Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by
PIERRE M. IRVING,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York.

Letter to Miss Catherine Irving.-Passages from Letters to Mrs.

Paris.-The Queen giving Audience.-Diplomatic Conversation

with Royalty.- Insurrection in Barcelona - Departure of the

Regent. The Solitary Raven.-Attacks of the "Southern Lit-

erary Messenger" and "Graham's Magazine."-Letters on the

Subject.-Literary Occupation....

CHAPTER II.

Letter to Miss Sarah Irving.-Indisposition of the Author.-Letter

to Mrs. Paris.—Alarming Aspect of Political Events.-Gloomy

Soirée of the Regent, preparatory to his Departure.-Letters to

Mrs. Storrow. In the Midst of Conspiracies and Insurrections.

-A City in a State of Siege.-Sallies forth.-Striking Scenes.—

Note of the Diplomatic Corps in Behalf of the Queen.....

CHAPTER III.

Letter to Mrs. Paris.-Incorrect Accounts of the Interposition of the

Corps Diplomatique.-His Version.-Espartero driven out.-Im-

patience to declare the Queen of Age.-Scenes and Ceremonials

PAGE

31

15

in the Royal Palace.-Visits the Duchess of Victoria (the Regent's

Wife) in her Reverse of Fortune....

PAGE

43

CHAPTER IV.

Leaves Madrid for Change of Air.-Excursion to Versailles and Paris.

-Grisi in "Norma."-Bordeaux.-Letter to Henry Brevoort.-

Regrets about the Interruption of his Literary Plans.-Allusion

to the Diplomatic Intervention for the Safety of the Queen. -

Meeting with Rogers.-Return to Madrid.-Letter to Mrs. Paris.

-The Young Queen's Accession to the Throne.-Madame Cal-

deron.-Passages from a Letter to Mrs. Grinnell.

53

CHAPTER V.

Extract from Various Letters.-The Past Year a Literary Blank.—

The Queen's Entrance upon her Reign.-Preparations for the Ar-

rival of the Queen-mother.-Her Return.-Letter to Mrs. Paris.

-The Royal Meeting.-Entrance of Queen Christina into Ma-

drid.—Besa Manos at the Royal Palace..........

61

CHAPTER VI.

Departure of Hamilton.-Loneliness.-The New American Minister

at Paris.-Heartsick with the Politics of Spain.-The Retiro.—

A New Secretary of Legation.-Letter from Barcelona.-The

Turkish Minister.-Audience of the Queen.-Reminiscence of

the Palace.-Its Peculiar Interest to him.-Count De Espagne.—

Letter to Pierre M. Irving. - Temporary Leave of Absence
granted him.--Intends to Visit Paris.....

73

CHAPTER VII.

From Barcelona to Paris.-Marseilles.- Avignon.- Lyons.-Ver-

sailles. Havre.-Leaves Havre for London.-- Slips through

London quietly.-At the Shrubbery.-Back to France.-Visit to

King Louis Philippe.-Letter to Mrs. Paris.-Court Gayeties.—

Musings in the Royal Pile .....

PAGE

82

CHAPTER VIII.

Extract from a Letter to Mrs. Paris.-Narvaez.-Passages from Let-

ters to Mrs. Storrow.-Letter to Mrs. Paris.-Transfer of his

Establishment, intending to send in his Resignation.-Resolves

on a Brief Visit to Paris.-Lingers there to see Mr. McLane, the

American Minister at the Court of St. James.-Transmits his

Resignation.-Visits London. -The Oregon Dispute.-Letter to

Pierre M. Irving.-Return to Madrid......

CHAPTER IX.

Historical Extract from a Diplomatic Dispatch.-Hears of the Ap-

pointment of a Successor.-His Feeling in Regard to the War

with Mexico.-Allusion to the Settlement of the Oregon Ques-

tion.-Arrival of General Saunders.- Audience of Leave.-

Return to Sunnyside.-The Addition.-Preparing a Complete

Edition of his Works.-Letter to Gouverneur Kemble.......... 106

93

CHAPTER X.

A Literary Freak.-The Old Moorish Chronicles.-The Saddle-horse.

-Completion of his Improvements.-New York as it was and

is.-His Last Job.-Hard at Work on the "Life of Washington."

Letter to Miss Catherine Irving...

121

CHAPTER XI.

Dinner at John Jacob Astor's.-Conversation about Ghosts.-The

Opera-house, one of the Great Charms of New York.-The Pro-

jected Railroad along the Banks of the Hudson.-Impending

Desecration of Sunnyside.-Letter to Hackett.-Arrangement

with Mr. Putnam for the Republication of his Works.—“ Knick-

erbocker."- Author's Remarks about the Revised Edition.-

Notice of Henry T. Tuckerman-A German Commentator cit-

ing "Knickerbocker."-Scheffer's "Christus Consolator."-

Notices of the Republication of the "Sketch Book."- Liberal
Reception of the Revised Series.

CHAPTER XII.

-

Unprecedented Sale of Revised Edition of the "Sketch Book."-

Engaged upon a "Life of Goldsmith."-Its Publication.-Rip-

ley's Notice.-Critique of George W. Greene.-Appearance of
"Mahomet and his Successors."-The Revised "Alhambra " and

Conquest of Granada."-Anxiety to begin anew on "Life of
Washington."....

66

PAGE

134

151

CHAPTER XIII.

Letters to Gouverneur Kemble.-Durand's Picture.-The Horrors of

the Steam Whistle.-Letter to George Ticknor.-The "Embo-
zado.”—Letter to Mrs. Storrow.-Death of President Taylor.—

Visit to James K. Paulding.—Jenny Lind.-Letter to Miss Ham-
ilton.-The Author's Hegira.....

CHAPTER XIV.

Application for an Original Thought.-Boring Letters.-Letter to Jesse
Merwin, the Original of Ichabod Crane.-His Last Portrait.-Let-

165