THE

LIFE AND LETTERS

OF

WASHINGTON IRVING.

BY HIS NEPHEW

PIERRE M. IRVING.

VOLUME II.

NEW YORK:

G. P. PUTNAM, 532 BROADWAY.

HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY
BEQUEST OF

DR. WILLIAM L. RICHARDSON
FEBRUARY 24, 1933

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by

PIERRE M. IRVING,

In the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

JOHN F. TROW, PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER,

50 Greene Street.

1

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Letter to William Irving-A steamboat enterprise-Embarks the value of his

literary property in it-How William and John regarded the project-Lodgings in

Paris-Growing popularity of the Sketch Book in England-Its parentage ascribed

to Scott-Correspondence on the subject-Christmas invitation-Murray author-

izes draft of one hundred guineas for Sketch Book, in addition to the terms agreed

upon, and publishes Knickerbocker-Letter to Leslie-His designs for Knicker-

bocker-His May-day-His likeness of Geoffrey-Peter Powell's burlesque account

of its costume-The Author's sensitive comment, and Leslie's reply-Subjects

chosen by Leslie for Knickerbocker-The Author's opinion of them-Increasing

reputation in England, .

13

CHAPTER II.

Makes the acquaintance of Thomas Moore, the poet-Visit to the prison of

Marie Antoinette-Letter to Brevoort-Reasons for remaining abroad-Moore-

Canning-Moore's hint of the origin of Bracebridge Hall-Another glimpse of

Irving from Moore-John Howard Payne-Talma-His performance of Hamlet—

Letter to Leslie-Kenney, author of Raising the Wind, etc.-Luttrel-Introduced

to the Hollands-Murray begs his acceptance of an additional one hundred pounds

for the Sketch Book-The Author's letter thereupon-Reads manuscript to Moore

- Bancroft-Sets off for England July 11th, hoping to have something ready for

the press by autumn,
33

CHAPTER III.

The coronation of George IV.-Meeting with Scott-Detained in London about

a play of Payne-Dragging of the steamboat affairs-Letter to Peter thereupon-

'Literary concerns-Excursion to Birmingham with Leslic-The Stout Gentleman—

Its moral-Kept at Birmingham by illness-Letter to Ebenezer about literary

matters-Letter to Leslie-The children-George-Newton's introduction to La

Butte by himself-Leslie and Powell's joint account of their housekeeping in

Buckingham Place-Letter to Leslie-Letter to Ebenezer Irving, Nov. 1, after

tidings of a sister's bereavement-Death of his brother William-Letter from

Newton-Moore,

52

CHAPTER IV.

Return to London-Letter to Ebenezer-Transmits first volume of Bracebridge

Hall-Moses Thomas-Cooper and The Spy-Sends off Vol. II. Bracebridge Hall

-Makes contract with Murray for publication in England-Letter to Peter-Begins

to make calls-Goes with Moore to breakfast at Holland House-Letter to Bre-

voort-John Randolph-Mrs. Siddons-Visit to Wimbledon, one of the country

seats of Earl Spencer-Meeting with Rogers-Letter to Mrs. Paris-Visit to the

country seat of Thomas Hope-Lines written in the Deep Dene Album-Letter to

Brevoort-Anastasius-Rogers-Mathews, the comedian-Preparing for an excur-

sion into Germany,

70

CHAPTER V.

From London to Heidelberg-Amsterdam-Aix-la-Chapelle-The cathedral-

Old custom-An old acquaintance-Convoy to Wisbaden-The German style of

living-Scene of the Spectre Bridegroom-A German carriage and driver-May-

ence-A continental inn-Introduction to the Tales of a Traveller-Katrina-A

tedious malady-The Hudson and the Rhine-Frankfort-The fair-The vintage—

Heidelberg-Letter from Moore,

CHAPTER VI.

-

90

Letters to Mrs. Van Wart-Heidelberg--Baden-Old castle-Subterranean

apartments-Secret tribunal-Pays d'Or-Strasbourg-Adieu to the Rhine-The

Black Forest-Ulm-The field of Blenheim Munich - Eugene Beauharnois-

Translation of Sketch Book-Bracebridge Hall-Salsburg-Vienna-The young

Napoleon-Castle of Dunstein-Convent of Gottwied,

CHAPTER VII.

109

From Vienna to Dresden-Prague-Puts up at Hotel de Saxe, Dresden-Inti-

macy with an English family-Mrs. Fuller's impressions of the Author-Letter to

Leslie-Extracts from note-book-Presentation at court-Dinner with the royal

family-Private theatricals - Letter to Mrs. Van Wart-Letter to Peter-Boar