MARYARD COLLEGE LIBRARY ARTHUR STUART WALCOTT ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by WASHINGTON IRVING, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New-York. f. LEAVITT, TROW & Co., PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION. THE following papers, with two exceptions, were written in England, and formed but part of an intended series for which I had made notes and memorandums. Before I could mature a plan, however, circumstances compelled me to send them piecemeal to the United States, where they were published from time to time in portions or numbers. It was not my intention to publish them in England, being conscious that much of their contents could be interesting only to American readers, and in truth, being deterred by the severity with which American productions had been treated by the British press. By the time the contents of the first volume had appeared in this ccasional manner, they began to find their way across the Atlantic, and o be inserted, with many kind encomiums, in the London Literary Gazette. It was said, also, that a London bookseller intended to publish hem in a collective form. I determined, therefore, to bring them forward ayself, that they might at least have the benefit of my superintendence nd revision. I accordingly took the printed numbers which I had eceived from the United States, to Mr. John Murray, the eminent. ubusher, from whom I had already received friendly attentions, and left hem with him for examination, informing him that should he be inclined > bring them before the public, I had materials enough on hand for a second volume. Several days having elapsed without any communication From Mr. Murray, I addressed a note to him, in which I construed his lence into a tacit rejection of my work, and begged that the numbers I had left with him might be returned to me. The following was his reply. MY DEAR SIR, I entreat you to believe that I feel truly obliged by your kind intentions towards me, and that I entertain the most unfeigned respect for your most tasteful talents. My house is completely filled with workpeople at this time, and I have only an office to transact business in; and yesterday I was wholly occupied, or I should have done myself the pleasure of seeing you. If it would not suit me to engage in the publication of your present work, it is only because I do not see that scope in the nature of it which would enable me to make those satisfactory accounts between us, without which I really feel no satisfaction in engaging-but I will do all I can to promote their circulation, and shall be most ready to attend to any future plan of yours. With much regard, I remain, dear sir, JOHN MURRAY. This was disheartening, and might have deterred me from any further prosecution of the matter, had the question of republication in Great Britain rested entirely with me; but I apprehended the appearance of a spurious edition. I now thought of Mr. Archibald Constable as publisher, having been treated by him with much hospitality during a visit to Fdiaburgh; but first I determined to submit my work to Sir Walter (then Mr.) Scott, being encouraged to do so by the cordial reception I had experienced from him at Abbotsford a few years previously, and by the favcable opinion he had expressed to others of my earlier writings. I accord sent him the printed numbers of the Sketch Book in a parcel by c and at the same time wrote to him, hinting that since I had had the f ure of partaking of his hospitality, a reverse had taken place in my a which made the successful exercise of my pen all-important to m begged him, therefore, to look over the literary articles I had forward him, and, if he thought they would bear European republication, to a tain whether Mr. Constable would be inclined to be the publisher. i The parcel containing my work went by coach to Scott's addres Edinburgh; the letter went by mail to his residence in the country. y the very first post I received a reply, before he had seen my work. |