stumped

I am studying the Aspern Papers and i can't find the name of the american journalist looking to retrieve the papers

Hello, Matman, welcome to the forum.
If you search for the main character's name in The Aspern Papers, you will find nothing; the main character has no name other than 'narrator.' I had to search for it a bit, also, through my copy of some of Henry James' works, until I recalled the fact. :D
Good luck!