Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-04
New YoRK, May 81.

New YoRK, May 81.
Dinner to Washington Lruing.-About three
hundred of our citizens, and the guests invited
on the occasion, assembled yesterday evening. IN
the spirit of patriotism and good feeling, to do no.
nor TO one to whom Il is due; and to enjoy the
pleasure Of seeing and hearing Washington IT.
wing, who has been absent seventeen years from
his native land; during all which time he has been
gaining literary triumphs, which are the property
Of the country Of his birth. 1t was IN truth
delightful festival Of good feeling, and Will al
ways be remembered with pleasure by those pre-
sent 1t is entirely out Of our power to-day 10 give
even notice Of the speeches. toasts. &C. out
we presume it will be in our power to furnish our
readers with them presently. MIR. Irving look.
ed 10 excellent health and spirits, and appeared
to enjoy it much. The company were introduce
ed to him by the different members OF the COM
mittee, in the ante chamber of the assembly room
1t was an animated scene. Among the guests IN
vited, who attended, were the Right Rev. Bishop
Onderdonk, of this diocese; the Rev. DIR. VAIN
wright; His Excellency General Santander,
President Of the Republic Of New Grenada; Sc
nor Don Thomas Gener, former President OF the
Constitutional Spanish Cortes; Com. Chauncey,
of the U. S. Navy; NJ. LIE Ray de Chaumont,
ofJefferson county; Chancellor Walworth; judges
Jones, Oakley and Hoffman, Of the Superior
Court; Vice Chancellor M'Coun, and several
other distinguished individuals.
The company sat down at four tables, extend.
ing through the whole length Of the Assembly
room, and well filled, at about six o'clock. Ex-
Chancellor Kent presided. assisted BY the follow
iny gentlemen as Vice Presidents: Messrs r.
Hone,sJ, Duer, Professor Renwick, T. L. o.
den, SaIdel Swartwout and Charles Graham.-
The Presideas after announcing the two flrst re-.
guar toasts Introduced that in honor OF the prln.
cipal guest, with some very appropriate and hap.
by remarks. As they were written, we presume
the public will be favored with them. There was
breathless and enthusiastic attention. when
Washington Irving rose to reply to the tribute OF
respect and gratitude offered by his town. He
spoke from the heart, and was cheered while de-
iverng almost every unprecedented sentence.
| He said that he had labored for words to express
his feelings; but their expression was but the more
natural and interesting on that account. 1t was
peculiarly so, when he spoke Of the feeling he ex-
perienced on entering the glorious harbor OF his
native town, and saw the fleets which covered
the waters. the groves Of masts which rose around
the city; the new spires and domes and far sweep
ing ranges Of buildings which have assembled since
his departure; with the villages which have grown
up on the green banks Of the opposite shore, in
the same period. He alluded to query which
had been made BY some improper person, 1--WE
know not who,) how long he would remain in
the country after his returns When he said en-
phaticalIy, sIl stay here all my life the accla-
nations and cheers which filled the Hall were
spontaneous, universal and electrical in their ct.
feet 1t was indeed, the flow Of soul.
Dh;l;r H,oa Eso tho first Vice President
introduced his toast, "The memory of the first
settlers Of New Amsterdam" with some Of the
"reminiscences which Irvipghss. made classical,
in fine and felcitous mannesE which was evi.
dent from the effect produced on the company
The second Vice President, John Duer, Esq.
then made an address which was probably one Of
his best efforts distinguished as he has long been
at the bar and in popular assemblies, for extern.
poraneous eloquence. He said he meant to
prove, before the Court and Jury, that Dieder.
ich Knickerbocker was himseH, and not Wash.
ington Irving He had known the former per.
sonally, and the latter too. Irving had never
used midnight oil enough, at the period prior to
thu publication of the History Of New York, to
have written the five first learned chapters on
+, the cosmogony, and on the genesis OF mankind,
whatever he may have done since, IN writing the
life of Christopher Columbus. Ed dnche son
pittore. he exclaimed; ard while he Vas desert
bling the old gentleman who boarded at the Co.
lumbar Independent Hotel in Mulberry street,
with brown coat, pea-green jacket, blue stock
ings, &c. Diederich Knickerbocker himself, or
his ghost. or personl6caton, marched in and
crossed the da,s where the guests were sitting =.
We hope this great argument has been reported.
1t was a sound and allie one: and unanimous
verdict was given, in favor Of Knickerbocker's
personal identity.
The third Vice President gave "Sir Walter
Scott" The fourth Vice President gave The
memory of youthful associations" The fifth
gave tThe health Of Peter Irwin" was
drunk with three cheers. The sixth gave ''The
distinguished strangers and citizens who honor
ed the guest by their presence" Each OF these
toasts was preceded by speech. We can give
no regular report Of them to-day. Many vo'un,
teers followed, and several gentlemen addressed
the chair. after the principal guest had retired.
The company generallydid not break up unt, ~ a
very late hour. A fine band Of music in the DR.
chestra played at intervals. Mr.. Horn, the vo-