The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-09 00:00:00

had before gone through that ceremony, but he had been
so abashed by her address, and acquitted himselfso athen
baY, that he was afraid to claim acquaintance.
with me, said his friend, and I will stand by ye u; .Comeso he
went forward and singularly enough was met wiuth. an ad-
dress of the self-same fashion— " You've made weep again."
But now he was prepared, and immediately replied with
a complimentary allusion to the melting effect of her own
bathos, as realised' by himself at the period we have been
tracing.
He now returned to New York, and in connection
With James S. Paulding and other friends, he
started tbe periodical called " Salmagundi," which
was continued for a year, and met with great sue- .
cess, though as the contributors neglected to secure
the copyright they gained more fen-p., than profit.
Shortly after this he suffered a severe loss in the
death of a young lady to whom he was engaged,
and he ever after remained a bachelor. "It is,"
says the-biographer, " in the light of this event of
Mr. Irving's history that we must interpret por-
tions of his article on "Rural Funerals" in the
Sketch Book. and also that solemn passage in " St.
Mark's Eve" in. Bracebridge Hall, beginning " I
have loved as I never again shall love in this world
—I have been loved as I never again shall be loved;"
but to this event in his life he never, in conversa-
tion, alluded.• Now, at the age of 26, he published
his "History of New York," which purported to
be written by a Mr. Diedrich Knickerbocker, and at
first disgusted the descendants of the Dutch settlers,
though it considerably enhanced his reputation. Still
fearful of not being able to gain a living by litera-
ture, he entered into partnership with his brothers
as merchant, the firm being represented both in
New York and • England; and on the occasion of
the war bet Ween the two countries in 1812 he be-
carne aide-de-camp to Governor Tompkins, with the
title •of Colonel, though his military achievements
:were confined • to calling out`some battalions of mi-
litia. Peace being proclaimed,he started for Liver-
pool, where, owing. to the illness of his brother, he
'Was forced to 'take an active part • in the manage-
Ment of the lanSiness, but tnev became embarrassed
and shortly after became bankrupt. Meanwhile he
paid a visit to Edinburgh, with which city he was
delighted, declaring that, except Naples, it was the
most picturesque place he had seen ; and now, hay-
ing a letter of introdriction to Scott from Campbell,
he took= the opportunity of going to Abbotsford and
delivering it. He thus recounts his reception :
On Friday,' in spite of sullen gloomy weather, I mounted
the top of the mail coach and rattled off to Selkirk. It
rained ,heavily in the course of the afternoon, and drove me
inside. On Saturday morning early I took chaise for Mel-
rose; and on the way stopped at the gate of Abbotsford, and
sent in my letter of introduction, with a request to know
whether it would be agreeable for Mr. Scott to receive a
yisit from me in the course of the day. The glorious old
minstrel himself came limping to the gate, took me by the
hand in a way that made me feel as if we were old friends;
in a moment I was seated at his hospitable board among
his chaiming 'little family, and here have I been ever since.
I had intended certainly being back to Edinburgh to-day,
(Monday), but Mr. Scott wishes me to stay until Wednes-
day, that we may make excursions to Dryburgh Abbey,
Yarrow. &c. as the weather has held up and the sun begins to
thine. I cannot tell you how truly I have enjoyed the
hours I have passed here. They fly by too quick, yet each
is loaded with stoty,' incident, or song ; ant when I consi-
der the world of ideas, images, • and impressions that have
been crowded upon my. mind since I have been here, it
feems incredible that I should only have been two days at
Abbotsfold. 1 have rambled the hills with Scott ; visited
the haunts of Thomas the Rhymer, and other spots ren-
dered classic by border tale and witching song, and have
been in a kind of dream or delirium.
As to Scott, I cannot express my delight at his character
and manners. He is a sterling golden-hearted old worthy,
full of the j )Yousness of youth, with an imagination con-
tinually furnishing forth picture, and a charming charming
simplicity of manner that puts you at ease with him in
a moment. It has been a constant source of pleasure to
me to remark his degortment towards his family, his neigh-
bours, his domestics, his very dogs and cats; everything
that comes within his influence seems to catch a beam of
that sunshine that plays round his -hearl; but I shall say
snore of him hereafter, for he is a theme on which I shall
love to dwell: •• • - ' "

All, hOpes of success in business being-now at an
end, he welttO London to try his. fortune with
the pen, an4.4lthough he..was Offered a. Government
appointment in his own country, he declined it
through antipathy to the location. It was .at this
time, in his 35th year, that he began the Sketch
Book, which was first published in America in num-
bers. Its 'success was immediate and decisive, and
the author was overwhelmed with praise ; never-
) theless his.first efforts to republish it in this coun-
try:met With no encouragement. Murray declined
it. He then applied .to who undertook it,
•
but shortly after failed,- and eventually, at Scott's
recommendation, Murray purchased the copyright
for £2OO. -Still, if he gat but small profit here, he
reaped a harvest of fame, and became, acquainted
with all the leading literary Men. He gives the
following account of the society frequenting Mur-
ray's drawing-room
As I am *launcher' upon the literary world here, I find
my opportunities -of observation extending. Murray's
drawing-room is a great.resort of first-rate literary charac-
ters ; whenever I have a leisure hour I go there, and sel-
dom tail to meet with some. interesting personages. The
hours of accesa.are from two to Elie. It is understood to
be a matter. Of privilege, and that you must have a general
invitation from Murray. Here' I frequently meet with such
personages as Gifford; Campbell, Fosbolo, 'Hallam (author
of a work on: the Middle Ages), Southey,- 'Milman, Scott,
Belzoni, &c. The-visitors are men of diff=rent politics,
though most frequently ministerialisti. Gifford, of whom,
as an old adversary, you may be'eurious to know something,
is w Small, shrivelled,•def6rmed man of about 60, with some-
thing of a humped back, eyes that diVerge, and a large
mouth. He is generally reclining cn oneof thesofas,' and
supporting himself by-the cushions, being- very much debi-
litated. He is mild and courteous in his-manners, without
any ef the petulance that' you would' be apt to expect, and
is quite 9impte, unaffected, and unassuming. Murray tells
ins that-Gifford does net write any full articles for the 'Re-
view, but revises, modifies ; prunes, and prepares whatever
is offered ; and is very apt to extract the sting from articles
that' are rather virulent; Seat, or Sir Walter Scott, as he
is now Called; passed• some few weeks' in town lately, on
coming up for, his baronetcy. I saw him repeatedly, having
formed an acquaintance with him two three years since at
his country retreat on the Tweed. He is a man that, if yon
knew, you would love ' • a right honest-hearted, generous-
spirite bring ; -without vanity, affectation, or assumption of
any kind. He enters into every passing scene or passing
pleasure with the interest and simple enjoyment of a child ;
nothing seems too high or remote for the grasp of his mind,
and nothing too trivial or low for the kindness.and pleasan-
try of his spirit. When I was in want of literary counsel
and assi4ance, Scott was theonly literary man to whom I
felt that I coUld, talk- about myself and my petty concerns
with the confidence and freedom that I would to an old
friendner was I deceived—frOm the first moment that I
mentioned my -work to him in a letter, he took a decided and
effective interest in it, and been to me an invaluable friend.
It is Only astonishing how he finds time, and with such ample
exercise of the pen, to attend so much to.the interest and
concerns of others ; but no one ever- applied to Scott for
any aid, counsel, or service that would cost time and trou-
ble, that was ha most cheerfully and thoroughly assisted.
Life passes away wifh him in a round. of good offices and
socjal enjoyments. t iterate seems his sport rather than
his labour orhis ambition, and I never met with an author
so completely void of all the petulance; 'egotism, and pe-
culiarities of •the craft; but am running' into 'pro-
lixity about' Scott; who I confess has completely won my
heart, even more as a 1111111 thanas an author; so, praying
God' to bless him, we shall change the subject.
'-Thus cloSes the volum2. The author is in his
37th year, heti found his vocation, is known to fame,
and is, moreover; from the amiability; Of his charac-
ter, universally esteemed. So far the work is ex-
tremely interesting. It contains many curious pic-
tures of society at that period, interspersed with
amusing anecdotes, and:there can be little doubt
that it will be &lied with unmingled pleasure on
both sides the Atlantic.

.Mrs. Blake. By Mrs. Newton Crossland. 3 vole.
Hurst. and Bleckett.
The aim of the author in this novel- is to show
how destiny is moulded by disposition. To prove
in fact that— - -
" The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Makalnatruments to scourge us."
For this purpose ' she sttetches the story over a
period of twenty years and fills the stage with
actors, Mrs. Blake being nominally. the chief.. We
say nominally, because there are several others who
occupy quite as much of the reader's attention and
claim
a large share of his sympathy. Such, for in-
stance,. are Millie Farrell and Agnes Bendoran, the
former devoting herself to
.literature, the latter to
painting;i, as Mrs. Blake has a musical eift an
the author by thus introducing ~„ ,
variety of talent
and occupation affords herself scope for the
expression of
.ion of opinions upon art. as' well as
upon morality
and religion. The story is briefly
this. Clara Bendoran, clever and beautiful, being
left with her young .daughter
in poverty, by the
and meets an offer to
death of her husband, determines to repair her for-
tunes by a wealthy. .
her taste from, Compuiteonte
b her extravagance,
match,
a rich merchant,
whom she ultimately ruins
and then, by her deceit, gives
death. Thus re-
-which results in his paralysis and .
by_
feelings a shock
e ents, and
alined once more to sfreiklitened circumstances" she
reflects on the error of her ways,
undergoes a material change for the r
better.p
Mean-
time her daughter Agnes, whom,
y by
prosperity, the had negleited; has .been adopted
in the days
0
s of ter
a poetess, named Lady Isabella Clinton, who had
been jilted by Captain Bendoran, Mrs. Blake's first
husband, but who' still cherishes his memory, and
lov4l his daughter for his sake. Agnes, having a
talent fOr painfing, determines to follow it as a pro-
feseion 'on the supposed loss of a fortune with which
Lady Isabella had endowed her, but the property
is ultimately restored to her, and she marries hap-
15'. Millie Farrell again, a poor relation of Mr.
Blake's, takes to: the pen for a livelihood
and with success;
a Young -
and having charitably succoured
'becomgirl,who, having been seduced, dies, she
Ad_,_ :. acquainted with her father, a distinguished
the"asLerduielexnd is rewarded with his band. Whilst
riage in th';,,,eonscience-stricken, is killed by a car-
carried eurri'itsrV street whence his victim hadibeen
-written, it conj.? burial. The tale is agreeably
and cannot fail considerable variety of incident,
_.....
,2_please.

A MERICAN-1111-----_______
hip China,
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Cunard steams captain Anderson, sailed
Besides Ir°lll Liverpoo
out 70
goods.
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Saturday'. us mails she took out ab
ers and had alBoed
York on
1 for New
•of manufactar