New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-07

Orshp by quoting many of my sketehings OF London
ME, written long since ana TOO sgnt supposg ~ ana
erratic sketches TO your ample and compete pictures
which lay all the Of human life before us And
then the practical utility, the operative -6eneYoenee
which peryade all your pOrtratures OF the lowest me-
and give aud dignity to your honest humor that
exquisite which enables you to carry your readers
through the veriest dens Of Vice and yany without
most shrinking deloacy It is rare gift be able TO
paint low life without being low aud to be comic with.
relish for your pictures Of low English life and especially
those about the metropolis aud connected Win puDL0
residence In England haq perfect passion l9r e ed
pOripg London and visiting any place celebrated
and essays; or connected with the biographies
ballads; OF rendered by the confessions Of rob
beers aud hghwaymen. used TO ptoWl oy m mSy6s
yirOns visit the nelghbonng villages, eat my solitary
TsHownsd ~ the EQUESTRIAN expedition Of Johnny Gil
pin attended all the fairs held In the vicinity Of Ions
aboiisaed.wcst End Brock Green FanIap, etc, otc.
wanted write about all these scenes, and to write co..
piOusy; but somehow or other my pen seemed spellS
bound; IL could only throw of few disconnected
sketches, which were 50 slight ana rs
land and feared to give fni scope to the bent OF my
humor and incnaIo1 Az th' GakeS GS MORE nctre
Jugs They place before me the scenes aud people
have so often studied and eager describe, but
they depict them with an accuracy, minuteness yet
breadth OF painting that could never have attained
| have Just been reading again your Plckwick
pernsa Old Pickwck is the QuiXOte Of common
place life and as with the Don, begin by laughing at
him aud end by loving HIM Sam Weller and his father
cold swear | had fifty times in my loiterlngs
about coach offices and inn yards-a the world knows
tue truth and force their portraits nave great
fancy for the obtrusvc Of those WORTHLESS Bob Saw
yer aud Ben Allen; how much have seen OF the make
sniff life OF the scrub unlietng pot boy dissipation
practical joking ana pushing familiarity such half scamp
half gentlemen IN England Dick SwiveleT, too, The
exquisite Dick Swyelcr, WAC certainly within hairs
breadth of becoming scamp, but Is carried through
every temptation by the native goodness OF his heart
then the measured degree OF good fortune meted
out to him In the end; his hundred and hty pounds
year. his little cottage at Hampstead, with sneasing
box m the garden, aud the small servant for VIE 10
play cribDaze with him the rest OF his days Let
ask you question. Manalini the inimable Manta-
ni, Is he creature Of the brain, or did any
should think you had the living subjeet" for a model
but that you clothed or frightened II by the coplous
additions Of your fancy.
|. | have been dwelling on your comic plGturlngs
! but l oaYe found yourself! equally me
romance, and feuda times and casteated scenes but
the dangerous and desperate yiany th&t turks Ia l9e
OF society aad starts up In the path OF the Poidng
ctizsu, and among the blck walls OF the metropolis
but so pure healthy carried throughout the wan
declare TO you there 10 moral suOlmlty and beauty
wrought out with machess simplicity OF fancle IN me
whole OF that story tlat leaves me at loss now sum
passages Gikc that Of the schOOlmaseTs remarks on
neglected graves which upon us suddenly and
CLEAN forth apparently unaeslgnedly, but which are
perfect gems Of language.
But restrain my pen 10 would run riot on this
theme and would never hint forth the images aud
recOllectiOns with which you have crowded my mind
DO you know Leslie the painter the who has recently
painted a picture OF Queen Victoria II you do not
wish you would get acquainted with him, You would
Ike one another He Is full OF talent and right feeling
He was one OF my choice and intimate companions
during my literary snjOurn in London. While l was
making my early studies with my pen he was working
with his pencil We sympathZed In tastes and In feel
ngs and pOre London together, and visit the
neighborug villages, occasionally extending our re-
searches different parts OF the country. lie Is one
OF the pures aud best men, with Gne eye for nature
and character, aud AddsOnian lumOr. Rogers
knows and values him. and would make you acquainted;
though You need nothing TO ush- you TO bis acauan-
ance but your card. By the way, sec blythe ded
cation OF your last work. that you properly appreciate
| the character OF Rogers; enthusiastically most
benevolent man, full OF sympathy for the poor mans
I0ys aud sOrrOws and LADY or my acqualn farce
once beautifully SAID OF him: $50 Kind to those IN allie
ton!" He Is OF the last persons saw In London
and breakfasied with him On taking leave he followed
me TO street door, pressed my hand, ana Dade me
farewell with warmth and kindness that shal never
forget
You speak 10 me about revistng England. / should
delight to do co. but 1 know not when snail. nave
built me ttls cottage tue banks OF tho Hudson In
lonely spot eldeared by the recOlectiOns OF my
boyhoOd have pleasant and friendly neighborhood,
and a happy household o. young nleces WAC are Ike
daughters to me ana who would be IN despair should
Leave thcm. Judge then how fast have taken root.
Yours most faithfully,
WASHINGTON IEVING.