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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1860 edition. Excerpt: ...betrayed that love of nature which he has so luxuriantly unfolded in his captivating writings. These rambles were profitable to health and wholesome to intellect; they furnished materials for contemplation and enlarged intellectual capacity: but Irving at this juncture in early manhood sought out other resources of mental gratification. He was bookish, and he read; he individualized the author whom he studied, and he extended the circle of his personal associations. He must have formed an acquaintance with a portion of that mass of men who flourished at that dawn of literary effort in this city. His profession, that of law, had secured to him some knowledge of Hamilton and Burr, of Harrison and Colden, of Wells and Jay, of Jones and Livingston; but with a generous freedom he could seek out Brown, the novelist, Linn, the poet, Allsop, Clifton, and Low. This you will say is a brief list; but genuine writers at that day were not a common article. In my searches after novelties I have walked a day to cast a glance at an author; and a reward of a thousand dollars could not bring forth for inspection a penny-a-liner. For my own part I distinctly recollect the first time I caught a glimpse of Noali Webster, when I felt a triumph as if I had made a discovery in philosophy. But there were other sources of instruction abundantly accessible to all, and Irving would draw wisdom from them: the acting drama of those times yielded gratification to the most refined in taste: the remnant of the old American company of performers was stirring in their vocation and the great renown which waited upon their achievements was recognized as substantially earned. That Irving's imagination was at an early period enamored of scenic exhibitions, and that he took great...

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