Letter from Dimitri Ivanovich Dolgorouki (Dolgorukov), Madrid, to Washington Irving, 1828 April 27 and 30 : autograph manuscript signed.

Saying how much he and his family have enjoyed reading Irving's letters and expressing his regrets that Irving will not be returning to Madrid but is instead planning to go directly back to London. Says that in Irving's work on New York [A History of New York], he develops the idea that it's precisely in times of peace that the seeds of war are planted. This article provoked a minor argument with Antoinette [Bolviller] about the idea that war is more interesting than peace. It's more varied, whereas peacetime is monotonous. He would like Irving's comments about the treaty Russia just signed with Iran [concluding the Russo-Persian War, 1826-28]: why do the Iranians still see reasons for continuing the war? He goes on to say that the gazette he has included should give Irving an idea about how eager the Italians are to read his book on Columbus and about how well they will receive it. He has received a letter from Wilkie about the painter Murillo and his work. He fears that Irving's presence in Madrid is keeping Wilkie there too long, although he himself would like to go there. Stoffregen's arrival will be the determining factor in his making up his mind. He says that Irving knows how well how Dolgorouki's life is monotonous. He says that at home, it's like a convent, where the nuns have said everything there is to say to one another or who don't dare say everything. Dolgorouki is studying English, among other things. The political silence in the shadow of which Spain is rising, or the oncoming storm, has little influence on society. He is reading Manzoni's I promessi sposi, which is very successful in Italy and says that Manzoni will be Italy's Sir Walter Scott. He says that it's natural that England would produce great writers now, at the height of the development of their civilization, but for poor Italy, which has produced so little for centuries, it's proof that they can still be a great culture. (dated April 30) Wilkie just returned to Madrid and gave Dolgorouki a detailed report about his and Irving's stay in Seville. But he did not say much about how Irving is spending his time and about the systematic way he has set up his new residence. Wilkie showed him his drawings, and he finds that his portrait of Irving resembles him entirely and is beautifully executed. Wilkie has begun in Madrid to paint a small portrait of a woman in the style of Murillo but wearing an outfit in the style of Velazquez. Wilkie told Dolgorouki the advice that Irving gave him not to include soldiers in the charming painting of women and children grouped at the foot of a cannon, but Dolgorouki told Wilkie that the spectacle of a happy, tranquil life in the midst of weapons of war was not fitting. Wilkie decided to take Dolgorouki's advice. Dolgorouki talks about Mme D'Oubril and Mme Constance and also about the children.