The Crayon Papers by Irving, Washington, 1783-1859

102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112

A word from our supporters: File extension FW

The Crayon Papers The Seminoles Letter From Granada A Contented Man * * * * *

* * * * *

The Great Mississippi Bubble "a Time Of Unexampled Prosperity"

* * * * * Don Juan A Spectral Research

* * * * *

* * * * * Broek Of The Dutch Paradise

* * * * * Sketches In Paris In 1825 From The Traveling Note-book Of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.

My French Neighbor

* * * * * The Englishman At Paris

* * * * * English And French Character

* * * * * The Tuileries And Windsor Castle

The Field Of Waterloo

* * * * * * * * * * Paris At The Restoration

* * * * * * * * * *

American Researches In Italy Life Of Tasso: Recovery Of A Lost Portrait Of Dante

G. C. The Taking Of The Veil * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * * The Charming Letorieres

Noted Down From His Conversations

The Seminoles

Origin Of The White, The Red, And The Black Men A Seminole Tradition

The Conspiracy Of Neamathla An Authentic Sketch

Letter From Granada Granada, 1828.

* * * * * Abderahman Founder Of The Dynasty Of The Ommiades Of Spain G.c. * * * * *

The Widow's Ordeal Or A Judicial Trial By Combat

The Creole Village A Sketch From A Steamboat

A Contented Man

* * * * *

Within two or three years after the above letter was written, the Marquis de Salar was married to the beautiful daughter of the Count -----, mentioned by the author in his anecdotes of the Alhambra. The match was very agreeable to all parties, and the nuptials were celebrated with great festivity.

ABDERAHMAN

FOUNDER OF THE DYNASTY OF THE OMMIADES OF SPAIN

_To the Editor of the Knickerbocker:_

SIR--In the following memoir I have conformed to the facts furnished by the Arabian chroniclers, as cited by the learned Conde. The story of Abderahman has almost the charm of romance; but it derives a higher interest from the heroic yet gentle virtues which it illustrates, and from recording the fortunes of the founder of that splendid dynasty, which shed such a luster upon Spain during the domination of the Arabs. Abderahman may, in some respects, be compared to our own Washington. He achieved the independence of Moslem Spain, freeing it from subjection to the caliphs; he united its jarring parts under one government; he ruled over it with justice, clemency, and moderation; his whole course of conduct was distinguished by wonderful forbearance and magnanimity; and when he died he left a legacy of good example and good counsel to his successors.

G.C.

* * * * *

"Blessed be God!" exclaims an Arabian historian; "in His hands alone is the destiny of princes. He overthrows the mighty, and humbles the haughty to the dust; and he raises up the persecuted and afflicted from the very depths of despair!"

The illustrious house of Omeya had swayed the scepter at Damascus for nearly a century, when a rebellion broke out, headed by Aboul Abbas Safah, who aspired to the throne of the caliphs, as being descended from Abbas, the uncle of the prophet. The rebellion was successful. Marvau, the last caliph of the house of Omeya, was defeated and slain. A general proscription of the Ommiades took place. Many of them fell in battle; many were treacherously slain, in places where they had taken refuge; above seventy most noble and distinguished were murdered at a banquet to which they had been invited, and their dead bodies covered with cloths, and made to serve as tables for the horrible festivity. Others were driven forth, forlorn and desolate wanderers in various parts of the earth, and pursued with relentless hatred; for it was the determination of the usurper that not one of the persecuted family should escape. Aboul Abbas took possession of three stately palaces and delicious gardens, and founded the powerful dynasty of the Abbassides, which, for several centuries, maintained dominion in the east.

"Blessed be God!" again exclaims the Arabian historian; "it was written in His eternal decrees that, notwithstanding the fury of the Abbassides, the noble stock of Omeya should not be destroyed. One fruitful branch remained to nourish with glory and greatness in another land."