Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-06-12

sic person, with the exception of myself who does not be
icve, with an undouhtng faith, that Washington Irving
truly the author OF this " History of New York; as of
the Sketch Book OF of the Lille of Columbus That
your own mind, sir shares deeply this strange delusion
has already appeared by your opening address, in which
pu will pardon tor sayng) you have not only entirely
mistaken the true character OF the work but public
~ ascbed its merits such you conceive them the
guest, whom we arc met to honor We're this question
OF law, should, are all accustomed, defer TO YOUR
authority and be silent but question of fact sir and
where conscience is concerned your authority must
not subdue have duty 10 perform as we LAWYERS
arc somewhat apt 10 say when addressing Court
~ anu must proceed proceed, though provoke the
dicuic or incur the dciision of all who hear me
Yes, Genemeu oi the Jury, for YOU now direc my
self know that all of YOU as without precedent
YOU arc and TWAS fitting you should behat ALL every
man ct YOU are against bu, strong in the armournot
as SOME o you seem disposed 10 hint, chat rings when
struck with brazcn sounds but in the armour of truth and
evidence, fear not to approach YOU know yonr de-
ermno obstinate, long cherished parialiy for your
mans We are all of you lovers of Washington Irving be il
SO; Out are We not also lovers of truth; Ii We are We will
not because ye cannot resist the force of the evidence
the power OF the argument, mean TO productive listen
10 me now with mPaencc perhaps indignation but con.
unuo TO Sen and even irom you, Obstinate
predetermined and preudiccdas ye are shall yet cxtor
unanimous verdict. All, | ask il your ai,cnionhc,r
open yonr ears ard promise 10 reach your conscien
ccS, Il, pardon the doubt, il ConSccnccS We have.
ircNumc my address 10 you, sir as the most convenient
mean TO establish ia this: that the work entitled the Hisio
tory OF New York ia two volumes published at the time
have mentioned with the on the title page of Died
rick hmckerbocker as the author, is genuine and au-
Mcntic work-gcnune, actually written by the man
whose name 1t bedrs-auhenc a faithful narrative of
The characters and events OF the times, TO which relates
hope this is plain and is understood
The first question admit TO be. Did DiedcrcL Kuick
crbockcrevcr exist at a And here have TO regrc that
the witnesses had summoned from Shasticokc and OF,
whom relied, by some strange accident arc none of
theh IN Court Following therefore, unirequent and
sometimes successful practiccno doubts its proprictv
o!Sr nySeli as witness. Certainly Dicderick
Hoo eAiS'eu' My recollection is clear and
disunct-i have seen the man. Gross eNanimoi- -
not exactly INK the time and place. cannot state how
knew and where convcrScd with him, but these are tr-
fling particulars; my orgetiulncss of them does not at all
shake The certainty OF my belief in the main fact--the
man have seen Nay, 20 farther, ask your own re-
collection, sir for ii is upon you that may next cali as
witness TASK your own ecollcction by the process shall
mention and you will not refuse join me in bearn ,s,i
mony You have read, doubt not frequently the preface TO
the first edition OF the "Iiisory of New York DO Won
remember sir the description contains of tc rnror
appearance and dress of Dedck few
scattered grey hairS-thc bending oun-thc humble and
thoughtful ook-thc rusty black coa-the furnished Green
vcshc olive cooured brcechcs and the blue stockinus
Have You not seen that man sii FormyselfI never read
this preface but Dedrick stands before Inc and so distinct
Is The image that know at once, with nui,ive GER
tnty, thati is an image recalled by my own memory
not impressed by the fancy of another. pass now from
the external proo-rigd you sir, you may think il
somewhat weak, be it so; strike it of tho case The
chasm far than supplied by the abundance and Ger
tan'y oil me internal evidence, TO which shall now APP
peal.
begin, by stating the question in its true form-why
should we doubt the authenticity OF Knickerbockers ellis
tory OF New York;" When a work is published Win
such title having on its title page christian and sur
name as oil the authorhcse too, the well known appel
tho
hon H. that the>work IS what il purpor be and the
stress Oh the argument plainly lies those who npcacb
lis authenticity: start then with this presumption in
my favor, ANA put again the question, why should we
doubt! Arc not all the grand, the important facts re-
lated IN this History confirmed 10 by every other his
orian-by every account aud tradition that has
us oi that remote age? Did llcndrick Hudson dis
cover the Hudson? Was the colony first settled Inv
cmgrans from Holland: Did they not bring with them
language called the Dutch very corrupt and dissonant
dialect of which is still spoken in various ports of bc
state id they not land on this Island, then called by
the native Indians Manhaitocs or Manhattan, and adopt
ing 'c usua pr0ceSs-a process in good reputc the
present day-did they not without dels., put out the
s3vages and put in themselves Were they not,
shortly after their establishment, and did thew moi
! for series of years, continue TO be vexed bar-
rassed and put beside their patience by the encroacb-
ments, nroads, procamations reasonng and questions Of
their Eastern ncighbors Were not the characters and
pursuits OF those ncghbors such Dederick Kuicker-
booker has described them, and such,
extent, those OF their descendants remain Were thcv
not laxative and long winded i9qVispjf" S1cno III
'A'N molasses, raise in quantity, inor,linatc onions
and pumpkins, and delight and excel in psalmody
In spite o ls perscvcrng, purtanca and most perlous
race ana not our ancestors Sir, say our for o anche
sono Pitore'-l also have spice of the Duchman and
in spite say of this restless and locomotive race did moi
our ancestors continue 10 maintain this goody city in their
own exclusive possession, thereby ACCOMPLISHING feat
at has utterly bancd the skill of their Degenerate sons
d thcy not so retain, not the city only but the tae and
were tey not Tor many years. TO all inents and purposes
a Dutch community Dutch colony and were NOT Won
ter Won w'ler "ihelmus kiclt and Perus Stuyvesan
III succession 'hcr rulers! Now sir in all this extended
narrative, full of and important has anv
mcongruiy any inconsistency, yet been detected? Has
any one discovered or pretended 10 discover any mistake
bIunder in Geography, Chronology or Geneaogy? You
SIR accustomed TO reason, the force of the argument
you See sir there is consistency here tat truth only can
give, truth only preserve, consistency never found i'm
work OF fiction, protesting adopt the events and follow
The tram OF history Look for example at the historical no.
vciS OF sir Waller Scott their author deeply learned in
The history and antiquities of bis country vet his books a.
bound with Nagran Inconsistencies and gross onacbro
msins and so abound, even by his own confession
Mr. DHcr next proceeded 10 sh. y that the very cir
cumstanta chaacte of the narrative was no objection II
MS aulhcnIcy-hc explained the means by which Knic
ebockcr was enabled 10 prepare tie materials of his hsto
~, c details Of which, though minute, contend
Ca were precisely SUCH as the digen lover of truth wa.
likely to collect aud such the most lively
could invent, but in this and in other parts of h
speech, we feel authorized condense our Rcport-He
resumed as foows:l
pass now, sir, rapidly can TO another head o,
/ branch OF my argument
1T is amazing TO me, Sir amazing that anv man co road
ry mind read il with ordinary attention and NOT bo
satisfied that IT was written by Dutchman and not ONLY
Sir, that II was, bit That could onv hare beeD
! by genuine ful-boodcd, unsopisticatcd Dutcbmon Is
thec not manifestation, Overlooking of Dutch opn
IONS ana feelings and prcudiccs in every page? Omen the
book where we may, do find the Dutch icaIousy
oil Yankee acutcncss the Dutch dread of Yankee oda
ciy and The Dutch horror Of Yankee innovations,
above all Sir, appeal, with exuaon appeal TO that
honest Dutch enthusiasm, repeat il, Dutch enthusiasm
' meets us al Tie very commencement of the narrative
That deepcns and brightens advance until il burst.
orlh, so glorously at the close 10 illuminate with ncve,
dying pondor the heroic Dutch obsnacy of Peter Suv-
yesaht Clhe company seemed struck with the Co,ce IA
MS reasoning, and manifested their rotI,or