“Formuchimaginaryworkwasthere；

Conceitdeceitful，socompact，sokind，ThatforAchilles’imagestoodhisspearGraspedinanarmedhand；himselfbehindWasleftunseen，savetotheeyeofmind。”

Besidesthemeritofconception，Mr。Poe’swritingshavealsothatofform。

Hisstyleishighlyfinished，gracefulandtrulyclassical。Itwouldbehardtofindalivingauthorwhohaddisplayedsuchvariedpowers。

Asanexampleofhisstylewewouldrefertooneofhistales，“TheHouseofUsher。”inthefirstvolumeofhis“TalesoftheGrotesqueandArabesque。”Ithasasingularcharmforus，andwethinkthatnoonecouldreaditwithoutbeingstronglymovedbyitssereneandsombrebeauty。Haditsauthorwrittennothingelse，itwouldalonehavebeenenoughtostamphimasamanofgenius，andthemasterofaclassicstyle。Inthistaleoccurs，perhaps，themostbeautifulofhispoems。

Thegreatmastersofimaginationhaveseldomresortedtothevagueandtheunrealassourcesofeffect。Theyhavenotuseddreadandhorroralone，butonlyincombinationwithotherqualities，asmeansofsubjugatingthefanciesoftheirreaders。Theloftiestmusehaseverahouseholdandfiresidecharmabouther。Mr。Poe’ssecretliesmainlyintheskillwithwhichliehasemployedthestrangefascinationofmysteryandterror。Inthishissuccessissogreatandstrikingastodeservethenameofart，notartifice。Wecannotcallhismaterialsthenoblestorpurest，butwemustconcedetohimthehighestmeritofconstruction。

Asacritic，Mr。Poewasaestheticallydeficient。Unerringinhisanalysisofdictions，metresandplots，heseemedwantinginthefacultyofperceivingtheprofounderethicsofart。Hiscriticismsare，however，distinguishedforscientificprecisionandcoherenceoflogic。Theyhavetheexactness，andatthesametime，thecoldnessofmathematicaldemonstrations。Yettheystandinstrikinglyrefreshingcontrastwiththevaguegeneralismsandsharppersonalitiesoftheday。Ifdeficientinwarmth，theyarealsowithouttheheatofpartisanship。Theyareespeciallyvaluableasillustratingthegreattruth，toogenerallyoverlooked，thatanalyticpowerisasubordinatequalityofthecritic。

Onthewhole，itmaybeconsideredcertainthatMr。Poehasattainedanindividualeminenceinourliteraturewhichhewillkeep。Hehasgivenproofofpowerandoriginality。Hehasdonethatwhichcouldonlybedoneoncewithsuccessorsafety，andtheimitationorrepetitionofwhichwouldproduceweariness。

THEancientfableoftwoantagonisticspiritsimprisonedinonebody，equallypowerfulandhavingthecompletemasterybyturns-ofoneman，thatistosay，inhabitedbybothadevilandanangelseemstohavebeenrealized，ifallwehearistrue，inthecharacteroftheextraordinarymanwhosenamewehavewrittenabove。OurownimpressionofthenatureofEdgarA。Poe，differsinsomeimportantdegree，however，fromthatwhichhasbeengenerallyconveyedinthenoticesofhisdeath。Letus，beforetellingwhatwepersonallyknowofhim，copyagraphicandhighlyfinishedportraiture，fromthepenofDr。RufusW。Griswold，whichappearedinarecentnumberofthe“Tribune：“{*1}

“EdgarAllenPoeisdead。HediedinBaltimoreonSunday，October7th。Thisannouncementwillstartlemany，butfewwillbegrievedbyit。Thepoetwasknown，personallyorbyreputation，inallthiscountry；hebadreadersinEnglandandinseveralofthestatesofContinentalEurope；buthehadfewornofriends；andtheregretsforhisdeathwillbesuggestedprincipallybytheconsiderationthatinhimliteraryarthaslostoneofitsmostbrilliantbuterraticstars。

“Hisconversationwasattimesalmostsupramortalinitseloquence。

Hisvoicewasmodulatedwithastonishingskill，andhislargeandvariablyexpressiveeyeslookedreposeorshotfierytumultintotheirswholistened，whilehisownfaceglowed，orwaschangelessinpallor，ashisimaginationquickenedhisbloodordrewitbackfrozentohisheart。Hisimagerywasfromtheworldswhichnomortalscanseebutwiththevisionofgenius。Suddenlystartingfromaproposition，exactlyandsharplydefined，intermsofutmostsimplicityandclearness，herejectedtheformsofcustomarylogic，andbyacrystallineprocessofaccretion，builtuphisoculardemonstrationsinformsofgloomiestandghastliestgrandeur，orinthoseofthemostairyanddeliciousbeauty，sominutelyanddistinctly，yetsorapidly，thattheattentionwhichwasyieldedtohimwaschainedtillitstoodamonghiswonderfulcreations，tillhehimselfdissolvedthespell，andbroughthishearersbacktocommonandbaseexistence，byvulgarfanciesorexhibitionsoftheignoblestpassion。

“Hewasatalltimesadreamer-dwellinginidealrealms-inheavenorhell-peopledwiththecreaturesandtheaccidentsofhisbrain。Hewalked-thestreets，inmadnessormelancholy，withlipsmovinginindistinctcurses，orwitheyesupturnedinpassionateprayer(neverforhimself，forhefelt，orprofessedtofeel，thathewasalreadydamned，but)fortheirhappinesswhoatthemomentwereobjectsofhisidolatry；orwithhisglancesintrovertedtoaheartgnawedwithanguish，andwithafaceshroudedingloom，hewouldbravethewildeststorms，andallnight，withdrenchedgarmentsandarmsbeatingthewindsandrains，wouldspeakasifthespiritsthatatsuchtimesonlycouldbeevokedbyhimfromtheAidenn，closebywhoseportalshisdisturbedsoulsoughttoforgettheillstowhichhisconstitutionsubjectedhim-closebytheAidennwherewerethoseheloved-theAidennwhichhemightneversee，butinfitfulglimpses，asitsgatesopenedtoreceivethelessfieryandmorehappynatureswhosedestinytosindidnotinvolvethedoomofdeath。

“Heseemed，exceptwhensomefitfulpursuitsubjugatedhiswillandengrossedhisfaculties，alwaystobearthememoryofsomecontrollingsorrow。Theremarkablepoemof’TheRaven’wasprobablymuchmorenearlythanhasbeensupposed，evenbythosewhowereveryintimatewithhim，areflectionandanechoofhisownhistory。_He_wasthatbird’s“’unhappymasterwhomunmercifulDisasterFollowedfastandfollowedfastertillhissongsoneburdenbore

TillthedirgesofhisHopethatmelancholyburdenboreOf’Never-nevermore。’

“Everygenuineauthorinagreaterorlessdegreeleavesinhisworks，whatevertheirdesign，tracesofhispersonalcharacter：

elementsofhisimmortalbeing，inwhichtheindividualsurvivestheperson。Whilewereadthepagesofthe’FalloftheHouseofUsher，’

orof’MesmericRevelations，’weseeinthesolemnandstatelygloomwhichinvestsone，andinthesubtlemetaphysicalanalysisofboth，indicationsoftheidiosyncrasiesofwhatwasmostremarkableandpeculiarintheauthor’sintellectualnature。Butweseehereonlythebetterphasesofhisnature，onlythesymbolsofhisjusteraction，forhisharshexperiencehaddeprivedhimofallfaithinmanorwoman。Hehadmadeuphisminduponthenumberlesscomplexitiesofthesocialworld，andthewholesystemwithhimwasanimposture。

Thisconvictiongaveadirectiontohisshrewdandnaturallyunamiablecharacter。Still，thoughheregardedsocietyascomposedaltogetherofvillains，thesharpnessofhisintellectwasnotofthatkindwhichenabledhimtocopewithvillany，whileitcontinuallycausedhimbyovershotstofailofthesuccessofhonesty。HewasinmanyrespectslikeFrancisVivianinBulwer’snovelof’TheCaxtons。’Passion，inhim，comprehended-manyoftheworstemotionswhichmilitateagainsthumanhappiness。Youcouldnotcontradicthim，butyouraisedquickcholer；youcouldnotspeakofwealth，buthischeekpaledwithgnawingenvy。Theastonishingnaturaladvantagesofthispoorboyhisbeauty，hisreadiness，thedaringspiritthatbreathedaroundhimlikeafieryatmospherehadraisedhisconstitutionalself-confidenceintoanarrogancethatturnedhisveryclaimstoadmirationintoprejudicesagainsthim。

Irascible，enviousbadenough，butnottheworst，forthesesalientangleswereallvarnishedoverwithacold，repellantcynicism，hispassionsventedthemselvesinsneers。Thereseemedtohimnomoralsusceptibility；and，whatwasmoreremarkableinaproudnature，littleornothingofthetruepointofhonor。Hehad，toamorbidexcess，that，desiretorisewhichisvulgarlycalledambition，butnowishfortheesteemortheloveofhisspecies；onlythehardwishtosucceed-notshine，notserve-succeed，thathemighthavetherighttodespiseaworldwhichgalledhisself-conceit。

“Wehavesuggestedtheinfluenceofhisaimsandvicissitudesuponhisliterature。Itwasmoreconspicuousinhislaterthaninhisearlierwritings。Nearlyallthathewroteinthelasttwoorthreeyears-includingmuchofhisbestpoetry-wasinsomesensebiographical；indraperiesofhisimagination，thosewhohadtakenthetroubletotracehissteps，couldperceive，butslightlyconcealed，thefigureofhimself。”

Aproposofthedisparagingportionoftheabovewell-writtensketch，letustruthfullysay：

Somefourorfiveyearssince，wheneditingadailypaperinthiscity，Mr。Poewasemployedbyus，forseveralmonths，ascriticandsub-editor。Thiswasourfirstpersonalacquaintancewithhim。HeresidedwithhiswifeandmotheratFordham，afewmilesoutoftown，butwasathisdeskintheoffice，fromnineinthemorningtilltheeveningpaperwenttopress。Withthehighestadmirationforhisgenius，andawillingnesstoletitatoneformorethanordinaryirregularity，wewereledbycommonreporttoexpectaverycapriciousattentiontohisduties，andoccasionallyasceneofviolenceanddifficulty。Timewenton，however，andhewasinvariablypunctualandindustrious。Withhispale，beautiful，andintellectualface，asareminderofwhatgeniuswasinhim，itwasimpossible，ofcourse，nottotreathimalwayswithdeferentialcourtesy，and，toouroccasionalrequestthathewouldnotprobetoodeepinacriticism，orthathewoulderaseapassagecoloredtoohighlywithhisresentmentsagainstsocietyandmankind，hereadilyandcourteouslyassented-farmoreyieldingthanmostmen，wethought，onpointssoexcusablysensitive。Withaprospectoftakingtheleadinanotherperiodical，he，atlast，voluntarilygaveuphisemploymentwithus，and，throughallthisconsiderableperiod，wehadseenbutonepresentmentoftheman-aquiet，patient，industrious，andmostgentlemanlyperson，commandingtheutmostrespectandgoodfeelingbyhisunvaryingdeportmentandability。

Residingashedidinthecountry，wenevermetMr。Poeinhoursofleisure；buthefrequentlycalledonusafterwardatourplaceofbusiness，andwemethimofteninthestreet-invariablythesamesadmannered，winningandrefinedgentleman，suchaswehadalwaysknownhim。Itwasbyrumoronly，tiptothedayofhisdeath，thatweknewofanyotherdevelopmentofmannerorcharacter。Weheard，fromonewhoknewhimwell(whatshouldbestatedinallmentionofhislamentableirregularities)，that，withasingleglassofwine，hiswholenaturewasreversed，thedemonbecameuppermost，and，thoughnoneoftheusualsignsofintoxicationwerevisible，hiswillwaspalpablyinsane。Possessinghisreasoningfacultiesinexcitedactivity，atsuchtimes，andseekinghisacquaintanceswithhiswontedlookandmemory，heeasilyseemedpersonatingonlyanotherphaseofhisnaturalcharacter，andwasaccused，accordingly，ofinsultingarroganceandbad-heartedness。Inthisreversedcharacter，werepeat，itwasneverourchancetoseehim。Weknowitfromhearsay，andwementionitinconnectionwiththissadinfirmityofphysicalconstitution；whichputsituponverynearlythegroundofatemporaryandalmostirresponsibleinsanity。

Thearrogance，vanity，anddepravityofheart，ofwhichMr。Poewasgenerallyaccused，seemtousreferablealtogethertothisreversedphaseofhischaracter。Underthatdegreeofintoxicationwhichonlyacteduponhimbydemonizinghissenseoftruthandright，hedoubtlesssaidanddidmuchthatwaswhollyirreconcilablewithhisbetternature；but，whenhimself，andasweknewhimonly，hismodestyandunaffectedhumility，astohisowndeservings，wereaconstantcharmtohischaracter。Hisletters，ofwhichtheconstantapplicationforautographshastakenfromus，wearesorrytoconfess，thegreaterportion，exhibitedthisqualityverystrongly。

Inoneofthecarelesslywrittennotesofwhichwechancestilltoretainpossession，forinstance，hespeaksof“TheRaven“thatextraordinarypoemwhichelectrifiedtheworldofimaginativereaders，andhasbecomethetypeofaschoolofpoetryofitsown-and，inevidentearnest，attributesitssuccesstothefewwordsofcommendationwithwhichwehadprefaceditinthispaper-Itwillthrowlightonhissanecharactertogivealiteralcopyofthenote：

“FORDHAM，April20，1849

“MyDEARWILLISThepoemwhichIinclose，andwhichIamsovainastohopeyouwilllike，insomerespects，hasbeenjustpublishedinapaperforwhichsheernecessitycompelsmetowrite，nowandthen。Itpayswellastimesgo-butunquestionablyitoughttopaytenprices；

forwhateverIsenditIfeelIamconsigningtothetomboftheCapulets。Theversesaccompanyingthis，mayIbegyoutotakeoutofthetomb，andbringthemtolightinthe’Homejournal？’Ifyoucanobligemesofarastocopythem，Idonotthinkitwillbenecessarytosay’Fromthe，thatwouldbetoobad；and，perhaps，’Fromalatepaper，’woulddo。

“Ihavenotforgottenhowa’goodwordinseason’fromyoumade’TheRaven，’andmade’Ulalume’(whichby-the-way，peoplehavedonemethehonorofattributingtoyou)，therefore，Iwouldaskyou(ifIdared)

tosaysomethingoftheselinesiftheypleaseyou。

“Trulyyoursever，“EDGARA。POE。”

Indoubleproofofhisearnestdispositiontodothebestforhimself，andofthetrustfulandgratefulnaturewhichhasbeendeniedhim，wegiveanotheroftheonlythreeofhisnoteswhichwechancetoretain：

“FORDHAM，January22，1848。