sinner,
And with the spoil the company enrich.
His pocket-handkerchief I would bestow
On the poor orphan; and his worsted socks
Should to the widow in requital go
For having sunk her all in Yankee stocks;
To John the footman I would give his hat,
Which only cost six shillings in Broadway:
As for his diamond ring--I'd speak for that;
His gold watch too my losses might repay:
Himself might home in the next steamer hie,
For who would take him--or his word? Not I.

'LEGENDS OF THE CONQUEST OF SPAIN.'--Some eighteen years ago, a work in a
single volume, entitled as above, and written by the author of the
'Sketch-Book,' was issued from the press of MURRAY, the celebrated London
book-seller. It would seem to have been put forth as a kind of
_avant-courier_ of 'The Chronicles of the Conquest of Granada;' but unlike
that elaborate work, was never republished in this country, and has never
been included in any of the complete editions of Mr. IRVING'S writings. We
are indebted to the kind courtesy of a gentleman who has been spending
some months with our distinguished countryman and correspondent at Madrid,
for a copy of the book, which he obtained at that capital. We have good
reason to believe that it has been encountered by few if any readers on
this side the Atlantic. A very stirring extract from its pages will be
found elsewhere in this Magazine. Mr. IRVING introduces the legends to his
readers with a few prefatory sentences, in which he states that he has
ventured to dip more deeply into the enchanted fountains of old Spanish
chronicle than has usually been done by those who have treated of the
eventful period of which he writes; but in so doing, he only more fully
illustrates the character of the people and the times. He has thrown the
records into the form of legends, not claiming for them the authenticity
of sober history, yet giving nothing that had not a historical foundation.
'All the facts herein contained,' says the writer, 'however extravagant
some of them may be deemed, will be found in the works of sage and
reverend chroniclers of yore, growing side by side with long acknowledged
truths, and might be supported by learned and imposing references in the
margin.' To discard every thing wild and marvellous in this portion of
Spanish history is to discard some of its most beautiful, instructive, and
national features; it is to judge of Spain by the standard of probability
suited to tamer and