Note 25 — IX. AT PHILADELPHIA AND “IN CLOVER.”

The documentary evidence handed to Irving as establishing the identity of the watch are, (1.) a copy of the catalogue of the sale by auction of “the estate of Edwin Forrest, deceased,” at Davis & Harvey’s Art Galleries, No. 1212 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, on Feb. 4, 1883. (2.) A copy of the Supplementary catalogue of “the personal effects of Edwin Forrest,” which sets forth twenty-eight articles, including a silver watch. (3.) The auctioneer’s receipt for “One silver watch, the property of Edwin Forrest,” and (4.) a voucher from Mr. Donaldson, in which he states that, until he presented it to Mr. Irving, the watch had never been out of his possession from the time that he bought it. Mr. Donaldson is a collector of bric-à-brac, and possesses many interesting relics of the stage. On Irving’s second visit to Philadelphia we called upon him and inspected some of his miscellaneous treasures. They covered a wide range of interest,—antiquarian, geological, historical, artistic, and literary. A white-haired, picturesque-looking old gentleman was there to meet us. “How like Tennyson!” exclaimed Irving. The interesting visitor was Walt Whitman. He expressed great satisfaction on being told that he was well known in England, and, in an amused way, he stood up, that Irving might judge if he was as tall as Tennyson. It is a milder face, and less rugged in its lines, than the face of the great English poet; but, in other respects, suggests the author of “In Memoriam.”