It has been said of the latter, that he rivals and even excels some of the most popular English authors, particularly Addison, Goldsmith, and Mackenzie. The present selections, if they do not completely decide the point, will at least enable the reader to draw an accurate parallel between him and those celebrated classical writers.
With a view to afford sufficient scope for the talents of the Engraver, it was necessary to give rather a preponderance to humorous subjects; but generally speaking, it will be found that the collection is sufficiently miscellaneous, both to display Irving's varied talents as an author, and to gratify, even to satiety, the lovers of the grave and the pathetic, as well as every amateur of elegant composition. In short, although it is not for the Compiler to determine the merit of his own work, he thinks he may flatter himself that, making due allowance for the narrow limits of a pocket volume, he has done as much justice to his author as if the volume had been got up on a far more ambitious and extensive scale.