Yes he did.

He may very well have. But he also chose to publish it in "Marginalia" 1836 1st ed.

If Poe actually 'spoke' those words, I contend that he wrote and edited them prior to speaking them. Grammar's performance in any spoken language is seldom pure and never above suspicion of impurity.

I believe I understand your contention that a native speaker is able to 'clean up' his idiosyncratic spoken language when teaching, whereas a non-native speaker is unable to improve his English speaking ability in the classroom. Perhaps, on the margin, that is correct. But I know some non-native teachers whose spoken English is superior to that of many NES FTs in China. Granted, this is not the norm. I'm thinking of one Dean at a Chinese University who was born in China, graduate college in China, but then lived in Europe for 15 years and graduated Oxford with a PhD. Her spoken English is grammatically superior to my own.

Pronunciation is a separate issue. As a U.S. citizen, I am more tolerant of 'sloppy' pronunciation. I have no idea if a well-educated resident of Liverpool can 'normalize' his pronunciation for the classroom.

Personally, I never attempt to shed my New York vowel extensions or add final stops. Forgetaboudit.

Yes he did.

I taught alongside a Jewish teacher from New York and socialised a lot with him. The reason I reveal he was Jewish is that it may have some bearing as to why his accent was particularly difficult to understand, although nice to listen to. Like Turnoi's Phillisters he had blue eyes and blond hair when younger. I say had because he like many westerners who've spent a lengthy time in China had ruined his health beyond recovery. We were three friends and oddly enough the other one was also a Jew (i am not) He was rushed from China back to England where he died while about 6 months. Both of those middle aged men had found happiness in China- only for the place to kill them.

Wasn't a lot wrong with your post, Trumpsey.

Taffy, I had to come back and write this: You are truly living in the 19th century, photo and all.

Just look at the pic of Poe when you are sober: How can you post that as a model of whatever? Look well.

Hahaha- naughty girl, Fifi. Poe ranks right up there with all the literary giants. Although for many he would be no easier to understand than Shakespeare- you need a big vocabulary. He was partly educated in England. He's American.

Taffy, I had to come back and write this: You are truly living in the 19th century, photo and all.

Just look at the pic of Poe when you are sober: How can you post that as a model of whatever? Look well.

“A man's grammar, like Caesar's wife, should not only be pure, but above suspicion of impurity.” said Poe.

Now that might be true with a Jock from Glasgow who has a strong accent but not true of Ivan from Russia or Ubuntu from Africa. The thing is this Jock can leave most of his accent outside the classroom but Ivan can't bring any above suspicion grammar into the classroom. Am I right or am I right?

Native speakers can speak how they like so any comparisons between some of them and non-native speakers is erroneous.