I would like for someone to explain the meaning of the letters "MS." used by Poe in the title of the storey "MS. Found in a Bottle". Poe also uses these letters at the end of "The Perloined Letter" when he writes..."He is well aquainted with my MS.,and I just copied into the middle of the blank sheet the words..."

I seems clear that the letters mean "message" in the "Bottle" story but "message" seems to make no sense in the context of the "Letter" story.

Any ideas would be welcome.

-- Anonymous, November 03, 2000

Answers

Ray,

The letters MS was frequently used in those days and, particularly, by Poe in much of his correspondence to denote "manuscript".

Regards,

-- Anonymous, November 03, 2000