SOURCE URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moore-New_York_American-1March1844.png  (transcription also at https://melvilliana.blogspot.com/2018/08/pre-1844-attributions-of-visit-from-st.html)
DOCUMENT: Clement C. Moore, letter dated New York, 27 Feb. 1844, to Charles King, editor of the New York American, printed with King's headnote "LINES TO ST. NICHOLAS" on 1 March 1844, rebutting the National Intelligencer's 25 Dec. 1843 attribution to "Joseph Wood, artist".
PROVENANCE OF THIS TEXT: Transcribed by this subagent from the Commons scan of the newspaper column (saved alongside as 1844-03-01_new-york-american_moore-letter_scan.png).
VERIFICATION STATUS: [V] verified directly against a scan or OCR of the original document / period printing
RETRIEVED: 2026-09-14
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[New York American (New York), Friday, 1 March 1844. Editorial headnote by Charles King, then Moore's letter.]

LINES TO ST. NICHOLAS.—The following note from our friend C. C. Moore, the author of those lines which every child among us delights to hear, about Christmas, and which parents with not less delight recite, brings to our notice, one of the boldest acts of plagiarism of which we have any recollection. We ask the National Intelligencer to have the goodness to insert Mr. Moore's note—and if possible to elucidate the mistake, if such it be, or fraud attempted in respect of such well known lines.

New York, Feb. 27, 1844.
Dear Sir—My attention was, a few days ago, directed to the following communication, which appears in the National Intelligencer of the 25th of December last.

"Washington, Dec. 22d, 1843.
"Gentlemen—
"The enclosed lines were written by Joseph Wood, artist, for the National Intelligencer, and published in that paper in 1827 or 1828, as you may perceive from your files. By republishing them, as the composition of Mr. Wood you will gratify one who has now few sources of pleasure left. Perhaps you may comply with this request, if it be only for 'auld lang syne.'"

The above is printed immediately over some lines, describing a visit from St. Nicholas, which I wrote many years ago, I think somewhere between 1823 [last digit smudged in the scan; read as 1823 by Norsworthy] and 1824, not for publication, but to amuse my children. They, however, found their way, to my great surprise, in the Troy Sentinel: nor did I know, until lately, how they got there. When "The New York Book" was about to be published, I was applied to for some contribution to the work. Accordingly, I gave the publisher several pieces, among which was the "Visit from St. Nicholas." It was printed under my name, and has frequently since been republished, in your paper among others, with my name attached to it.
Under these circumstances, I feel it incumbent on me not to remain silent, while so bold a claim, as the above quoted, is laid to my literary property, however small the intrinsic value of that property may be.
The New York Book was published in 1827. [sic; 1837]
Yours, truly and respectfully,
CLEMENT C. MOORE.
Chas. King, Esq.