When the War of 1812 was over, his friend Commodore Decatur invited him to accompany him on an expedition to the Mediterranean, the United States having declared war against the pirates of Algiers.  Irving’s trunks were put on board the Guerriere, but as the expedition was delayed on account of the escape of Napoleon from Elba, he had them again brought ashore, and finally gave up his plan of going with Decatur.  His mind was set on visiting Europe, however, and he immediately took passage for Liverpool in another vessel.  Little did he think that he was not to return for seventeen years.

One of Irving’s married sisters was living in Birmingham, and his brother Peter was in Liverpool managing the business in which he was a partner.  Soon after Washington’s arrival, however, Peter fell ill, and the younger brother was obliged to take charge of affairs.  He found a great many bills to pay, and very little money with which to pay them.  He was now beginning to face some of the stern realities of life.  He worked hard; but the black cloud of ruin came nearer and nearer.  Other difficulties were added to those they already had to face, and finally, in 1818, the brothers were obliged to go into bankruptcy.

It was now absolutely necessary that Irving should earn his living in some way.  His brothers procured him an appointment at Washington; but to their astonishment he declined it and said he had made up his mind to live by his pen.

He immediately went to London and set to work on the “Sketch Book,” and during the next dozen years wrote the greater number of his more famous works.

CHAPTER IX

FRIENDSHIP WITH SIR WALTER SCOTT

While he was worrying over the failure of his business, Irving was fortunate enough to make some distinguished literary friendships.  He had already helped to introduce Thomas Campbell’s works in the United States, and had written a biography of Campbell; one of the first things he did, therefore, after reaching Liverpool, was to go to see the English poet.

It was not until a little later that he became acquainted with Sir Walter Scott, who was the literary giant of those times.  In 1813 Henry Brevoort, one of Irving’s most intimate boyhood friends, had presented to Scott a copy of the “History of New York,” and Scott had written a letter of thanks in which he said, “I have been employed these few evenings in reading the annals of Diedrich Knickerbocker aloud to Mrs. S, and two ladies who are our guests, and our sides have been absolutely sore with laughing.  I think, too, there are passages which indicate that the author possesses powers of a different kind.”

Irving, too, had been a great admirer of Scott’s “Lady of the Lake.”  Campbell gave him a letter of introduction to the bard, and in a letter to his brother, Irving gives a delightful description of his visit to Abbotsford, Scott’s home.