the facts. Otherwise, it were easy enough to blunt | Mr. Irving, by the respectable compatriot of Nathe pens of critics, and stifle all investigation. It varrete, whom we quoted in our last, along with would only be necessary, that a writer should be the milder but equally significant remark of Marticareful to take his materials from the works of a nez de la Rosa, will go to prove, if need be, that modest and placable man. In such a case, the the Knickerbocker cannot settle this question, ex borrower might always claim originality, as the in- cathedră, at least in the other hemisphere. It will voluntary lender would be too good to dispute it. be found that capable men will rise up, to defend In matters, however, that concern the public, the for Don Martin, a cause wherein he shuns the forrights of the injured party are merged in the claims wardness of being his own champion. Indeed, to of universal justice. It is no defence where the an ordinary mind, not borne away by that high Commonwealth prosecutes, to say that the individ- tide of inspiration, which must result from the conual pardons. scious heroism of "crushing a stingless insect;" But is there in Navarrete's paragraph, a word or not abstracted in self-admiring contemplation, of Mr. Irving's Preface-a single syllable as to while profoundly devoted to "puncturing a bladacknowledgments or avowals-a hint of surrender-der"-the very Paris edition of Navarrete, which ing his own position? He begins by referring to our opponent quotes, would seem perfectly accorthe History of Columbus, as a conspicuous proof dant both with ourselves and those Spanish writers. that his collection will not be useless in the repub- Why otherwise, would Navarrete's work be descrilic of letters." He says, that he himself had pub- bed in the introduction to that edition, as the "nelished his documents "to enable others to write cessary appendage" of Irving's History? If the with truth and correctness." He rejoices, that appendage be "necessary," then it is but fair loMr. Irving was "the first who availed himself "22 gic to infer that the thing to which it is appended, of them. He admits, that Mr. I. had "an oppor-would be neither complete nor perfect without it. tunity" of examining books and manuscripts, and It seems, however, that the "Pensamiento," in of consulting persons well versed, but does not say which Mr. Irving is described as a mere "colourhow far that opportunity was improved, nor whether er," is "an obscure Spanish newspaper," which the manuscripts and books were at all new, though has had time to "take the cold scent and join in "excellent and precious." As to his own Collec- the bay." If this fact does make the most incretion, however, he is very clear that Mr. I. had that dulous reader cry out-quod erat demonstrandum! We have, "always at hand." So far, then, as the question then it is not worth while to reason! of originality is concerned, we do not think that ourselves, some difficulty in exactly understanding Navarrete's paragraph is a very strong witness what an "obscure" newspaper is. Perhaps all paeither for Mr. Irving, or against himself. He pers are "obscure," unless Sir Edward Bulwer, states the facts without gloss or comment, and or Mr. Irving, or Mr. Dickens, has written to and talks of his subject, not of himself. There is no of (not for) them. We half suspect, that the Mesallusion to indebtedness on the one hand, as con- senger itself may be in this unfortunate predicatrasted with merit on the other. He pours forth ment. We would, however, respectfully suggest, the overflowing joy of a scholar's heart, that his that this theme of "obscure newspapers," be touchlabours had not been all idle, and that the search ed rather lightly in this connexion, for the indirect after truth, which had become his destiny, had immortality which Mr. Irving owes to his edition been fruitful of profit to the world for which he of the Abridgement mentioned above, is predicatoiled. It was no time nor place for him to blow ted, among other things, on the certificates transa Fontarabian blast for himself. He could not planted bodily from eight newspapers, not better condescend to "stickle for the ninth part of a known among us, (whatever their conceded respechair," in the behalf of his personal fame, when he tability,) than is the "Pensamiento" at home. We had toiled with the loftier aim of propagating truth should be willing, too, to forfeit all claim to credit, for its own sake. Nevertheless, that man must be if the article from which we quoted the offending a wide-constructionist, who finds in Navarrete's word, be not pronounced by competent judges, conparagraph, an admission that his own research was siderably above the average ability of some very nothing by the side of his successor's superior conspicuous periodicals, which quote the assertion glory! Don Martin's is evidently the dignified and swear to it, that they are "unanimously and The article is on Americourse of one who does not argue against injustice, universally popular."23 because his confidence in facts places him above can Literature, and is quite complete, as well as the fear of it, and because he knows that other sensible and candid. The only defect which we men will vindicate, what it were weakness in him notice is, that in speaking of our light literature, it to be aware of. entirely overlooks the Knickerbocker. This omission of course argues the paper itself unknown, and perhaps in that view, it is "obscure," after all. We might go on to an almost indefinite length, 23 Aug. Knick., 1841, p. 205.

The strong epithet of " colorista," applied to 22" Se haya aprovechado de ellos," are the words-otherwise, and perhaps more properly to be rendered, "took advantage of them." 3 Nar. xiii.

VOL. VIII.-93

25

"Whose minds, well skilled to find, or forge a fault,”

made no inference, without giving the premises wherefrom we drew it—no assertion, without the reference whereby it may be verified or contradicted. We have no where endeavored to hide our dearth of fact, behind insult or coarse insinuation, nor have we striven to conceal the blankness of our

fine, as we have been likened to faithful Kent, and stigmatised as

"Some fellow,

in thus shewing the weakness and emptiness of the sified a quotation, and put our own bad grammar thousand little schemes for "dodging" the ques- into italics, as evidence of our own discernment, and tion, which compose our opponent's elaborate lucu- his stupidity. But then, we should have trembled brations. We think, however, that we have suc- to reflect, that our readers had learned the decaceeded in establishing beyond successful contro-logue, or that they might remind us of Byron's versy, our two original positions: first, that Mr. Ir- critics, ving is deeply and vitally indebted to Navarrete ; and secondly, that he is far from having made that had no scruples of conscience as to the forging, when free acknowledgment, which candor and a just the finding would not stand them in stead. It was, self-regard would seem to have rendered impera- of course, our desire to escape all these retributive tive. Our readers will pardon, we trust, the extent judgments, and we have consequently made it our which we have given to our views, for we felt business to abstain from clap-trap altogether, and bound, from the importance of the subject, and a denunciation also, save in self-defence. We have respect for their judgment, to yield it more than a passing notice. We are well aware of the common trick which has been tried against us, in speaking of "spleen" and "pique;" calling us "censors," "envious" too, and "malignant" thus endeavoring to sap the foundation of faith in our honesty, when it was not possible to meet us, cartridges, by the smoke and thunder of a holyday successfully, on the facts. Such schemes are very cannonade. Our only "artifice" has been to set old and intelligible, but still it was our wish to down men at their real, not their self-estimated vaexpose them. Some men are not capable of com- lue-to judge of things, not by those whom they afprehending so abstract a motive, as the love of fect, but by themselves. If we have been guilty truth for its own sake; and others are so devoid of of any "mystification," it has been in avoiding the fairness, as not to give credit for such a motive, risk of disparaging ourselves, while we illustrated even when they are able to understand it. To the disparagement self-won by our opponent. In which of these classes our opponent belongs, we care not to decide; but we have dwelt on our subject, in order, unequivocally, to identify him with the one or the other. It would have been easy for us to have assumed the "summit of our periodical literature," and to have revelled in that temporary importance, which even the smallest can, for a while, command, simply by assuming it. We could have readily postponed our reply, until men had forgotten the attack, and could then have set up false issues of our own, which we might have "crushed" in a very elephantine way, to the great delight of our "idols," if we had any, and at all events, to our own marvellous and perceptible edification. Yet, if we had done these things, we should have been blind to their evil exemplifica25 On page 206, Id. it is said of a communication. Its tion in the case before us, and should have suffered granimar is quite as pellucid as that of Mr. Irving's Southern like our opponent, from the parallel drawn by men (why this sectional epithet?) critic, elsewhere noticed; as for of sense, between the pretension and the reality. example, "The laborious student stands on the shore of the We might have preached of "hypocritical disclaim-stream of life, with his own bark fast moored while Health ers;" and then, after having reduced a great man's from them." The sentence thus mutilated, reads in our and Pleasure lift the sails of theirs and glide downaway toil of a third of a century, to the compass of less text, (March No. 1841, p. 238,) grammatically thus: "The than "six pages," we might have hastened "to laborious student, &c. &c. while youth and Health and disclaim the slightest intention of underrating his Pleasure lift the sails of their's and glide downwards away work or fame." 7724 Yet, if we had so done, we from him." Could so palpable a falsification of so plain a know our readers well enough, to be assured that text have been accidental? If not, has the Knickerbockthey would have required strong corroborative tes-ponent" as of himself? timony to have believed us, notwithstanding that We will here observe, that the proofs of the first article, we have the advantage, not universally enjoyed, of were not corrected by the author, and several errors, (mageneral good character to sustain our veracity. ny indeed,) crept in. This will have been especially perWe might have called an opponent's style "inflated and ungrammatical," and then have deliberately fal24 Aug. Knick., p. 197.

Who, having been praised for bluntness, doth affect
A saucy roughness,"

we of course have an unquestionable right to the
good Earl's defence, and say, with pride, that we
have never been of

"Such smiling rogues as these, * who turn their halcyon beaks, With every gale and vary of their masters." And further,

""Tis our occupation to be plain. We have seen better faces in our time, Than stands on any shoulder,"

er's Editor quite as much reason to be "ashamed of his op

ceptible to a classical reader, in the quotations. The

also a gift of the compositor. As to the facts, however, somewhat singular title of "Navarrete on Spain," was we complain of no errors, and challenge their examination.

likely, from present appearances, to play the At-1 entertain our opinions, as well as to express and las in this controversy.

defend them. Eighteen months hence, if life lasts, we shall be as ready as we are now, to rebuke the violation of common decency, and to show how empty is the assumption of superiority, without ability, information or truth, to uphold it.

HISTORY OF THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA.

BY WM. W. ANDREWS, AMERICAN CONSUL AT MALTA.

PART IX.

Period embraced from 1658, to 1674.

Hardly was Lascaris entombed, before the Grand Inquisitor, Odi, came forward to interfere in the choice of his successor. He said he was charged by the Pope, to oppose the election of Martin Redin de Navarre, as he had been guilty of simony and corruption, and was unworthy of the dignity to which the Knights would promote him. The Chapter, neither disposed to obey the Pontiff's protest, nor the Inquisitor's unjust accusations, elected Redin as their ruler, by a large majority. The

A word of Mr. Irving, and we shall conclude for the present. Although we have no idea that it would be in the power of the ablest advocate, to extricate him from the unpleasant position in which it cannot but be perceived that he has placed himself, we do, nevertheless, most honestly and sincerely, wish him a worthier defender than the Knickerbocker. If we had aught of spleen or malice to gratify, there is no conceivable mode in which those feelings could be fed more gratefully, than in seeing him brought down from the almost impregnable prestige of his high reputation, to the valley of the shadow of such protection. Can Washington Irving be dependent upon the poor pension, which a draft in his favor upon Billingsgate will pay? If American Literature has been wronged by us in his person, can it be that she is so poor, as to find no better champion? There is no candid admirer of Mr. Irving, but must feel humiliated by perusing the defence to which we have replied; no man of sound judgment, who can fail to see that it does him a thousand times more injustice, than could the harshest stricture. It begets a feeling of disgust, which may insensibly, though wrongfully be transferred from the advocate to the client. It Grand-Master, immediately after his inauguration, injures him by creating the impression that he keeps sent an envoy to Rome, with a letter from his own bad company. “Fasting and fustigation," the pana- hands, in which he stated, that if his election did ceas of Captain Rolando, may cure the disordered not meet with the approbation of his holiness, he wits, the angry bile, or rustic breeding of his apolo- would resign his honors, and retire to private life. gist; but sensible and respectable men will not be Pope Innocent expressed his surprise, that a prosatisfied, until Mr. Irving disavows the connexion. position of such a nature, should come from one They will ask for something more than bad temper-whom he so much esteemed, and observed, that to something better than hard words, to settle so satisfy the prince of his friendship, and that the Ingrave a question. Public opinion may often err, quisitor had mistaken his wishes, he should cause for it too often acts on impulse, and impulse will Odi to acknowledge the error he had committed, run wild; but public opinion has this stubborn qua- and send a favorite nephew, who commanded his lity, that it can be neither coaxed nor bullied. It galleys, to compliment him on his well-merited is broad in its scope, searching in its scrutiny, fear-promotion. We might have trusted to the Pope's less and peremptory in its judgments. It is wise veracity on this occasion, had we not found a cirenough to know, that, where abuse begins, truth cumstance recorded which leads us to suppose that and reason end. It is honest enough to be above Odi acted strictly according to the spirit of his inthe temptation to flatter-independent enough to structions, and that his holiness was induced by a spurn the control of whippers-in. bribe to lay the onus of an action on the Inqusitor, which rightly belonged to himself. Bichi, the Roman admiral, who went to Malta on this occasion, performed his delicate mission so much to Redin's satisfaction, that on his departure, he was given the rich commandery of Polinizi, in Sicily, and the Grand Cross of the Order studded with

To this public opinion, now, as before, we submit ourselves, appealing to it, and not to the small clique around "our table," to decide whether we have made or not a "highly probable statement." We again disclaim, if it can be necessary, all intention of offering to Mr. Irving the slightest personal disrespect. Had he not been so long silent-diamonds and other jewels of great value. ly aware of our earlier strictures, we should not, author has said of this transaction, "that it is more even now, have continued the discussion in his ab- "painful to the conscientious annalist, to record sence. We shall hold ourselves bound to acknow-" these mean infractions of honest principle, than ledge all errors which can be pointed out to us," to chronicle great crimes."

One

and to make amends for injustice, when it can be The Grand-Master employed his brief reign of proved that we have been guilty of it, in a soli- three years, in erecting a chain of watch-towers tary instance. Until some such indications and on the northern coast of the island, to serve as a proofs shall have appeared, we shall continue to refuge for the country people in case of a sudden

invasion.* Redin died on the 6th of February, trymen who had expired through fatigue and sick

had broken from their fastnesses, and swam around | a favorable flaw, her sails were loosed and set, she them. making a most miraculous escape. This gallant Knight retired from the contest with a severe wound and a loss of sixty slain-a number equal to one-third of his crew. Well would it have been

this honorble occasion--their lives having only been spared for a few months, to be lost by shipwreck on the African coast.

In 1665, the elder Tremicourt, brother of him whom we have once named, and whose sad fate we shall soon have reason to deplore, while cruising off Alexandria with his friend, the Chevalier

The reverse which the Maltese met with in this expedition, was soon forgotten by their being quickly engaged in other more fortunate and equally daring achievements. Two Knights, Crainville for him and his companions, had they perished on and Tremicourt the one commanding the "Dutch Garden," a ship of forty guns, which he had taken the previous year from the Algerines, and the latter in a small frigate-while cruising off the island of Samos, fell in with a Turkish caravan of twentytwo vessels, six of which they captured, and dispersed the rest. This result, however fortunate from the great disparity of force, was far eclipsed de Barre, fell in with two Turkish merchantmen, by the daring deed of another Knight, which is of both of which keeping together, tried to escape. so remarkable a character, that was it not men- Tremicourt, having first come up with his enemies, tioned by many historians, its authenticity might gave them battle; but in attempting to board, he well be doubted. The Chevalier D' Hocquincourt, received a musket shot in his head, and shortly running at night under the lee of Dolphin island, to after expired. The Christians, nothing daunted get shelter from a heavy gale, found himself at day- by the loss of their commander, would have soon light in the midst of a large Turkish fleet, which taken the Infidel galley, had not the Turkish capwas carrying reinforcements to Candia. This tain most effectually prevented it, by setting fire to monk, having bravely answered the officer who his magazine, and blowing her up, with all on summoned him to yield, that his ship would be board. In the midst of the havock and confusion given only with the lives of those who were on caused among the Maltese by this explosion, the board to defend her, the Ottoman admiral landed a other vessel escaped. company of archers, and making a joint attack on When the news of Tremicourt's decease was the Maltese vessel, both from the sea and shore, so received at Malta, his brother became desirous of riddled her, that in a short time she lay like a living only to avenge his death. As soon as he wreck on the water. Still her flag was kept fly- got his galley in readiness he put to sea, and sailed ing, and a shot now and then fired to tell her ene-for the coast of Barbary. Four days after his demies she had not surrendered. The Turks, sup-parture from Valletta, falling in with five Tripoposing from the little resistance which was made, line corsairs, he, with more courage than prudence, that the ship could be easily taken by boarding, ran down among them, and opened a brisk cannonarmed their boats for the purpose, and rowing ade. Having most fortunately succeeded in disalongside, commenced a furious assault. D' Hoc- masting two of his enemies, he seized the opporquincourt, however, who had at the commencement tunity while the others hauled off to assist their of the action, sent his seamen below, that they crippled companions, to withdraw from so unequal might not be unnecessarily exposed to the showers a contest, leaving the Moors in astonishment and of arrows which were thrown on his deck, no admiration, at his daring deed. The Maltese, sufsooner perceived the Infidels' intention of board-fering only a trifling damage in this engagement, ing, than he had the Maltese at their quarters, continued on their cruise. Hardly had they arready to repel them. Three separate attempts rived on the coast of Africa, near which it was were made by the Turks, in as many successive their wont to sail, that they might make prizes of hours, to effect a footing on the Christian galley, the small vessels plying between the different ports, and as often were they repelled with a grievous before they experienced a hurricane from the loss, carrying their dead and wounded with them. Northward, which, notwithstanding all their exerThe Musselman commander, rendered furious by tions, drove them on shore and left their galley a his reverses, and mortified that with his whole fleet perfect wreck. The shipwrecked seamen soon he should be unable to capture a single enemy, discovered by a roving band of Arabs, were made gallantly ordered his captains to open a line, that prisoners of war as they landed, and taken to Trihe might lay alongside and finish the conflict alone. poli for slavery or ransom. Through the intercesD' Hocquincourt, with the remainder of his crew, sion of the French consul, a sum had been named sword in hand, coolly awaited the Capitano's vessel, and accepted by the Bashaw, for the release of the which, rowed by all its oars, and filled with fight-Knights, when unfortunately, one of the corsairs ing men, was fast approaching to commence another which had been dismasted in the recent engageengagement. When the two vessels met, the shock was so great, that the Maltese galley was forced from under the high land, where she had been lying becalmed, and being at the moment struck by

ment put in for repairs, and Tremicourt, recognized by some of her crew, was held in bondage. Achmet, the governor, observing that after the information he had received, no contract was binding,