371 



And yet into all these wonders of philosophy and art, English 

 genius had scarcely looked : it was, it still to a great extent remains, 

 a terra incognito., a historic land of the most inviting and attractive 

 beauty. 



On the hither confines stood Prescott in his '' Ferdinand and 

 Isabella;" and, again, in his masterly summary, preceding the story 

 of the Moriscoes in his ''Philip 11." 



In this same general field had wandered Irving in his " Alhambra,'' 

 and his " Conquest of Granada." These were but the well-told stories 

 of a wanderer, who sojourned there for a brief space in a desolate 

 chamber of the Alhambra, which is still pointed out. His midnight 

 rovings through the haunted courts and spirit-peopled streets of that 

 suburban city, within the precincts of the great city ] his long inter- 

 rogative gaze at the arabesques, and tumbling columns of the 

 alcazar; were only answered by a voice as from the dying past — 

 ^' Come and interpret our meaning ; we are but the symbols of a 

 hidden wisdom which the world should know." Through Mr. 

 Irving's Chronicles that voice has been heard and to some extent 

 heeded. 



It is worthy of especial notice that the history of Spain has fallen 

 to the share of American writers, and nobly has the task been thus 

 far performed. Prescott and Irving have approved themselves as 

 master builders, and Mr. Ticknor, in his excellent work, has given 

 voice and melody to the historic throngs which people this grand but 

 unfinished structure. The great work yet remains to be completed. 



With such exaiuples and incentives; the field yet purely Ameri- 

 can, the subject yet only prepared for exploration, let us hope that 

 it will be occupied by competent laborers, not unworthy the fame of 

 their illustrious predecessors. 



Our space forbids the mention of all Mr. Irving's works. Some 

 of them were but literary job-work, well performed indeed as such, 

 but having small claims to immortality. 



His "Life of Oliver Goldsmith" is an easy, pleasant, unlabored 

 efibrt. Many have supposed that Irving and Goldsmith were alike 

 in many respects. Irving fosters the error by quoting some Italian 

 verses apostrophizing Goldsmith as his master and exemplar. I pro- 

 nounce the resemblance of men incorrect. They are of the same 

 literary school only ; that is the likeness. 



Hazlitt, a severe, but never an ignorant critic, calls the " Sketch- 

 Book" and "Bracebridge Hall" good American copies of British 

 essayists and novelists. " Not only Mr. Irving's language," he says, 



