Memorials and Other Papers — Volume 1De Quincey, Thomas
General
Memorials and Other Papers — Volume 1
De Quincey, Thomas
English essays
from Barcelona--have been drawn together ample attestations of all the
incidents recorded by Kate. The elopement from St. Sebastian's, the
doubling of Cape Horn, the shipwreck on the coast of Peru, the rescue of
the royal banner from the Indians of Chili, the fatal duel in the dark,
the astonishing passage of the Andes, the tragical scenes at Tucuman and
Cuzco, the return to Spain in obedience to a royal and a papal summons,
the visit to Rome and the interview with the Pope--finally, the return
to South America, and the mysterious disappearance at Vera Cruz, upon
which no light was ever thrown--all these capital heads of the
narrative have been established beyond the reach of scepticism: and,
in consequence, the story was soon after adopted as historically
established, and was reported at length by journals of the highest
credit in Spain and Germany, and by a Parisian journal so cautious and
so distinguished for its ability as the _Revue des Deux Mondes_.
I must not leave the impression upon my readers that this complex body
of documentary evidences has been searched and appraised by myself.
Frankly I acknowledge that, on the sole occasion when any opportunity
offered itself for such a labor, I shrank from it as too fatiguing--and
also as superfluous; since, if the proofs had satisfied the compatriots
of Catalina, who came to the investigation with hostile feelings of
partisanship, and not dissembling their incredulity,--armed also (and in
Mr. de Ferrer's case conspicuously armed) with the appropriate learning
for giving effect to this incredulity,--it could not become a stranger
to suppose himself qualified for disturbing a judgment that had been
so deliberately delivered. Such a tribunal of native Spaniards being
satisfied, there was no further opening for demur. The ratification of
poor Kate's memoirs is now therefore to be understood as absolute, and
without reserve.
This being stated,--namely, such an attestation from competent
authorities to the truth of Kate's narrative as may save all readers
from my fair Westmoreland friend's disaster,--it remains to give such an
answer, as without further research _can_ be given, to a question pretty
sure of arising in all reflective readers' thoughts--namely, does there
anywhere survive a portrait of Kate? I answer--and it would be both
mortifying and perplexing if I could _not_--_Yes_. One such portrait
there is confessedly; and seven years ago this was to be found at
Aix-la-Chapelle, in the collection of Herr Sempeller. The name of
the artist I am not able to report; neither can I say whether
Herr Sempeller's collection still remains intact, and remains at
Aix-la-Chapelle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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