The poetical works of Edgar Allan Poe, with original memoir. Illustrated by F. R. Pickersgill, R.A., John Tenniel, Birket Foster, Felix Darlay [and others]

MEMOIR.
under the title of " Eureka, a Prose Poem." His wife had died
the year previously, and during her illness he was reduced to
such extremities that public appeals, which were generously responded to, were made in his behalf by the papers of New York.
Not long after the death of his wife he formed an intimacy
with an accomplished literary lady of Rhode Island, a widow,
and was engaged to be married to her. It was to her that he
addressed the poem "Annabel Lee;" the day was appointed
for their marriage; but he had, in the meantime, formed other
plans; and, to disentangle himself from this engagement, he visited
the house of his affianced bride, where he conducted himself with
such indecent violence that the aid of the police had to be called
in to expel him. This, of course, put an end to the engagement.
In a short time after he went to Richmond, and there gained
the confidence and affections of a lady of good family and considerable fortune. The day was appointed for their marriage,
and he left Virginia to return to New York to fulfil some literary
arrangements previous to the consummation of this new engagement. He had written to his friends that he had, at last, a prospect
of happiness. The Lost Lenore was found. He arrived in Baltimore on his way to the north, and gave his baggage into the
charge of a porter, intending to leave in an hour for Philadelphia.
Stepping into an hotel to obtain some refreshments, he met some
of his former companions, who invited him to drink with them. In
a few moments all was over with him. He spent the night in
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