed to Poe by J. H. Whitty and George E. Hatvary, but disputed by T. O. Mabbott, who instead attributes it to William Landor. Text actually taken from Chaos and the Creation: An Epic Poem, in Eight Cantos, with Elucidative Notes by Trinitarius, London: Hatchard and Son, 1834.)
• Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes  (Archery)” (rejected) (pp. 106-111) (attributed by H&C, but the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)
• Review of New Books  (pp. 112-118)  (As Poe noted in a letter to P. P. Cooke, the first three reviews for August and September are by Burton. These have been omitted here.)
  • Review of G. P. R. James - The Gentleman of the Old School
  • Review of Grant - Sketches of London
  • Review of H. C. Von Leonhard - Popular Lectures on Geology
  • Review of John Taylor - The Pocket Lacon
  • Review of W. Wallace - The Triumphs of Science
  • Review of N. P. Willis - Tortesa, the Usurer
  • Review of J. F. Cooper - Precaution Review of Six Weeks in Fauquier
  • Review of The White Sulphur Papers
  • Notice of John S. Lewis - A Defense of Female Education

1839 - September (vol. V, no. 3)

• Tale - “The Fall of the House of Usher”  (first printing)  (text A)  (pp. 145-152)
• Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (Gymnastics and Gymnasia)” (rejected) (pp. 161-163) (attributed by H&C. This article is connected with other half in the October issue, which was expressly accepted by Poe. In spite of Poe’s claim, however, the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)
• Review of New Books  (pp. 164-174)  (As Poe noted in a letter to P. P. Cooke, the first three reviews for August and September are by Burton. These have been omitted here.)
  • Review of J. M. Austin - A Voice to the South
  • Review of Henry Lord Brougham - Historical Sketches of Statesman
  • Review of Eliza Wilkinson - Letters, during the Invasion and Possession of Charleston
  • Review of Mary Howitt - Birds and Flowers, and Other Country Things
  • Review of Thomas Bingley - Tales of Shipwrecks and Other Disasters at Sea
  • Review of Edward Sayers - The American Flower Garden Companion
  • Review of Edward Sayers - The American Fruit Garden Companion
  • Review of D. Bacon - The Bride of Fort Edward
  • Notice of William A. Alcott - Charles Hartland, the Village Missionary
  • Review of J. P. Robertson - Solomon Seesaw  
  • Review of H. de la Motte Fouque - Undine: A Miniature Romance
  • Review of H. R. Schoolcraft - Algeic Researches
  • Review of W. H. Sleeman - The Thugs or Phansigars of India
  • Review of J. Galt - Continuation of the Diary
  • Review of James Ackerman - Practical Lessons in Flower Painting
  • Comment on future notices

1839 - October (vol. V, no. 4)

• Tale - “William Wilson”   (reprint)  (text B)  (pp. 205-212)  (Signed “BY EDGAR A. POE.”)  (Noted as “From the Gift for 1840”)
• Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (Gymnastics and Gymnasia)”  (rejected))  (text A) (pp. 221-226) (This article is expressly accepted by Poe. The article from the September issue is presumed to be the first part of this item, and both are attributed to Poe. In spite of Poe’s claim, however, the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)
• Review of New Books  (pp. 227-230)  (As noted in a letter to J. E. Snodgrass, all of the reviews for October are by Poe.)
  • Review of Longfellow - Hyperion, a Romance
  • Review of Charles Augustus Murray - Travels in North America
  • Review of James McPherson - The Poems of Ossian Review of The Gift for 1840
  • Review of S. Augustus Mitchell - A System of Modern Geography
  • Review of Catharine H. Waterman - Flora’s Lexicon
  • Review of Opinions of Lord Brougham
  • Review of Thomas Miller - Fair Rosamond; or, The Days of King Henry II.
  • Review of Cornelius Webbe - The Man About Town
  • Review of Hamilton King, or The Smuggler and the Dwarf

1839 - November (vol. V, no. 5)

• Article - “The Capitol at Washington”   (first printing)  (pp. 231-235)   (Attributed to Poe by T. O. Mabbott, but now rejected)
• Tale - “Morella”  (tale)   (text D)  (pp. 264-266)
• Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (The Game of Cricket)” (rejected) (pp. 277-281) (attributed by H&C, but the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)
• Review of New Books  (pp. 282-286)
  • Review of Shakspeare and His Friends   (attributed to Poe by H&C, but disputed by Mabbott, who thinks the articles relating to Shakespeare are all likely by Burton.) 
  • Review of The Cannons of Good Breeding
  • Review of William G. Simms - The Damsel of Darien
  • Review of W. H. Carleton - Father Butler and The Lough Deary Pilgrim
  • Review of Nan Darrell; or, The Gipsy Mother
  • Review of The Violet: A Christmas and New Years Present for 1840
  • Review of The Literary Souvenir: A Christmas and New Years Present for 1840

1839 - December (vol. V, no. 6)

• Tale - “The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion”  (tale, first printing)  (text A)  (pp. 321-323)
• Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (The Game of Cricket)” (rejected) (pp. 324-326) (attributed by H&C, but the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)
• Review of New Books  (pp. 327-334)
  • Review of Marcus E. Cross - The Museum of Religious Knowledge   (attributed to Poe by H&C, and T. O. Mabbott, but disputed by Hull, who thinks it is by Burton.)
  • Review of The Christian Keepsake and Missionary Annual for 1840   (attributed to Poe by H&C, and T. O. Mabbott, but disputed by Hull, who thinks it is by Burton.)
  • Review of W. J. Walter - The Poet: a Metrical Romance of the Seventeenth Century   (attributed to Poe by H&C, and T. O. Mabbott, but disputed by Hull, who thinks it is by Burton.)
  • Review of G. M. W. Reynolds - Albert de Rosann; or The Adventures of a French Gentleman   (attributed to Poe by H&C, and T. O. Mabbott, but disputed by Hull, who thinks it is by Burton.) 
  • Review of Count Mathieu Dumas - Memoirs of His Own Time  
  • Review of Asa Kinne - The Most Important Parts of Blackstone’s Commentaires, Reduced to Questions and Answers
  • Review of Charles Dickens - The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
  • Review of Joseph R. Chandler - An Address, Delivered before the Goethean and Diagnothian Societies of Marshall College
  • Review of John Keese - The Poets of America, illustrated by one of her Painters   (attributed to Poe by H&C, and equivocally by T. O. Mabbott, but disputed by Hull, who thinks it is by Burton.) 
  • Review of Rufus Dawes - Nix’s Mate; an Historical Romance of America  
  • Review of George P. Morris - National Melodies of America  
  • Review of The United States’ Military Magazine  
  • Review of Grant - Walks and Wanderings in the World of Literature  
  • Review of Mrs. Sarah J. Hale - The Good Housekeeper

1840 - January (vol. VI, no. 1)

• Tale - “The Journal of Julius Rodman” (Tale, first printing) (text x) (pp. 44-47) (This is the first chapter of the six-part series. It carries the subtitle “Introductory.”)
• Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (Sailing)” (rejected) (pp. 49-52) (attributed by H&C, but the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)
• Review of New Books (pp. 53-58) 
  • Review of Thomas Moore - Alcipheron
  • Review of Charles Mathews - A Continuation of the Memoirs of Charles Mathews, Comedian   (Attributed by Mabbott and H&C, but disputed by Hull)
  • Review of Countess Blessington - The Governess
  • Notice of E. A. Poe - Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque (This is a one-sentence notice.)

1840 - February (vol. VI, no. 2)

• Tale - “The Journal of Julius Rodman” (first printing) (text x) (pp. 44-47) (This is the second chapter of the six-part series.)
• Tale - “Peter Pendulum, the Business Man” (first printing) (text x) (pp. 87-89)
• Misc. - “A Chapter on Field Sports and Manly Pastimes (Sailing)” (rejected) (pp. 98-99) (attributed by H&C, but the material is essentially compiled from other sources, and thus not an original composition.)
• Review of New Books  (pp. 100-106)
  • Review of G. P. Morris - Where Hudson’s Wave   (attributed by Mabbott, omitted by H&C)
  • Review of Haldeman - A Monograph of The Limniades
  • Review of H. G. Longfellow - Voices of the Night
  • Review of  Marryatt - Diary in America   (This review is presumably by Burton, based on a notice of the magazine in Alexander’s Weekly Messenger.)
  • Review of Frederick Chamier - The Spitfire   (Attributed to Poe by Mabbott, but disputed by Hull. Not mentioned by H&C)
  • Review of Amos Dean - The Philosophy of Human Life
  • Notice of Emma C. Embury - Pictures of Early Life
  • Notice of - The U. S. Military Magazine
  • Review of S. Duncan - Sacred Philosophy of the Seasons (This is part one of a two-part review)
  • Review of Pickering - The Fright
  • Notice of M. Thier - The History of the French Revolution

1840 - March (vol. VI, no. 3)

• Tale - “The Journal of Julius Rodman” (Tale, first printing) (text x) (pp. 109-113) (This is the third chapter of the six-part series.)
• Miscellany - “A Chapter on Science and Art” (first printing) (text x) (p. 149-150) (This is the first installment of the four-part series.)
• Review of New Books  (pp. 151-154) 
  • Review of S. Duncan - Sacred Philosophy of the Seasons (This is part two of a two-part review)
  • Review of Madame Tussaud - Memoirs and Reminiscences
  • Review of T. C. Haliburton - The Letter Bad of the Great Western
  • Review of Mrs. Bray - Trials of the Heart
  • Review of N. P. Willis - Romance of Travel
  • Review of H. D. Inglis - Rambles in the Footsteps of Don Quixote

1840 - April (vol. VI, no. 4)

• Tale - “The Journal of Julius Rodman” (Tale, first printing) (text x) (pp. 178-183) (This is the fourth chapter of the six-part series.)
• Miscellany - “A Chapter on Science and Art” (first printing) (text x) (p. 193-194) (This is the second installment of the four-part series.)
• Misc - “Omniana” (first printing) (text x) (pp. 161-162) (This is the first installment of the five-part series.)
• Poem - “Silence. A Sonnet” (reprint) (text x) (p. 166)
• Review of New Books  (According to a notice in Alexander’s Weekly Messenger, all of the reviews in the April issue are by W. E. Burton. The notice is likely by Poe himself, or certainly someone closely associated with Burton’s Magazine, and the attribution, therefore, is accepted. H&C list the four reviews as “doubtful” and “very doubtful.”)
• Notice - “A word or two on the Copy-Right Question”  (text A) (p. 202)  (This item appears at the end of the “Review of New Books.”)

1840 - May (vol. VI, no. 5)

• Article - “A Notice of William Cullen Bryant” (article, first printing) (text x) (p. 203-205)
• Tale - “The Journal of Julius Rodman” (Tale, first printing) (text x) (pp. 206-210) (This is the fifth installment of the six-part series.)
• Misc - “Omniana” (first printing) (text x) (pp. 235-236) (This is the second installment of the series.)
• Article - “The Philosophy of Furniture” (first printing) (text x) (pp. 243-245)
• Misc - “A Chapter on Science and Art” (first printing) (text x) (pp. 246-247) (This is the third installment of the four-part series.)
• Review of New Books (pp. 248-250)
  • Review of Mrs. Grey - The Duke
  • Review of N. C. Brooks - The Utility of Classical Studies and Charles W. Thompson - The Uncertainty of Literary Fame
  • Review of The Florist’s Guide
  • Review of James Pedder - Frank; or Dialogues between a Father and Son

1840 - June (vol. VI, no. 6)

• Article - “Some Account of Stonehenge” (article, first printing) (text x) (pp. 251-252)
• Tale - “The Journal of Julius Rodman” (Tale, first printing) (text x) (pp. 255-259) (This is the sixth and final installment of the series.)
• Misc - “Omniana” (first printing) (text x) (p. 289-290) (This is the third installment of the series.)
• Review of New Books  (pp. 293-294)
  • Review of The Youth of Shakspeare   (Attributed by Hull. Omitted by H&C)
  • Review of Spencer Wallace Cone - The Proud Ladye
  • Review of Grattan - High-Ways and By-Ways

Poe left Burton’s after the June issue.

1840 - July (vol. VII, no. 1)

• Misc - “A Chapter on Science and Art” (first printing) (text x) (p. 49) (This is the fourth and final installment of the series.)
• Misc - “Omniana” (first printing) (text A) (p. 51) (This is the fourth installment of the series.)

1840 - August (vol. VII, no. 2)

• Misc - “Omniana” (first printing) (text A) (p. 104) (This is the fifth and final installment of the series.)

1840 - December (vol. VII, no. 6)

The December issue was technically the first issue of the new Graham’s Magazine, combining the Gentleman’s with the Casket. This final issue was distributed to subscribers of the respective magazines with the old titles. The contents were nearly identical for both magazines for this issue, with only a few differences for the sake of completing the old series.

• Tale - “The Man of the Crowd” (first printing) (text x) (p. 49) (This tale simultaneously appeared in the final issue of The Casket, both forming the introductory issue of Graham’s.)