Salmagundi; or, The whim-whams and opinions of Launcelot Langstaff, esq. [pseud.] and others. By William Irving, James Kirke Paulding and Washington Irving. Printed from the original ed., with a preface and notes by Evert A. Duyckinck.

COCKLOFT HALL. 287
my eyes around, and every object is serene, simple, and beautiful; no warring passion, no discordant string, there vibrates to
the touch of ambition, self-interest, hatred, or revenge; I am
at peace with the whole world, and hail all mankind as friends
and brothers. Blissful moments! ye recall the careless days of
my boyhood, when mere existence was happiness, when hope
was certainly, this world a paradise, and every woman a ministering angel! Surely man was designed for a tenant of the
universe, instead of being pent up in these dismal cages, these
dens of strife, disease, and discord. We were created to range
the fields, to sp, rt almon the groves, to build castles in the air,
and have every one of them realized I
A whole legion of reflections like these insinuated themselves
into my mind, and stole me from the influence of the cold realities before me, as I took my accustomed walk a few weeks since
on the Battery. Here, watching the splendid mutations of one
of our summer skies, which emulated the boasted glories of an
Italian sunset, I all at once discovered that it was but pack up
my portmanteau, bid adieu for awhile to my elbow-chair, and in
a little time I should be transported from the region of smoke,
and noise, and dust, to the enjoyment of a far sweeter prospect
and a brighter sky. The next morning I was off full tilt to
Cockloft Hall, leaving my man Pompey to follow at his leisure
with my baggage. I love to indulge in rapid transitions, which
are prompted by the quick impulse of the moment;'tis the only
mode of guarding against that intruding and deadly foe to all
parties of pleasure-anticipation.
Having now made good my retreat, until the black frosts commence, it is but a piece of civility due to my readers, who I trust
are, ere this, my friends, to give them a proper introduction to
my present residence. I do this as much to gratify them as my