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humble ability。 Having said thus much with reference to myself； I
shall have the pleasure of saying a few words with reference to
somebody else。
There is in this city a gentleman who； at the reception of one of
my books … I well remember it was the Old Curiosity Shop … wrote to
me in England a letter so generous； so affectionate； and so manly；
that if I had written the book under every circumstance of
disappointment； of discouragement； and difficulty； instead of the
reverse； I should have found in the receipt of that letter my best
and most happy reward。 I answered him； and he answered me； and so
we kept shaking hands autographically； as if no ocean rolled
between us。 I came here to this city eager to see him； and ＇LAYING
HIS HAND IT UPON IRVING'S SHOULDER＇ here he sits！ I need not tell
you how happy and delighted I am to see him here to…night in this
capacity。
Washington Irving！ Why； gentlemen； I don't go upstairs to bed two
nights out of the seven … as a very creditable witness near at hand
can testify … I say I do not go to bed two nights out of the seven
without taking Washington Irving under my arm； and； when I don't
take him； I take his own brother； Oliver Goldsmith。 Washington
Irving！ Why； of whom but him was I thinking the other day when I
came up by the Hog's Back； the Frying Pan； Hell Gate； and all these
places？ Why； when； not long ago； I visited Shakespeare's
birthplace； and went beneath the roof where he first saw light；
whose name but HIS was pointed out to me upon the wall？ Washington
Irving … Diedrich Knickerbocker … Geoffrey Crayon … why； where can
you go that they have not been there before？ Is there an English
farm … is there an English stream； an English city； or an English
country…seat； where they have not been？ Is there no Bracebridge
Hall in existence？ Has it no ancient shades or quiet streets？
In bygone times； when Irving left that Hall； he left sitting in an
old oak chair； in a small parlour of the Boar's Head； a little man
with a red nose； and an oilskin hat。 When I came away he was
sitting there still！ … not a man LIKE him； but the same man … with
the nose of immortal redness and the hat of an undying glaze！
Crayon； while there； was on terms of intimacy with a certain
radical fellow； who used to go about； with a hatful of newspapers；
wofully out at elbows； and with a coat of great antiquity。 Why；
gentlemen； I know that man … Tibbles the elder； and he has not
changed a hair； and； when I came away； he charged me to give his
best respects to Washington Irving！
Leaving the town and the rustic life of England … forgetting this
man； if we can … putting out of mind the country church…yard and
the broken heart … let us cross the water again； and ask who has
associated himself most closely with the Italian peasantry and the
bandits of the Pyrenees？ When the traveller enters his little
chamber beyond the Alps … listening to the dim echoes of the long
passages and spacious corridors … damp； and gloomy； and cold … as
he hears the tempest beating with fury against his window； and
gazes at the curtains； dark； and heavy； and covered with mould …
and when all the ghost…stories that ever were told come up before
him … amid all his thick…coming fancies； whom does he think of？
Washington Irving。
Go farther still： go to the Moorish Mountains； sparkling full in
the moonlight … go among the water…carriers and the village
gossips； living still as in days of old … and who has travelled
among them before you； and peopled the Alhambra and made eloquent
its shadows？ Who awakes there a voice from every hill and in every
cavern； and bids legends； which for centuries have slept a
dreamless sleep； or watched unwinkingly； start up and pass before
you in all their life and glory？
But leaving this again； who embarked with Columbus upon his gallant
ship； traversed with him the dark and mighty ocean； leaped upon the
land and planted there the flag of Spain； but this same man； now
sitting by my side？ And being here at home again； who is a more
fit companion for money…diggers？ and what pen but his has made Rip
Van Winkle； playing at nine…pins on that thundering afternoon； as
much part and parcel of the Catskill Mountains as any tree or crag
that they can boast？
But these are topics familiar from my boyhood； and which I am apt
to pursue； and lest I should be tempted now to talk too long about
them； I will； in conclusion； give you a sentiment； most
appropriate； I am sure； in the presence of such writers as Bryant；
Halleck； and … but I suppose I must not mention the ladies here …
THE LITERATURE OF AMERICA：
She well knows how to do honour to her own literature and to that
of other lands； when she chooses Washington Irving for her
representative in the country of Cervantes。
SPEECH： MANCHESTER； OCTOBER 5； 1843。
＇This address was delivered at a soiree of the members of the
Manchester； Athenaeum； at which Mr。 Dickens presided。 Among the
other speakers on the occasion were Mr。 Cobden and Mr。 Disraeli。＇
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN； … I am sure I need scarcely tell you that I
am very proud and happy； and that I take it as a great distinction
to be asked to come amongst you on an occasion such as this； when；
even with the brilliant and beautiful spectacle which I see before
me； I can hail it as the most brilliant and beautiful circumstance
of all； that we assemble together here； even here； upon neutral
ground； where we have no more knowledge of party difficulties； or
public animosities between side and side； or between man and man；
than if we were a public meeting in the commonwealth of Utopia。
Ladies and gentlemen； upon this； and upon a hundred other grounds；
this assembly is not less interesting to me； believe me … although；
personally； almost a stranger here … than it is interesting to you；
and I take it； that it is not of greater importance to all of us
than it is to every man who has learned to know that he has an
interest in the moral and social elevation； the harmless
relaxation； the peace； happiness； and improvement； of the community
at large。 Not even those who saw the first foundation of your
Athenaeum laid； and watched its progress； as I know they did；
almost as tenderly as if it were the progress of a living creature；
until it reared its beautiful front； an honour to the town … not
even they； nor even you who； within its walls； have tasted its
usefulness； and put it to the proof； have greater reason； I am
persuaded； to exult in its establishment； or to hope that it may
thrive and prosper； than scores of thousands at a distance； who …
whether consciously or unconsciously； matters not … have； in the
principle of its success and bright example； a deep and personal
concern。
It well becomes； particularly well becomes； this enterprising town；
this little world of labour； that she should stand out foremost in
the foremost rank i