Letter from Dimitri Ivanovich Dolgorouki (Dolgorukov), Madrid, to Washington Irving, 1829 March 17 : autograph manuscript signed.

Navarrete finished his preface and read the part about Irving to Dolgorouki. It is filled with praise. Irving's friend Don Antonio Uguina, who has had Navarrete's book for a few days, regrets that Irving didn't consult him before the publication of the second edition of Irving's book. Uguina said that the account of Columbus's trial and Navarrete's proof of the bad faith of Columbus's son Fernando are the most interesting part of Navarrete's book. Some articles have appeared giving an unfavorable opinion of Irving's book on Columbus. Navarrete is indignant and thanks Irving for the article he wrote concerning him in the preface of his book. Dologorouki finds Navarrete to be a fine man without pretension or pedantry, and he thanks Irving for putting him in contact with him. Dolgorouki will be sending Irving a facsimile [of a letter by Columbus] the following week that will be extremely exact; it will be carefully examined by Navarrete before it is sent. There is something touching about Columbus's high regard for Vespucci expressed in it. The Duke of Veragua[s] has given Dolgorouki full access to his archives, and Dolgorouki asks Irving to tell him if he needs any more documents about Veragua's great ancestor, Columbus. The wife of the French ambassador and her nephew, the Comte de St-Priest are leaving Madrid for Andalusia and would like to meet Irving in Seville.