“While I am writing at a table in the cabin, I am sensible of the power of a pair of splendid Spanish eyes which are occasionally flashing upon me, and which almost seem to throw a light upon the paper.  Since I cannot break the spell, I will describe the owner of them.  She is a young married lady, about four or five and twenty, middle sized, finely modeled, a Grecian outline of face, a complexion sallow yet healthful, raven black hair, eyes dark, large, and beaming, softened by long eyelashes, lips full and rosy red, yet finely chiseled, and teeth of dazzling whiteness.  She is dressed in black, as if in mourning; on one hand is a black glove; the other hand, ungloved, is small, exquisitely formed, with taper fingers and blue veins.  She has just put it up to adjust her clustering black locks.  I never saw female hand more exquisite.  Really, if I were a young man, I should not be able to draw the portrait of this beautiful creature so calmly.

“I was interrupted in my letter writing, by an observation of the lady whom I was describing.  She had caught my eye occasionally, as it glanced from my letter toward her.  ‘Really, Senor,’ said she, at length, with a smile, ’one would think you were a painter taking my likeness.’  I could not resist the impulse.  ‘Indeed,’ said I, ’I am taking it; I am writing to a friend the other side of the world, discussing things that are passing before me, and I could not help noting down one of the best specimens of the country that I had met with.’  A little bantering took place between the young lady, her husband, and myself, which ended in my reading off, as well as I could into Spanish, the description I had just written down.  It occasioned a world of merriment, and was taken in excellent part.  The lady’s cheek, for once, mantled with the rose.  She laughed, shook her head, and said I was a very fanciful portrait painter; and the husband declared that, if I would stop at St. Filian, all the ladies in the place would crowd to have their portraits taken,—­my pictures were so flattering.  I have just parted with them.  The steamship stopped in the open sea, just in front of the little bay of St. Filian; boats came off from shore for the party.  I helped the beautiful original of the portrait into the boat, and promised her and her husband if ever I should come to St. Filian I would pay them a visit.  The last I noticed of her was a Spanish farewell wave of her beautiful white hand, and the gleam of her dazzling teeth as she smiled adieu.  So there’s a very tolerable touch of romance for a gentleman of my years.”

When Irving announced his recall from the court of Madrid, the young Queen said to him in reply:  “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, and that your distinguished personal merits