WILLIAM WIRT TO EDGAR ALLAN POE — MAY 11, 1829
Dear Sir: —
It occurred to me, after you left me this morning, that I was probably losing you a day on your journey to Philadelphia, by proposing to detain your poem even until tomorrow, as I understand the day-boat 1 has commenced her spring trips between the cities. I thought it due to your convenience, therefore, to read the poem at once, and send it tonight.
I am sensible of the compliment you pay me in submitting it to my judgment and only regret that you have not a better counsellor. But the truth is that having never written poetry myself, nor read much poetry for many years, I consider myself as by no means a competent judge (portion of letter cut out) poems. This is no doubt an old-fashioned idea resulting from the causes I have mentioned, my ignorance of modern poetry and modern taste. You perceive therefore that I am not qualified to judge of the merits of your poem. It will, I know, please modern readers — the notes contain a good deal of curious and useful information — but to deal candidly with you (as I am bound to do) I should doubt whether the poem will take with old-fashioned readers like myself. But this will be of little consequence — provided it be popular with modern readers — and this, as I have already said, I am unqualified to judge. I would advise you, therefore, as a friend to get an introduction to Mr. Walsh or Mr. Hopkinson or some other critic in Philadelphia, versed in modern (the rest of the letter, and the signature, have been clipped from the original letter)