Four Famous American Writers: Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, James Russell Lowell, Bayard Tayl | Page 7

dispatched it after the defendant as a summons, accompanied by his
tobacco-box as a warrant."

When the account books were before him, "the sage Wouter took them
one after the other, and having poised them in his hands, and attentively
counted over the number of leaves, fell straightway into a great doubt,
and smoked for half an hour without saying a word; at length, laying
his finger beside his nose, and shutting his eyes for a moment, with the
air of a man who had just caught a subtle idea by the tail, he slowly
took his pipe from his mouth, puffed forth a column of tobacco smoke,
and with marvelous gravity and solemnity pronounced, that, having
carefully counted over the leaves and weighed the books, it was found
that one was just as thick and heavy as the other; therefore, it was the
final opinion of the court that the accounts were equally balanced;
therefore, Wandle should give Barent a receipt, and Barent should give
Wandle a receipt, and the constable should pay the costs."
It is not wonderful that this was the first and last lawsuit during his
administration, and that no one was found who cared to hold the office
of constable.
This is only one of scores of droll stories to be found in this most
interesting "history."

CHAPTER VIII
FIVE UNEVENTFUL YEARS
It seems strange that the success of the "History of New York" did not
make Irving a professional man of letters at once. The profits on the
first edition were three thousand dollars, and several other editions
were to follow steadily. But though he wished to be a literary man, and
now knew that he might make a fair living by his writings, there was
still lacking the force to compel him to work. He had always lived in
easy circumstances, doing as he liked, enjoying society, and amusing
himself, and it was hard for him to devote his attention strictly to any
set task.
He applied for a clerkship at Albany, but failed to get it. Then his

brothers, with whom he must have been a great favorite, as he was the
youngest of the family, arranged a mercantile business in which he was
to be a partner. Peter was to buy goods in England and ship them to
New York, while Ebenezer was to sell them. Washington was to be a
silent partner, and enjoy one fifth of the profits. At first he objected to
taking no active part in the business; but his brothers persuaded him
that this was his chance to become independent and have his entire time
for literary work.
But five years passed away and little was accomplished. This covered
the period of the War of 1812. At first Irving was opposed to the war;
but when he heard the news of the burning of Washington his
patriotism blazed forth. "He was descending the Hudson in the
steamboat when the tidings first reached him," says his nephew in the
biography which he wrote. "It was night and the passengers had
betaken themselves to their settees to rest, when a person came on
board at Poughkeepsie with the news of the inglorious triumph, and
proceeded in the darkness of the cabin to relate the particulars: the
destruction of the president's house, the treasury, war, and navy offices,
the capitol, the depository of the national library and the public records.
There was a momentary pause after the speaker had ceased, when some
paltry spirit lifted his head from his settee, and in a tone of complacent
derision, 'wondered what Jimmy Madison would say now.' 'Sir,' said Mr.
Irving, glad of an escape to his swelling indignation, 'do you seize on
such a disaster only for a sneer? Let me tell you, sir, it is not now a
question about Jimmy Madison or Jimmy Armstrong.[+] The pride and
honor of the nation are wounded; the country is insulted and disgraced
by this barbarous success, and every loyal citizen should feel the
ignominy and be earnest to avenge it.' 'I could not see the fellow,' said
Mr. Irving when he related the anecdote, 'but I let fly at him in the
dark.'"
[Footnote +: The Secretary of War.]
As soon as he reached New York, Irving went to the governor and
offered his services. He was immediately appointed military secretary
and aide with the rank of colonel. His duties were neither difficult nor

dangerous, and he enjoyed his position; but he was glad when the war
came to an end the following year.
When the War of 1812 was over, his friend Commodore Decatur
invited him to accompany him on an expedition to the Mediterranean,
the United States having declared war against the pirates of Algiers.
Irving's trunks were put on board the