WILLIAM H. PRESCOTT.

is somewhat remarkable that the year 1859

nished an easy means of reference to sustain the text. Still another difficulty occurred in the mechanical labor of writing which I found a severe

I should have witnessed extinguishment of trial to eye. was remedied by

the light of two such charming and popular writers as Irving and Prescott. They had both, although in different paths, added largely to the reputation of their country, and won for themselves a world-wide and imperishable renown. Both had been early attracted to the beautiful and romantic but unfortunate land of Spain for the incidents from which they fashioned their most fascinating productions-one with all the romantic ardor of a poet, the other with the gravity of a staid historian. In the writings of the one we see a romantic but faithful picture of the Moor, dressed out with Oriental magnificence, while in those of the other we find a calm, philosophical, but beautifully-written history of the events he narrates. While Irving "views the battle-ground from the towers of the Alhambra, Prescott sees it from the plains of Madrid." Neither detracts from the other, while both fascinate by the richness of their imagery and the felicity of their style.

of a writing-case such as is used by the blind. which enabled me to commit my thoughts to paper without the aid of sight, serving me equally well in the dark as in the light. The characters thus formed made a near approach to hieroglyphics; but my secretary became expert in the art of deciphering them, and a fair copy with a liberal allowance for unavoidable blunders-was transcribed for the use of the printer." Under these discouraging circumstances the "History of Ferdinand and Isabella" was written; but while it was slowly progressing the tendency to inflammation in the eye gradually subsided and its strength was more confirmed, until at last he was enabled to read several hours each day. The power of reading necessarily terminated with the daylight; nor was he ever able to dispense with the writing-case or the services of a secretary. Being so far restored as to be enabled to read in the manner indicated, he caused a copy of "Ferdinand and Isabella," in large type and a quarto form, to be struck off by the printer for his own inspection and revision.

He

After it was finished he sent the two volumes, printed as above described, to Jared Sparks, already eminent as a biographer and historian, with a request that he would read them. did so, as he assures us, with great pleasure and profit, and with no little surprise at the success of the writer under his infirmity of sight. He returned the volumes, and soon after saw Prescott, who asked him, with great diffidence, what he thought of the book. Mr. Sparks replied that there could be but one opinion-that he had read the work with great delight, and thought he had written one of the most successful works of its kind that had been given to the public.

"But," urged Prescott, "you may have read it under the bias of some degree of partiality and friendly feeling." He was assured by Mr. Sparks that although this might be true, yet he was greatly gratified with its perusal.

I had the good fortune to enjoy the personal acquaintance of both, and was often impressed with the gentleness of manner and genial spirit that characterized the social life of these two eminent writers. Nor was Prescott, at least as to his earlier productions, less diffident of their merits than Irving. He received, while a student at college, an accidental injury in one of his eyes at the hands of a fellow-pupil which nearly caused a loss of sight in both, which, in the introduction to his "Conquest of Peru," in a most charming specimen of autobiography, he has thus explained: "While at the University I received an injury in one of my eyes which deprived me of the sight of it. The other soon after was attacked by inflammation so severely that for some time I lost the sight of that also; and though it was subsequently restored, the organ was so much disordered as to remain permanently debilitated, while twice in my life since I have been deprived of the use of it for all purposes of reading and writing for several years together. It was during one of these periods I received from Madrid the materials for the 'History of Ferdinand and Isabella;' and in my dis-manded Prescott. ` abled condition, with my trans-Atlantic treasures lying around me, I was like one pining from hunger in the midst of abundance. In this state I resolved to make the ear, if possible, do the work of the eye; I procured the services of a secretary, who read to me the various authorities, and in time I became so familiar with the sounds of the different foreign languages (to some of which, indeed, I had been previously accustomed by a residence abroad) that I could comprehend his reading without much difficulty. As the reader progressed I dictated copious notes, and when these had swelled to a considerable amount, they were read to me repeatedly till I had mastered their contents sufficiently for the purposes of composition. The same notes fur

"Do you think it should be published?" de"Have

To be sure," responded Sparks. you not written it for that purpose?" Prescott replied by urging many objections. The subject was one that related to Spain in times long past, and would not be likely to interest American readers; besides he very much doubted whether the style of composition and the execution of the work were of such a character as to make it attractive. His own impression was that it would prove a failure. Mr. Sparks urged what arguments he could against his positions, but finally left him in a state of great uncertainty as to whether he should publish it or not. He said that he had the gratification of writing the work, and should place it upon his shelf, and leave it for those who came

after him to give it if they thought fit to the world. He was, however, at last, at the urgent solicitation of his father, who entertained the same opinion respecting the work expressed by Mr. Sparks, induced to place it in the hands of the publisher, and it was finally issued in three volumes near the close of 1837.

after he should have narrated in the conquests of Mexico and Peru the great events of these epochs, of continuing the tide of Spanish history downward by writing the history of Philip II, entirely leaping over that of Charles V., which he supposed was exhausted by the previous labors of Robertson.

He desired Mr. Everett to make some preliminary examinations at Paris and elsewhere for materials to be used in Philip II., and especially to obtain some knowledge of that part of the archives of Simancas that had been taken by Napoleon I. to Paris, where they were still detained. Mr. Everett found no difficulty in ex

whole of the celebrated collection had been removed to Paris, but after Napoleon's downfall, in the general restoration, those parts of the archives that related to France were retained at Paris notwithstanding the protest of the Spanish government. These were guarded with more jealousy than any other part of the public archives; but the name of Prescott supplied a key that unlocked the depository, and they were freely thrown open to the inspection of Mr. Everett on his account.

The author's diffidence in regard to this work is the more remarkable when it is considered from what original sources he was privileged to draw his materials. He had projected it as early as 1826, and had at that time made arrangements for procuring the requisite manuscripts from Madrid. The library of Harvard College, which was rich in old Spanish litera- | amining the materials of the royal library. The ture, and that of his friend, George Ticknor, whose able history of Spanish literature is a contribution worthy of any age, which was still more abundantly stocked with rare Spanish volumes, supplied him with many materials for the work he contemplated, but his greatest mine of wealth lay scattered around him in rich profusion within the precincts of his own library room. Among these treasures were the "Quincuagenas" of Oviedo, which to this day lie buried in five folio volumes of manuscript, containing a very excellent narrative of the lineage, arms, and surroundings of the chief personages in Spain, intermingled with a vast amount of private gossip; Palencia's "Coronica del Enrique 4th," the predecessor of Isabella on the throne; an original life of Cardinal Ximenes; the "Anales del Rey Don Fernando el Catolicos," of Carbajal; and many others, which had been permitted to remain in the cloisters of the old library of Madrid, carefully treasured, but rarely consulted by those in whose custody they were placed.

Nor was he less fortunate in the selection of his subject. The age of Ferdinand and Isabella, under whose reign, either by marriage or conquest, the four kingdoms of Navarre, Aragon, Castile, and Granada became consolidated, was one of the most interesting epochs in Spanish history. The genius of Castilian literature, the music of the troubadour, and the melody of the Moorish ballad, were in their fullest perfection, and every where disseminated their influence over this beautiful and picturesque country. It was the age of Columbus, Gonsalva, and Xime

nes.

The epoch of great discoveries by sea, and the development of vast erudition, and military prowess on land. What wonder that the genius of Prescott, with such a subject, should at once have arrested attention at home and abroad, and that he should have risen at a single bound to an exalted position in the world of letters!

About two years after the appearance of Ferdinand and Isabella Mr. Edward Everett visited Europe, and found that wherever he went the name of Prescott was well known and his merits duly appreciated. Translations had been made into French, German, Russian, Spanish, and Italian; and in each country, with the exception of Washington Irving, no American writer had obtained so exalted a rank as an author. He had already conceived the project,

In Italy the name of Prescott met with the same courtesy. Prince Corsini, with the approval of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, issued a peremptory order to the custodians of the carefully-guarded Medicean archives, consisting of an immense number of well arranged and indexed volumes, to allow Mr. Everett to inspect the whole, and cause such extracts to be copied as he should indicate. When it is considered that this collection contained the entire correspondence of the Tuscan Minister at Madrid during the whole reign of Philip II., it may readily be imagined how valuable an aid it was to the historian in the preparation of his masterly work. Nor were these public archives the only ones placed at his disposal, but those of private individuals, as the Marquis Gino Capponi, and the Count Guicciardini, the lineal descendant of the historian, were freely offered for inspection and use. "It was sufficient," remarks Mr. Everett, that I thought it would be useful to Mr. Prescott;" and so exalted was his reputation, that papers guarded for three centuries with the most jealous care, including the correspondence of the Tuscan minister on the arrest, imprisonment, and death of Don Carlos, were at once placed at his disposal.

In 1851 he made a visit to Europe, the first since his wide-spread fame had rendered his name as familiar to European as to American readers. This visit, which had been in contemplation for some time, was anxiously anticipated by his trans-Atlantic friends. Mr. Curtis, his friend and fellow-townsman, was in London at the time of his arrival. In his account of this reception he says that he does not suppose so warm and cordial a welcome was ever "accorded in modern England to any other merely literary and private man of any country." This he attributed at the time in part to the fact that

in order that the view might not be intercepted. | the change he had made, and perhaps did not

The pleasantest time to enjoy the sea-view was after nightfall, particularly when its surface was silvered over by the glancing rays of the full

moon.

after all find it so lucrative as he was led to imagine it would be. Certain it is that the pleas ant relations heretofore subsisting between himself and his former publishers continued unabated until his death.

He spoke quite freely in regard to his mode of composition, and in this connection only alluded to his defective vision. His first work, "Ferdinand and Isabella," was the result of an immense amount of care in research and labor in preparation, which had afterward become a habit with him. Many of the materials of his subsequent works were gathered in his first years of investigation, and each succeeding year made

his works; but he had never on this account relaxed his careful and rigid scrutiny of facts, nor allowed a sentence to pass from his hands until he was satisfied he could not render it more exact as to narrative or euphonious as to construction.

In remarking on the pecuniary returns of authorship he said he had been more than repaid. He was, however, probably the greatest pecuniary sufferer of any American author on account of the want of an international copyright law. Just before the appearance of Philip II. his London publishers made him an offer of thirty thousand dollars for his copyright of that work in England, provided he would visit England and write some portion of the work, no matter how little, in England in order to secure the copy-him more familiar with the subjects treated in right there before its appearance in America, the recent decision of Lord Campbell having largely contributed to destroy the value of this species of property there. They further stipulated, in addition to the thirty thousand dollars offered for the copyright, to defray the personal expenses incurred in this visit in the most sumptuous style in which he desired to live. Prescott wrote in reply that, after consultation with Mrs. Prescott, he had concluded that the sum to be allowed for personal expenses must equal one million of dollars, and inasmuch as the presumption was that this estimate would far exceed the ideas of the publishers, the negotiation must be dropped. This letter was, of course, written in a spirit of badinage, and intended as a pleasant mode of declining any offer, however tempting. Indeed, he remarked on this occasion that his present means were adequate to the wants of himself and family, and that no offer could tempt him to incur the annoyance of a

sea voyage.

He had, under an arrangement made with Rich and others, obtained many of the materials for the composition of “Ferdinand and Isabella” from Madrid, in 1826, about ten years prior to its publication, at a time when his vision was most defective. The eyes which he procured to do the duty of his own were those of a person who was wholly unaccustomed to the languages in which the documents were written. This was an experiment intended to ascertain whether it would be practicable for him to master the contents of these documents without the use of his eyes. Having satisfied himself on this point, he procured the services of a more competent person and went systematically to work. No one could tell the amount of labor bestowed This incident would seem to argue that Pres-upon that work. Indeed he was hardly cognicott cared but little for the pecuniary rewards zant of it himself. So many and varied had of his labor; but I fear that he can hardly be been the pleasures connected with its composiexempted from the rest of mankind in this par- tion that its labors were counted as nothing in ticular. Shortly after the publication of the the comparison, and after all he had probably first edition of "Ferdinand and Isabella" he arrived at greater accuracy, and established a entered into an arrangement with the large pub- method in his subsequent writings which he lishing house of Harpers, by means of which might never have equaled under other circumthe subsequent editions of his work, as well as stances. those which followed, appeared from their press. Under this arrangement a liberal compensation was paid to the author, and the various works from his pen obtained a large circulation and sale. A few years previous to his death the house of Philips and Sampson made him an offer largely in advance of that received under his arrangement with his New York publishers. Upon consultation with the Harpers they advised him to accept the offer, assuring him, not only of their unwillingness to make any such terms, but likewise that the arrangement, if complied with, must ruin the publishing house which undertook it. The arrangement was entered into, and Philips and Sampson became his American publishers, and continued as such until their failure. How far this event was brought about by this contract I am unable to say, but I have good reason to believe that Prescott regretted

I called his attention to Motley's "Rise of the Dutch Republic," which had just made its appearance, as another of the historical works of the present time which would be creditable to the fame of American authorship, in which opinion he entirely agreed. He said he knew Motley well, and had, before the appearance of his history, a high opinion of his capacity as a writer. The novel published by him showed talent of a very superior order, but he feared he might not have the industry and perseverance necessary properly to write a historical work. He therefore commenced the perusal of this work with some doubts on this point, which were speedily dispelled as he proceeded.

I was ashamed to say that I was not before aware that Motley had written a novel, or, indeed, had appeared as an author, and therefore continued the conversation by remarking that