The Cecil Whig., 1862-04-19
WHOLE No. l.0Sl
why Washington Irving did not
Marry.

1t was while engaged in writing
his 3" History of New York." that Irving,
then young man Of twcnty-six, was
called 10 mourn the somewhat sudden
dea;h of Matilda Hoffman, whom he had
hoped to call his wife. This young lady
second daughter of Josiah Ogden HoA;-
man, and the sister of those two talented
men, Charles Fenno Hoffman, the poet,
and Ogden Hoffman, the eloquent jurist.
In her fathers office Washington Irving
had cssayed to study law, and with
every prospect, if Industrious and studi-
Gus, of partnership with Mr.. Hoffman,
as we'll as matrimonial alliance with
Matilda. These high hopes were disap-
pointed by the dccease of the young
lady on tie 2Gth Of April, 1909, iu the
eighteenth year of her age.
There is pa;hos about Irvings reci-
tai of the circumstances of her death,
and of his own feelings, that is truly
painful and tear-impelling. He says -
She was taken ill with cold. Moth
ing was thought of it at first; but she
grew rapidly worse, and fell into con-
sumption. | cannot tell you what
suffered l saw her fade
rapidly away; beau iful aud more beau
tiful and more angelic to the very last.
l was often by her bedside and in her
wandering state of mind she would talk
to me with sweet, natural, and affect
ing cloquence, that was overpowcring.-
J. saw more of the beauty of her mind ia
that delirious state than l had ever
known before. Her malady was rapid
in its career, and hurried her off In two
months. Her dying struggles were
painful aud protracted.
For three days and nights l did not
leave the house, and scarcely slept
| was by her when she died all the
family were assembled round her, some
praying, others weeping. for she was
adored by them all. was the last one
she looked upon. | cannot
tell you wha' horrid stae of mind l
was in for long time. l seemed to
care for nothing; the world was blank
to me. l abandoned all Thoughts of the
law. went into the country, but
could not bear solitude, yet could not
enjoy society. There was dismal
horror continually in mind, that made
me fear to be alone. | had of ch to get
in the night and seek the bedroom of my
brother, as if the having human being
by me would relieve me from the fright
full goom of my own thoughts.
Mon,hs elapsed before my mind would
resume any tone but the dependency
| had suffered for long time in the
course of this attachment, and the
anguish that attended is catastrophe,
seemed to give turn to my whole
character, and throw some clouds into
my disposition; which have ever since
hung abou. it.
seemed to drift about without aim or
objcc', at the mercy of every breeze
my heart wanted anchorage. l was
naturally suscep ible, and tried to form
other attachments, but my heart would
not hold on it would. continually rccur
20 what 1t had lost; and whenever there
was a pause in the hurry of novelty and
excitement, l would sink into dismal
detection. For years could not talk
on the subject of this hopeless regret
| could not even men ion her tlame, bu.
her image was continually before me, and
| dreamt of her inccssantly."
Such was the language in which
Irving poured for h his sorrows, and
sad memories, in letter writ many
years ago toa lady who wondered at
his celibacy and expressed the wish %
know why he had never married. Thirty
years after her death, Irving was visitin;
Mr.. Hoffman, and granddaughter iii
drawing some sheets of music to be per-
formed upon the piano, accidentally
brought with them piece of embroidery,
which dropped upon the floor. "Wash-
ington," said Mr.. Hoffman, " this is i.
peice of poor Matilda's workmanship ~
His biographer describes the effect as
electric. lie had been conversing in
the sprigtliest mood BEFORE" says Pcrr,
NJ. Irving, sand he sunk at once into
utter silence, and in few moments got
up and left the house ."-Boston Pos!.