charge of it in November, 1840, was more than 50,000 when he retired in November, 1842."

In the number for April, 1841, appeared his extraordinary analytical story, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue." This tale introduced him for the first time to French readers, with many of whom he is now extremely popular. His tales were first translated by Madame Isabelle Mennier, and published in several French magazines; whilst of late years Charles Baudelaire, having, by a long period of studious application, thoroughly imbued his mind with the spirit of Edgar Poe's writing, translated and published them in five volumes. Poe is one of the very few American writers who is popular in France; and this is in a great measure due to Baudelaire's careful and admirable translation.

Poe followed "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" by other tales of a similar character: "The Mystery of Marie Roget," "The Purloined Letter," and "The Premature Burial;" in all these stories, the mystery that enshrouded the commission of a crime was elucidated by a most wonderful train of analytical reasoning. They are, in fact, the most ingenious tales of ratiocination ever published in the English language. But the most extraordinary of Poe's efforts of this character was that in which he pointed out what must be the plot of Dickens' celebrated novel Barnaby Rudge, when only the commencement of the story had been published. The Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post of May 1st, 1841, contains a "prospective notice" of the novel, in which Poe deduced the entire plot and predicted the actual dénouement. Dickens, in his first visit to America, took occasion to admiringly confirm the entire accuracy of Poe's analysis.

His life, at this period, would have been bright and happy, save for the gloom cast by that dark shadow which was

shortly to descend upon him "to be lifted nevermore." His child-wife began to fail, and the wasting ravages of consumption began to tell upon her slight and fairy-like form.

Mr. Graham, the proprietor of Graham's Magazine, which Poe was now editing, proved to be a genial companion, and a true friend; and many were the delicacies and creature comforts his kindness sent to the suffering lady. Moreover, Poe's writings were in such demand that, although poorly paid for each individual article or poem, his industry secured him a good living, and at this time he was well able to supply his wife's invalid needs. His tender devotion to her, now that her delicate health began so surely to fail, has been admitted by even his most malignant enemies; and Mr. T. C. Clarke, who associated much with Poe at this period, gives strong evidence of this excellent trait in his character.

He writes: "Their little garden in summer, and the house in winter, were overflowing with luxuriant grape and other vines, and liberally ornamented with choice flowers of the poet's selection. Poe was a pattern of social and domestic worth. It was our happiness to participate with them in the occasional enjoyment of the beauty of the flowers, and to watch the enthusiasm with which the fondly attached pair exhibited their floral taste. Here, too, we were wont to participate in the hospitality which always rendered Poe's home the home of his friends. We call to mind some incidents in the pleasantly remembered intercourse that existed between the ladies of our families, especially in the hours of sickness, which rendered so much of Virginia's life a source of painful anxiety to all who had the pleasure of knowing her, and of witnessing the gradual wasting away of her fragile frame.

"But she was an exquisite picture of patient loveliness, always wearing upon her beautiful countenance the smile of resignation, and the warm, even cheerful, look with which she ever greeted her friends.

"How devotedly her husband loved the gentle being,

whose life was bound up in his own, is touchingly illustrated in the Griswold description of his visit which I have italicized. He sent for me to visit him during a period of illness caused by protracted and anxious watching at the side of his sick wife.

"This, coming from the malignant Griswold, is an eloquent tribute to the kindly and tender spirit of Poe, whose devotion no adversity, not even the fiend that haunted him in the fatal cup, could warp or lessen, and this attachment, intense as it was on the part of the poet, was equally strong and enduring in the soul of his 'Annabel Lee,' his gentle mate, whose affection that poem so touchingly and sadly commemorates.

"On leaving Philadelphia for New York, when breaking up their simple, fairy-like home, we were favoured with some of their pet flowers, which, preserved and framed, remain in our household to this day, as interesting relics of those happy days with Edgar and Virginia."

Another intimate friend has also written a description of Poe's life at this time. In his generous defence of Poe after his death, Mr. Graham says:

"I shall never forget how solicitous of the happiness of his wife and mother-in-law he was, whilst editor of Graham's Magazine. His whole efforts seemed to be to procure the comfort and welfare of his home. . . . His love for his wife was a sort of rapturous worship of the spirit of beauty which he felt was fading before his eyes. I have seen him hovering around her when she was ill with all the fond fear and tender anxiety of a mother for her first-born; her slightest cough causing in him a shudder, a heart-chill that was visible. I rode out one summer evening with them, and remembrance of his watchful eyes, eagerly bent upon the slightest change of hue in that loved face, haunts me yet as the memory of a sad strain. It was this hourly anticipation of her loss that made him a sad and thoughtful man, and lent a mournful melody to his undying song." Similar

language is used by all who were acquainted with the poet and his family at this time.

RESIGNS THE EDITORSHIP OF "GRAHAM'S."

In November, 1842, Poe's restless spirit grew tired of the "endless toil" of an editor's life, and he sought to obtain more remunerative employment. Among other schemes, he wished to establish a magazine of his own. This was his dream throughout the whole of his literary life--to have a periodical of his own, and be his own master. Doubtless it was unwise of Poe to leave a permanent engagement when his wife's health was in such a precarious state, but it is not generally considered reprehensible for a man to wish to have a business of his own.

Of course, Griswold, with his usual mendacious malignity, asserts that Poe was dismissed by Graham, and adds that "It is known that the personal ill-will on both sides was such, that for some four or five years not a line by Poe was purchased for "Graham's Magazine."

Gill flatly contradicts this on Mr. Graham's authority. In his biography he writes:

“Mr. Graham, from whom the magazine was named, is now living, and when we last saw him, December, 1873, he was in excellent health. We were then, of course, intent upon securing data in regard to the life of Poe; and in a conversation with Mr. Graham, some peculiarly significant facts touching Griswold's veracity in particular were elicited.

"Mr. Graham states that Poe never quarrelled with him ; never was discharged from 'Graham's Magazine;' and that during the ‘four or five years' italicized by Dr. Griswold as indicating the personal ill-will between Mr. Poe and Mr. Graham, over fifty articles by Poe were accepted by Mr. Graham.

"The facts of Mr. Poe's secession from 'Graham's' were as follows:

"Mr. Poe was, from illness or other causes, absent for a short time from his post on the magazine. Mr. Graham had, meanwhile, made a temporary arrangement with Dr. Griswold to act as Poe's substitute until his return. Poe came back unexpectedly, and, seeing Griswold in his chair, turned on his heel without a word and left the office, nor could he be persuaded to enter it again, although, as stated, he sent frequent contributions thereafter to the pages of the magazine.

"The following pertinent anecdote, related to us by Mr. Graham, well illustrates the character of Poe's biographer, Dr. Griswold's associate in his editorial duties on 'Graham's' was Mr. Charles J. Peterson, a gentleman long and favourably known in connection with prominent American magazines. Jealous of his abilities, and unable to visit his vindictiveness upon him in propriâ personâ, Dr. Griswold conceived the noble design of stabbing him in the back, writing under a nom de plume in another journal, the 'New York Review.' In the columns of the 'Review' there appeared a most scurrilous attack upon Mr. Peterson, at the very time that he was in the daily interchange of friendly courtesies with his treacherous associate. Unluckily for Dr. Griswold, Mr. Graham saw this article, and immediately inferring from its tone that Griswold was the undoubted author, went to him with the article in his hand, saying, 'Mr. Griswold, I am very sorry to say I have detected you in what I call a piece of rascality.' Griswold turned all colours upon seeing the article, but stoutly denied the imputation, saying, ' I'll go before an alderman and swear that I never wrote it.' It was fortunate that he was not compelled to add perjury to his meanness, for Mr. Graham said no more about the matter at that time, waiting his opportunity for authoritative confirmation of the truth of his surmises. He soon found his conjectures confirmed to the letter. Being well acquainted with the editor of the 'Review,' he took occasion to call upon him shortly afterwards when in New