And  he,  too,  how  had  he  returned  ?  The  young  and  compa-
ratively obscure  author,  whose  works  had  only  found  here  and
there  a  reader  in  England,  had  achieved  a  fame  as  wide  as  the
civilized  world.  All  the  trophies  he  had  won  in  this  field  he
brought  home  to  lay  at  the  feet  of  his  country.  Meanwhile  all
the  country  was  moved  to  meet  him  ;  the  rejoicing  was  univer-
sal that  one  who  had  represented  us  so  illustriously  abroad  was
henceforth  to  live  among  us.
Irving  hated  public  dinners,  but  he  was  forced  to  accept  one
pressed  upon  him  by  his  enthusiastic  countrymen.  It  was  given  at
the  City  Hotel  on  the  30th  of  May,  Chancellor  Kent  presiding,
and  the  most  eminent  citizens  of  New  York  assembled  at  the
table.  I  remember  the  accounts  of  this  festivity  reaching  me  as
I  was  wandering  in  Illinois,  hovering  on  the  skirts  of  the  Indian
war,  in  a  region  now  populous,  but  then  untilled  and  waste,
and  I  could  only  write  to  Irving  and  ask  leave  to  add  my  voice
to  the  general  acclamation.  In  his  address  at  the  dinner,  Chan-
cellor Kent  welcomed  the  historian  of  New  Amsterdam  back  to
his  native  city,  and  Irving,  in  reply,  poured  forth  his  heart  in  the
warmest  expressions  of  delight  at  finding  himself  again  among  his
countrymen  and  kindred,  in  a  land  of  sunshine  and  freedom  and


32  ASTORIA.
hope.  "  I  am  asked,"  he  said,  "  how  long  I  mean  to  remain
here.  They  know  little  of  my  heart  who  can  ask  me  this  ques-
tion. I  answer,  as  long  as  I  live."

The  instinct  of  rambling,  had  not,  however,  forsaken  him.
