This collection of writings from Washington Irving includes a variety of subjects ranging from biographical sketches to personal letters. The titular "Spanish Papers" are written in the voice of Irving's fictional persona Jonathan Oldstyle and offer satirical commentary on American society. Also included are biographical sketches of notable figures such as naval hero Oliver Hazard Perry and the artist Washington Allston, as well as conversations with the French actor Talma. With its mix of humor, history, and personal reflections, this volume offers a comprehensive look at Irving's writings beyond his more well-known works such as "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.