CHAPTER 25

NOTES TO THE THIRD VOLUME

LIGEIA

MORELLA

A TALE OF THE RAGGED MOUNTAINS

THE SPECTACLES

KING PEST

THREE SUNDAYS IN A WEEK

NARRATIVE OF A. GORDON PYM

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

Upon my return to the United States a few months ago, after the

extraordinary series of adventure in the South Seas and

elsewhere, of which an account is given in the following pages,

accident threw me into the society of several gentlemen in

Richmond, Va., who felt deep interest in all matters relating to

the regions I had visited, and who were constantly urging it upon

me, as a duty, to give my narrative to the public. I had several

reasons, however, for declining to do so, some of which were of a

nature altogether private, and concern no person but myself;

others not so much so. One consideration which deterred me was

that, having kept no journal during a greater portion of the time

in which I was absent, I feared I should not be able to write,

from mere memory, a statement so minute and connected as to have

the _appearance_of that truth it would really possess, barring

only the natural and unavoidable exaggeration to which all of us

are prone when detailing events which have had powerful influence

in exciting the imaginative faculties. Another reason was, that

the incidents to be narrated were of a nature so positively

marvellous that, unsupported as my assertions must necessarily be

(except by the evidence of a single individual, and he a

half-breed Indian), I could only hope for belief among my family,

and those of my friends who have had reason, through life, to put

faith in my veracity—the probability being that the public at

large would regard what I should put forth as merely an impudent

and ingenious fiction. A distrust in my own abilities as a writer

was, nevertheless, one of the principal causes which prevented me

from complying with the suggestions of my advisers.

Among those gentlemen in Virginia who expressed the greatest

interest in my statement, more particularly in regard to that

portion of it which related to the Antarctic Ocean, was Mr. Poe,

lately editor of the “Southern Literary Messenger,” a monthly

magazine, published by Mr. Thomas W. White, in the city of

Richmond. He strongly advised me, among others, to prepare at

once a full account of what I had seen and undergone, and trust

to the shrewdness and common-sense of the public—insisting, with

great plausibility, that however roughly, as regards mere

authorship, my book should be got up, its very uncouthness, if

there were any, would give it all the better chance of being

received as truth.

Notwithstanding this representation, I did not make up my mind to

do as he suggested. He afterward proposed (finding that I would

not stir in the matter) that I should allow him to draw up, in

his own words, a narrative of the earlier portion of my

adventures, from facts afforded by myself, publishing it in the

“Southern Messenger” _under the garb of fiction. _To this,

perceiving no objection, I consented, stipulating only that my

real name should be retained. Two numbers of the pretended

fiction appeared, consequently, in the “Messenger” for January

and February (1837), and, in order that it might certainly be

regarded as fiction, the name of Mr. Poe was affixed to the

articles in the table of contents of the magazine.

The manner in which this ruse was received has induced me at

length to undertake a regular compilation and publication of the

adventures in question; for I found that, in spite of the air of

fable which had been so ingeniously thrown around that portion of

my statement which appeared in the “Messenger” (without altering

or distorting a single fact), the public were still not at all

disposed to receive it as fable, and several letters were sent to

Mr. P.’s address, distinctly expressing a conviction to the

contrary. I thence concluded that the facts of my narrative would

prove of such a nature as to carry with them sufficient evidence

of their own authenticity, and that I had consequently little to

fear on the score of popular incredulity.

This _exposé_being made, it will be seen at once how much of what

follows I claim to be my own writing; and it will also be

understood that no fact is misrepresented in the first few pages

which were written by Mr. Poe. Even to those readers who have not

seen the “Messenger,” it will be unnecessary to point out where

his portion ends and my own commences; the difference in point of

style will be readily perceived.

A. G. PYM.