Which literary work, published in 1843 by Edgar Allan Poe, was accused by an editor of being stolen from a story of a young schoolgirl?

One more "source" is still somewhat controversial. Soon after Poe's story appeared, Colonel Du Solle, in the Philadelphia Spirit of the Times, July 1, 1843, pointed out similarities in Imogine, a little book by George Ann Humphreys Sherburne (a schoolgirl [page 802:] of "thirteen summers," as stated in the Preface). A reply in the Dollar Newspaper of the nineteenth, ostensibly by the editor, Joseph Sailer, is given in full, since Poe probably helped in composing it.

THE GOLD-BUG.

About a fortnight ago, there appeared an article in the "Philadelphia Spirit of the Times," pointing out an imagined similarity between Mr. Poe's Prize Tale, "The Gold-Bug," and a story entitled, "Imogene, or The Pirate's Treasure," the composition of Miss Sherburne, a young lady of this city. "The Gold-Bug" has been so universally read that we need not recur to its plot. Miss Sherburne's tale runs thus: - A young girl has a lover, but refuses to marry him on the ground that her wealth is not equal to his. Near her residence stands an oak tree upon which the date 1712 is inscribed, with a hand pointing to the roots. Not far from the tree is a stone-shed. A storm occurs; the tree is blown down; it falls upon the shed, and knocks therefrom a MS. endorsed "The Pirate's Journal," of which nothing farther is said. From the hole caused by the uprooting of the tree, two pots containing money are abstracted - and by means of this money the girl marries her lover. This is all. There is not a word about Kidd - not a word about secret writing - not a syllable about a Gold-Bug not a syllable about anything that is found in Mr. Poe's story; the only point of coincidence being the finding of money - a subject which has been handled not only by Miss Sherburne, but by some fifty, if not by some five hundred talewriters; Mr. P. himself, in "The Gold-Bug," alluding to the multiplicity or stories current upon this topic. The man who should write a tale upon the subject of finding money, and propose, at the same time, to be original in his theme, must be a fool. But every one knows that the truest and surest test of originality is the manner of handling a hackneyed subject. The more hackneyed the theme, indeed, the better chance for the display of originality in its conduct.

The article published by "The Times," was, no doubt, hurriedly written, before a full perusal of both tales - or rather, upon a hasty glance at each. There was, evidently, no design to do injustice - and this fact is made apparent by the annexed disclaimer; which appeared in "The Times" of the 15th, and in which the amende honorable is magnanimously made.

"THE GOLD-BUG. - We have read this prize tale by Mr. Poe carefully, and also the 'Pirate's Treasure' by Miss Sherburne, and while we confess that the Gold-Bug pleases us much, is exceedingly well written and ingenious, we are constrained to add that it bears no further resemblance to Miss Sherburne's tale, than it must necessarily bear from the fact of touching upon the same general grounds. Mr. Poe well deserved the prize of $100."

We are not aware that any paper has alluded to the charge of plagiarism, (unless to deny it,) with the exception of the "New York Herald," and we have no doubt that this journal will now, in justice, copy the correction, as above.

We have only to add that Miss Sherburne's story is now in our possession, and will be cheerfully loaned to any one who may feel an interest in the subject. [page 803:]

This piece disposes of any idea of real plagiarism.§ Yet there are peculiarities that may have influenced Poe. Imogine Belmont's home was called "Beacon Oak or The Pirate's Look Out," a dead branch is instrumental in locating the treasure, a skeleton is found with it, and "The Pirate's Journal" is wrapped in leather.