The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-03-11
WASHINGTON IRVING IN ENGLAND

Mr.. Cyrus Redding, 30 long associated with
the poet Campbell in the editorship of the Ne,c
Monthly, has just published, in London. three
volumes of Fifty Years. "Reminiscences of Co,
tempor0ries, from which we take the following
Washington Irving, now, l think, seventy.
four or seventy.6ve years old, was in England.
An acquaintance with the author of Knicker.
booker and Sdtmagundi could not but be agree
able. forgot to whom was indebted for the
introduction, but used to meet him freea uent-
", as well as the American Minister, DR.. Nc
Lane. There was pleasant breakfast given
at CampbelPs one Sunday, when l was present.
Irving, more than commonly serious and sedate,
gentiemanly and mild in manner, gave no idea
either in person or conversation of writer of
works OF humor. L mean not the humor that
Is At present IN fashion, consisting of bad pun,
or some light sentence, with point sometimes
biunt enough, or perhaps some ridiculous image,
but that real wit in which Sidney Smith ex.
ceiied, and which runs through whole work.
pervading every line. He was somewhat ia ci.
turn. At evening parties, or after dinner, when
the wine circulated freely, never heard lest
from his lips. He was made lion of at times.
by some who looked at a republican as a crea.
ture that had come into the world among the su.
pertuities of mo.talities. His sketches of scenes
remarkable in English history, his pictures of
the manner of the old country, and not a single
censure cast on the mad monarch who separated
the English family forever, made him tolerated
by the exclusively loyal, with a" who would think
ltY" When nv friend Andrews was in Tacu.
man, where an Englishman had never been be
fore, the people thought the English had tails
notion once inculcated by the Spanish padres.
to make the Protestants disliked. So q fiery
son OF exclusive loyalty once looked upon a re.
publican. he did not give him tail, indeed,
but thought him Jacobin-a being much
worse than hsus nature with such an ap-
pendage.
Irving told me that he was much pleased
with Spain, where he wrote his Tales of the
Aham6ra. He had found the common people
and peasantry a well disposed, single-minded
race. He had lived, he said, some months in
the Alhambra, with only an old woman for an
attendant, and could bear witness to many viz.
tues in the humber classes, which could not
be said to belong to their superiors. have an
idea that he composed his literary works with
exceeding care and great slowness. He has
since retired to villa on the shores of the
Hudson, to that state "where peace aud quiet
love to dwell"-so desirable in age-that kind
OF retreat from care" which Goldsmith
lamented never could be his. May he continue
long to enjoy it. The last time / cav Irving
(if recolect rightly was remarkable for the
presence in the party of Mrs. Siddons; Camp
bell and Lockhart, too, were of the number.
! What havoc death has made since while Irving.
soothing the descent of existence with the best
OF comtorters, his books,) leads the life of a
philosopher. He has seen enough of the world
to know its value-a thing seldom known until
we learn, too late, the dear price of the time
we have wasted in pursuing its frvolites, and
over-estimating its worthlessness. Irving can
not but be happy to have escaped from the
intrigues of state affairs, and the class of those
whose polished manners only add grace to
the unseemliness of convenience. There was
nothing striking in the physiognomy of Irving
1t was reflective in expression. His stature
was about the middle height; he was sallow of
complexion, with dark eyes, while his counte.
nance impressed the observer rather with ami.
ability than intellectual power. America may
well be proud of him, as she justly is of her
Bryant and Charming, amidst the crowd of up.
starts whom cupiaity stamps with a superstitious
renown on both sides of the Atlantic.