Written on October 16, with page 6 dated October 21.
Address leaf with seal: "DeMonsieur / Monsieur Washington Irving."
Docketed in ink on page 1 and address leaf.
Part of a collection of 22 letters from Dolgorouki to Washington Irving between 1828 and 1844 as MA 4729.1-25, includes 3 letters from Bolviller, Dehay, and Mr. Gessler. See related records for more information.
Antoinette was pleased to receive Irving's letter with news of his stay in the south of Spain. Her health has improved. The family is no longer worried about her and has returned to tranquil, harmonious domestic life, the same that Irving saw when he was with them. Dolgorouki has a new coworker, the Prince de Lieven, who has arrived from the U.S. via London. He likes the U.S. and says good things about it. He was never as happy as when he lived in that land filled with energy and independence.This reminded Dolgorouki of his conversations with Irving about the U.S. in his garden. It took a great deal of imagination to conceive of the great physical beauty of the U.S. He misses their conversations. He asks if one can ever think well if he is thinking alone. He goes on to talk about life in society. Thanks Irving for news of Wilkie, from whom he has received a letter that confirms what Irving said about him. The king has bought his 4 Spanish paintings and one of a posada. He is even happier with Irving's conviction that his book on Columbus is excellent and has been very well received. He feels that he shares in Irving's literary success, a feeling enhanced by their friendship, and is pleased that he has written a work that will add to people's knowledge. He is waiting patiently for Irving to tell him about his new book, which he mentioned in his letter and which he has already sent to his bookseller in London. He knows what anxiety and apprehension Irving must feel when a new book comes out but is sure that news of his success will arrive even in Spain, at the southwestern extremity of Europe. (dated October 21) Says that he has received news from Paris about an assault on Varna [now in Bulgaria] but does not know the outcome. The Russians are meeting a lot of resistance but have a sovereign with a great deal of perseverance and energy, and the cause they're fighting for is a small one despite what British and French newspapers say. He hasn't heard from Gessler in over two months and doesn't know if he is married, at the expense of his friendships. Dolgorouki is still learning English and translates 2 or 3 pages of Irving's book on Columbus every day.