Miss Octavia's Autograph Album
and Edgar Allan Poe

LEWIS LEARY

CTAVIA WALTON, daughter of the first civilian
governor of the Territory of Florida, cherished an
autograph album which has now found its way to the
collections of the Columbia University Library. Its date is from
182 7 to 183 2, and it is filled with good things, most of them appar¬
ently written by friends and admirers of hers at Pensacola, then
an important naval base and the site of the governor's mansion.
Octavia at seventeen was in her album celebrated as "the Favorite
of the Army, the Favorite of the Navy, the Favorite of every
Worthy Citizen—enjoying the Admiration and the Love of all."
Her album is sprinkled with complimentary verses copied or
adapted from Byron, Montgomery, the inevitable Mrs. Hemans,
and many another popular favorite. It contains lines signed "Per-
cival," and others signed "Pinkney of Baltimore," which speak
either of the presence or the popularity of James Gates Percival
and Edward Coote Pinkney among her admiring associates. Other
lines are inscribed, if not composed, by a person named Clay, and
the tradition which has followed the album to Columbia^ insists
that it was Henry Clay who wrote them. One tantalizing set of
verses addressed to Octavia, and copied into the album in her
hand, is attributed to E.B.B., who owners of the album have
hoped, even presumed, was Elizabeth B. Barrett. Another—eight

1 ()cta\ia Walton soon thereafter married Dr. Henry S. LeX'ert, of Mobile,
Alabama; years later, in 1916, the album was obtained by Augu.stus William DcU-
quest from the administrator of the estate of Colonel C. B. Dyer, who had pur¬
chased Chateau LeVcrt, near Augusta, Georgia, after Madame LeV^ert's death.
Through the generosity of Mr. Dellquest's son, Augustus Wilfrid Dcllquesf, the
Columbia Uni\ ersity Library was able to effect its purchase.