i those of the gifted author, as he was here also known as the good citizen, the genial neighbor and the Christian gentleman." , Irving first came to know Tarrytown and Sleepy I Hollow when a lad of fourteen or fifteen. He ( spent some of his holidays here, and formed an f attachment for the spot which never left him. Irving was born on the 8d of April, 1783, in a house which stood on William Street, New York City, next to the i corner of Fulton. He was the youngest son of I William Irving, a merchant and native of Scotland, who had married an English lady. He had an ordinary school education, but early developed a taste for literature. At the age of sixteen he began the study of law. His brother, Dr. Peter Irving, edited the Morning Chronicle, and for this paper Washington Irving wrote a series of essays on the theatres, manners of the town and kindred topics, with the signature of Jonathan Oldstyle. In 1804 for the benefit of his health he visited the south of Europe, returning by way of Switzerland to France and proceeding thence after a sojourn of a few months in Paris to England via Flanders and Holland. While at Rome he formed the acquaintance of Washington Allston, the artist, with whom he studied painting for a time with the idea of himself becoming a painter. After an absence of two years, however, he returned to New York, in March, 1806, and again took up the study of law. He was admitted to the bar, but never practiced. About this time he wrote and published his portion of the " Salmagundi " papers, which appeared as a serial. Paulding wrote a portion of the work, William Irving the poetry and Washington Irving the remainder.