Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-01-30
Interesting Letter from:washinstOn Irv-
A New York paper pablishes this new Lett
ter from WASHINGTON Trying. ..i

A New York paper publishes this new let.
ter from Washington Irving;
NEW YORK, March %, I848.
MessrS. Richard II. Henderson, George A.
Hanson, Thomas Dunlap, Daniel Clarke,
Wm x. Burke: -
Gentlemen: An awkward circumstance
has prevented my replying at an earlier date
TO your very kind letter of the Gath OF Feb
ruary. That letter, received in a moment of
hurry, was mislaid, and has caused me much
embarrassment and chagrin; for had for
gotten the college and place whence it was
dated, and knew not where to address a re.
ply. have made repeated searches for it
during the past month, but it was only this
morning that on making a scrupulous ar
rangement of the chaos of papers and books
by which am apt TO be surrounded, found
IT between the leaves of a manuscript which
had been repeatedly in my hand.
| make this explanation thatyo may not
think me capable of treating with neglect
or indifference such a testimonial of good
opinion and good wall, as that with which
you have hOnored me. l beg you will com
municate this explanation TO your society,
with the assurance of my deep and grateful
sense Of the honor they have done me in
elecung me a member, and still more, in
thinking my name worthy of being chosen
for their designation. You ask me for a de-
vice for your banner and badge, Ifyou wish
them to have any connection with the name
you have thus honored, rwould observe that
the device of the Scottish family of Irving,
from which claim descent, is the holly leaf,
the motto, SUB, sole, sub umbtaiuirens.
These were the armorial bearings OF Rooert
Bruce when a fugitive and in disguise in
Scotland, and were probably intended to
signify his confidence that his fortunes, like
the evergreen he had adopted as an emblem,
would survive every viclssitude. In mo-
ment of his greatest adversely, he was har-
bored in the house of an Irving, who gave
him his son as a shield-bearer. He afIerward
bestowed these arms upon the family, in
token of their loyalty to him when in mis-
fortune.
AT the risk of being tedious, will give
you the Scottish tradition of the circum-
stance as related to me by Sir Walter Scott.
| Robert Bruce, when a fugitive, took refuge
in the house Of poor man. of the name Of
Irving, who, having no other means of en-
tertainiDg his Boyal guest killed his only
COW, serving up the flesh az the table and
making bed of the hide. Bruce, at part
ing, told his host to repair to him should he
ever hear of his coming 10 the throne.
Irving did SO, but being in humble garb, was
denied admission to the palace. He seat in
message to the King to know whether His
Majesty slept more sweetly on his royal
couch than he had once done on the hide of
bIindle cow. The King understood the
message, and instantly sent for his poor but
loyal adherent, and bestowed on him land
and the armorial bearings already men
toned. lt is this old story, however it may
be dashed with fable, which has given the
device and motto their chief value in my
eyes. / am, gentlemen, respectfully, your
obliged nd Obedient servant III. .
WASHINGTON IRVING. Il