Text: Edgar Allan Poe and Thomas Ollive Mabbott, “Elizabeth Bogart” The Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Vol. IV: The Literati of New York City (2026), pp. 130-131 (This material is protected by copyright)

[page 130:]

ELIZABETH BOGART.(1)

Miss Bogart has been for many years before the public as a writer of poems and tales (principally the former) for the periodicals, having made her debût as a contributor to the original “New York Mirror.” Doctor Griswold, in a foot-note appended to one of her poems quoted in his “Poets and Poetry,”(2) speaks of the “volume” from which he quotes; but Miss Bogart has not yet collected her writings in volume form.(3) Her fugitive pieces have usually been signed “Estelle.” They are noticeable for nerve, dignity and finish. Perhaps the four stanzas entitled “He came too Late,” and introduced into Dr. Griswold's compilation, are the most favorable specimen of her manner. Had he not quoted them I should have copied them here.

Miss Bogart is a member of one of the oldest families in the state.(4) An interesting sketch of her progenitors is to be found in Thompson's “History of Long Island.” She is about the medium height, straight and slender; black hair and eyes; countenance full of vivacity and intelligence. She converses with fluency and spirit, enunciates distinctly, and exhibits interest in whatever is addressed to her — a rare quality in good talkers; has a keen appreciation of genius and of natural scenery; is cheerful and fond of society.

[[Notes]]

[page 131:]

1. Elizabeth Bogart, December 8, 1795 - May 12, 1879, was a regular attendant at Miss Lynch's salons. Stoddard recalled her as an “elderly spinster . . . remembered through one of her solemn lyrics.” She was never married.

2. Her poem mentioned [[“He Came Too Late”]] first appeared in the New York Mirror, October 24, 1835 [[p. 131]]. The poem is in Griswold's Poets and Poetry of America [[1842, p. 466]], and in Female Poets of America [[1848, p. 138]]; the opening lines may be quoted:

3. Her volume, Driftings from the Stream of Life, appeared in 1866.

4. The account of the family of the Reverend David S. Bogart is in an appendix of Benjamin F. Thompson's History of Long Island, 2nd edition, New York, 1843, II, 498f. It was reprinted in the 3rd edition, 1918, III, 461.