365 



most attractive river, the Hudson. Here he could still gather the 

 stories of the Revolution from those who had been the local actors in 

 its scenes. He explored inlet and promontory; and was involuntarily 

 putting away on the fly-leaf of memory's scrap-book such legends as 

 that of Sleepy Hollow. On the opposite shore were Nyack and 

 Haverstraw, with their undying memories^ to be recalled in connec- 

 tion with the life of Washington. 



He struck acquaintance with the old people ; chimed in with the 

 old customs, and listened with a double purpose to fireside legends 

 and incidents. 



In the year 1804 he was threatened with pulmonary disorder; 

 and, abandoning for a time his legal studies, he set out to repair and 

 confirm his health. He travelled in England, France, Spain, and 

 Italy ; everywhere a man of acute and practical observation, laying 

 up in memory many sketches and tales of travel for future use, and 

 cultivating that taste for art which lends such a charm to his descrip- 

 tions. 



In 1806 he returned to New York, and having resumed the study 

 of the law, was at the close of that year admitted to the Bar. 



But alas for the respectable profession of the law, to him the little 

 taste of literature had given birth to greater desire. He was resolved 

 to drink deep of the Pierian spring. 



In 1807 appeared " Salmagundi ; the Whim-Whams and Opinions 

 of Launcelot Langstafif and others." The writers were Washington 

 Irving, James K. Paulding, and William Irving. Modelled upon 

 the '' Tatler" and. the " Spectator," and their numerous progeny, the 

 ''Idler," the ''Ptambler," and others, the last of which had been dis- 

 continued only fifty years before, this publication appeared in num- 

 bers, genially satirizing the whims and follies of the day, and giving 

 amusement and literary variety in a period of great literary dearth. 

 The studied style and quiet humor might place some papers of 

 " Salmagundi," almost without detection, among the numbers of the 

 " Spectator." 



Disentombed, and placed among the many noble works which have 

 produced his fame, it stands like a lay figure among the living. 

 Irving himself set but little value upon it. In spite of Mr. 

 Bryant's eulogy, it does not contain, in my humble opinion, a fair 

 promise of Irving's future powers. I speak, perhaps, to some who 

 enjoyed "Salmagundi" in their youth, and who may consider it 

 harsh judgment; but I think that, had it not been for the later fame 

 of Irving and Paulding, '' Salmagundi" would scarcely be now 

 remembered. 



