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Glass rSlan Book lAi %24 WASHHKGTOIf MOT^ rdlWtisher143 Strand- SALMAGUNDI WHIM -WHAMS AND OPINIONS OF LAUNCELOT LANGSTAFF, ESQ. ^WVVU Wj£$*1\ , AND OTHERS. In hoc est hoax, cum quiz et jokesez, Et smokem, toastfm, roastem folksez, Fee, faw, fum. Psalmcmatar. With baked, and broiled, and stewed, and toasted, And fried, and boiled, and smoked and roasted, We treat the town. fiottUoit: PK1NTED AND PUBLISHED BY J. LIMBIRD, 143, STRAND, (Near Somerset /Joit.se.) 1824. ^%u 2> few's «K ? 1 PREFACE The early productions of men of genius always possess a peculiar interest, and not unfrequently a freshness and an originality which do not belong to their more matured works. We do not mean to contend that this is the case with the following essays which were principally, if not entirely, written by Washington Irving, since so well known to the public by the " Sketch Book," " Bracebridge Hall/' and the " Tales of a Traveller." Mr. Irving is a native of the United States of America, and he has been singularly fortunate in removing the prejudices which existed against the literary talents of his countrymen. It is but a few years ago that our critics all spoke of American literature with a sneer, and as totally unworthy of notice ; indeed it was treated with so much contempt, that persons unac- quainted with the productions of the American press might be led to doubt that it yielded any thing better than a newspaper essay, or the calculations of an almanack. This ignorance, and this prejudice, have alike vanished before the talents of Mr. Irving ; it is true that some novels which displayed consi- derable genius reached England before Mr. Irving's " Sketch Book," but it was the latter work which first called the public attention to the infant re- public of letters in the United States ; and it is but justice to say, that England has made the amende honorable by a frank and honest acknowledgement of its claims. Although Mr. Irving more nearly approaches the style of our own admired Goldsmith, than any living writer, yet he has been educated in a different school. Mr. Irving's style is, perhaps, purely American ; its ground-work is, no doubt, English, but the legends of the Dutch, the rude disposition of the Indian, and the romantic scenery of his native land, have all had their influence over him. The forte of Mr. Irving lies in description, and his de- lineations are at once bold, spirited, and faithful. In the portraying of scenes ol low life, or of ludicrous situations, he is peculiarly happy, nor is he de- VI PREFACE. iicient in scenes of the tender and pathetic ; there is a freedom in his sketches which shows how naturally they are produced, and a delicacy which proves that they emanate from a well regulated mind. The " Salmagundi " was the first literary effort of Mr. Irving, and although it was sometime before it crossed the Atlantic, yet from the moment of its publication it was a great favourite in the United States, where it was sup- posed to be the joint efforts of several literati. On the merits of these sprightly essays it is unnecessary to dwell, since they have been recognized and acknowledged in both hemispheres. It may, however, be necessary to state, that the new edition now offered to the public, though more elegantly printed and embellished than those that have preceded it, is published at half the price of the cheapest. 1 — CONTENTS. Page. Pag?:. No. 1 Editor's Advertisement 1 No. 5.—Introduction to a Letter from Introduction to the Work ... 2 Mustapha Rub-a-dub Keli Khan 24 Theatrics—by Will Wizard 5 Letter from Mustapha to Abdallah New-York Assembly—by A. Ever- Eb'n al Rahab - 25 green ----- 6 Account of Will Wizard's Expedition No. 2 Launcelot Langstaff's Account to a Modern Ball—by A. Ever- of his Friends 8 green - 29 Mr. Wilson's Concert—by A. Ever- Poetical Epistle to the Ladies—from green ....-- 10 the Mill of Pindar Cockloft, Esq. 31 Some Account of Pindar Cockloft - 11 No. 6.—Account of the Family of the Poetical Address from Pindar Cockloft 13 Cocklofts-' - 32 Advertisement - - - - ib. Theatrics—by William Wizard, Esq. 37 No. 3.—Account of Mustapha Rub-a- No. 7 Letter from Mustapha Rub-a- dub Keli Khan - - - !4 dub Keli Khan to Asem Hacchem 40 Letter from Mustapha Rub-a-dub Keli Poetical Account of Ancient Times Khan to Asem Hacchem - - 15 from the Mill of Pindar Cockloft, Fashions—by A. Evergreen - - - 17 Esq 44 Fashionable Morning-Dress for Walk- Notes on the above—by Will Wizard, ing - - - - - 18 Esq. 45 The Progress of Salmagundi - - ib. No. 8—Anthony Evergreen's Account Poetical Proclamation—from the Mill of his friend LangstafF 4(i of Pindar Cockloft, Esq. - - 20 On Style—by William Wizard, Esq. 40 No. 4 Some Account of Jeremy Cock- The Editors and the Public loft the younger - - - 2 No. 9. — Account of Miss Charity Cock- Memorandums for a Tour to be enti- loft tled " The Stranger in New- From the Elbow-Chair of the Author Jersey, or Cockney Travelling," Letter from Rub-a-dub Keli Khan to by Jeremy Cockloft the younger 22 Asem Hacchem - 57 CONTENTS. Page. Poetry—from the Mill of Pindar Cock- No. 15—Sketches from Nature—by A. loft, Esq 60 Evergreen, Gent. - - - 100 No. 10.—Introduction to the Number - 61 On Greatness—by L. LangstafF, Esq. 103 Letter from Demi-Semiquaver to No. 16—Style at Ballston—by W. Launcelot LangstafF, Esq. 62 Wizard, Esq 107 Note by the Publisher - 64 From Mustapha Rub-a-dub Keli Khan No. 11.—Letter from Mustapha Rub-a- to Asem Hacchem - - - 110 dub Keli Khan to Asem Hacchem 65 No. 17 — Autumnal Reflections — by Account of " Mine Uncle John" 69 Launcelot LangstafF, Esq. - 113 No. 12.— Christopher Cockloft's Com- Description of the Library at Cockloft pany - 72 Hall—by L. LangstafF, Esq. - 116 The Stranger at Home, or a Tour in Chap. CIX. of the Chronicles of the Broadway—by Jeremy Cockloft Renowned and Ancient City of the younger - Gotham 118 Introduction to Pindar Cockloft's Poem No. 18 The Little Man in Black—by A Poem—from the Mill of Pindar Launcelot LangstafF, Esq. - 121 Cockloft, Esq. - Letter from Mustapha Rub-a-dub No. 13.—Introduction to Will Wizard's Keli Khan to Muley Helim al Plans for Defending our Harbour Raggi - - - - - 128 " Plans for Defending our Harbour" Anthony Evergreen's Introduction to —by William Wizard, Esq. the " Winter Campaign" - - 132 A Retrospect, or " What you Will" Tea, a Poem—from the Mill of Pin- To Readers and Correspondents dar Cockloft, Esq. - - - 134 No. 14.—Letter from Mustapha Rub-a- No. 20 On the New Year - - - 136 dub Keli Khan to Asem Hacchem To the Ladies—from A. Evergreen, Cockloft Hall—by L. LangstafF Gent 139 Theatrical Intelligence—by William Farewell Address - - - - 142 Wizard, Esq salmagundi; OR, THE WHIM-WHAMS AND OPINIONS OF LAUNCELOT LANGSTAFF, ESQ. AND OTHERS. In hoc est hoax, cum quiz et jokesez, Et smokem, toastein, roastem, folksez. Fee, faw, fum. PsalmanazaR. With bak'd, and broil'd, and stewed, and toasted, And fried, and boil'd, and smok'd, and roasted, We treat the town. ill-will between at No. 1. that there should be any us the commencement of our acquaintance. SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1807. Our intention is simply to instruct the As every body knows, or ought to know, young, reform the old, correct the town, and what a Salmagundi is, we shall spare our- castigate the age : this is an arduous task, selves the trouble of an explanation ; besides, and, therefore, we undertake it with confi- we despise trouble as we do every thing that is dence. We intend for this purpose to present low and mean—and hold the man who would a striking picture of the town ; and as every incur it unnecessarily, as an object worthy body is anxious to see his own phiz on canvass, our highest pity and contempt. Neither will however stupid or ugly it may be, we have we puzzle our heads to give an account of our- no doubt but the whole town will flock t,o selves, for two reasons ; first, because it is our exhibition. Our picture will necessarily nobody's business ; secondly, because if it include a vast variety of figures ; and Should were, we do not hold ourselves bound to any any lady or gentleman be displeased with the body's business but our own ; and even that inveterate truth of their likenesses, they may we take the liberty of neglecting when it suits ease their spleen by laughing at those of their our inclination. To these we might add a neighbours—this being what toe understand third, that very few men can give a tolerable by poetical justice. account of themselves, let them try ever so Like all true and able Editors, we consider hard ; but this reason, we candidly avow, ourselves infallible ; and, therefore, with the would not hold good with ourselves. customary diffidence of our brethren of the There are, however, two or three pieces of quill, we shall take the liberty of interfering information which we bestow gratis on the in all matters either of a public or private public, chiefly because it suits our own plea- nature. We are critics, amateurs, diletanti, sure and convenience that they should be and cognoscenti ; and as we know " by the known, and partly because we do not wish pricking of our thumbs," that every opinion B 1 ——: 2 SALMAGUNDI.