Irving and the Knickerbocker Group 189
promise sectional dissensions. He made no comment on the
Kansas-Nebraska Bill, the Fugitive Slave Law, the emer-
gence of Lincoln, the controversies between Calhoun and
Jackson, the activities of Garrison, John Brown and other
firebrands of the tumultuous times. He was similarly de-
tached from the social problems of the period, such as the
enfranchisement of women and the temperance agitation.
He was a notable figure in civic celebrations : the laying of
the Atlantic cable, as in earlier days he had been prominent
in founding the Astor library and at a functional dinner to
Charles Dickens.
He was an old man when the furious political turmoils
were approaching a climax and it was not in his nature to
reverse the habit of a lifetime which had been to labor in his
bland way to promote that which unites people rather than
that which divides. As diplomat he performed important
duties, among them a share in the amicable settlement of the
Oregon boundary dispute. But his outstanding service had
been that of ambassador of good will from his own country
to Europe. In saying which I have been anticipated by
Thackeray (a famous old American scholar used to say
that Aristotle had anticipated him in his conclusions) ;
Thackeray called Irving “the first ambassador from the
new world of letters to the old.” In their final meeting
Queen Isabella of Spain said, “you may take with you into
private life the intimate conviction that your frank and
loyal conduct has contributed to draw closer the amicable
relations which exist between North America and the Spanish
nation.” He had worked for a better understanding between
this country and Great Britain, to a lesser degree between
this country and Germany, between this country and France.
International rancors were mollified by the presence of
Washington Irving.