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TIIE DAILY Ei'lKG TELEGKArH PHILADELPHIA, MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1868.
WILLIAM II. THE SCOTT.
Ill Mf niul Worlt.
Translated for "Evrru Suturduy," from the
'Jicvue dei Deux Monties."
Almost ten years ago a prematura death de
prived the world of letters and hia country of
one of those men who have the most contri
buted to mark in the literature of the nine
teenth century the plaoe of the Amerioan peo
ple. William II. Prescott, the eminent histo
rian, died at Boston the 2Kh of January, 1859,
Boarcely in the decline of life, in the full vigor
of his talent, rudely interrupted in the oartMe
cf his most important works. He 'eft behind
him a reputation which spread m beyond the
frontiers of his country, aJ works of the fl rat
rank become popular veu abroai; but of him
self, of his person, of the eilorts at the price of
Whiuh he had bought his reputation, little
was known bo far, in France at least. Oue had
Indeed heard of tUe obstacles which a deplor
able state of health and an almost complete
blindness had thrown in his way. lie hiunelf.in
the prefaoe to one of his principal works, had
delicately informed his readers of his difficul
ties and his Bufferings; but to these few lines,
marked by a resigned melanoholy, was limited
the information which one possessed. It is
only to-day that we know more on the subject.
A well-known American littt'rateur, Mr. lleorge
Ticknor, has ju3t given us a scrupulously
faithful biography of him who has be-m
during forty years his most intimate friend.
Written by a baud which peems still to tremble
with emotion, his narrative leads us from the
first months of Prescott's childhood to the day
of his sudden end with an interest which every
moment increases. This interest is due to the
abundance of details which have the charm of
truth, to the minute care with which the
friend makes ns penetrate into t';e recesses
of his friend's soul, and especially to
a certain inspiration of tenderness which
animates these pages cousecrated to
the recital of a simple and often painful
existence. It is not, indeed, in the quantity
and strangeness of events that the true attrac
tion of the life of Prescott is to be sought.
This life has passed away completely in the
compass of his study, on the threshold of
which, it seems, the clamor of without has
always expired. In this America which our
ignorant imagination represents to itself in
voluntarily as so disordinate, so noisy, which
eo soon after his dnath was to be delivered to
the horrors of civil war, fate procured for him
a destiny the calm of whiuh would have caused
envy in a monk of Moute Cassino. He has
lived for work, he died working. We thought,
however, that in the spectacle of the indomita
ble energy with which he struggled against
his sad infirmity, in the analysis of his habi
tual methods of composition iu line, and per
haps especially in the study of his pure and
noble nature, there would be something in
structive and engaging. Thanks to the large
loans we shall make of Mr. Ticknor's work
and to the celebrity of the name of Prescott,
we hope that such will be the opinion of our
readers.
William Uiokling rro3cott was born at
Salem, a little town in New England, the 4th
of May, 17!i, of William, a distinguished law
yer, afterwards Judge at Boston, and of Cathe
rine llickling, the daughter of a Massachu
setts merchant. The Prescott family boasted
of its descent in a direct line from one of those
glorious emigrants of the sixteenth century,
Who, sacrificing their country to their faith,
came to ask religious liberty of the desert
shores of the New World. The first ancestors
of the historian were, we are told, energetic
and intelligent men, who exercised a great in
fluence over the destinies of the infant colony.
SiiCh memories are not, as it seems, in demo
cratic America a matter of complete indifference;
and many times the young William lent his
ear to the recital of exploits aououiplialioii by
one of his ancestors, who, marching against
the Indians under the shelter of a coat of
mail, threw, by his appearance only, terror
into their inexperienced bands. Many time3
also was celebrated before him the part that
his grandfather had played in the war of
American independence, and the sabre borne
by the latter on the glorious day of Bunker's
Hill was held up to the admiration of his in
fantine eyes. Perhaps by these first impres
sions must be explained the taste Prescott
always had for relating line deeds of arms and
mighty sword thrusts. No course of reading
excited in him so much enthusiasm as that of
romances of chivalry. In the fi rst rank of his pre
ierencesthe future historian of Hernando Cortes
placed Amadis de Gaul, to which he paid,
later on in his first work, a tribute of homage
less enthusiastic perhaps, but more thought
ful. Far different, moreover, from whu he
was to be one day, he liked pleasure much
better than work, ana showed a singular
aversion for all that resembled an effort of any
description. His admission into the rank of
Sophomores of the University of Harvard did
not modify at all his habits of idleness. It
does not seem even that he was then able to
resist all the temptations which pressed on
bis path, since, when he had escape! from the
surveillance of his friends, nothing prevented
bim any longer from giving himself up to the
impulses of an ardent nature and an
impassioned heart. At least his biog
rapher tells uu that this period was
the most dangerous of his youth, and
that often, later on, when looking back, he
thought of it with regret. A terrible acoident,
Which was to have on his desliuy a sad and
considerable influence, changed suddenly the
course of his life. In the midst of a students'
brawl, he received in his eye a morsel of
bread, thrown with force and by chance by
one of his friends. This fatal blow was fol
lowed by an inflammation which endangered
bis existence during several days, and, when
be returned to health, his eye was irrevocably
lost. The long weeks which he had passed
in darkness and silence were propitious to
wise reflections, and he rose frem his long re
pose with the firm intention of redeeming
by an assiduous labor the trivial idleness of
bis first years. Thanks to his remarkable
faculties, of which he had so far not made
much use, it was easy for him to succeed; and
be obtained the distinguished honor of termi
nating his university career by the public
reading of a poem in Latin verse of his compo
sition, dedicated to Hope a poem which he
endeavored afterwards to find among his early
papers, and the loss of which ne always re
sretted.
In laborious America every one must be seri-
onsly something. If you do not wish to be a
merchant, be a lawyer; if you do not wish to
be a lawyer, be a writer; but then let litera
ture and work fill your life as business or law
would have done. Thus Preecott understood
It. For him the life of the man of letters was
in gome sort a business for which he had to
prepare himself as for any other, and we are
going to Bee how conscientious this preparation
was with him. I'oet laureate of the Uuivenity
of Harvard, he would have had the right to
believe that his first education, in what con
cerned classios and l'-u8HBh literature, was a
sufficient foundation, atid. that on this' side at
least he had no need of a new initiation, lie did
not judge bo, and under the date of the 30th
October, 1S21, he inscribed on his journal a pro
gramme of readings in which figured, t,y the
tide of works on grammar and style, the Kuglish
prose writers and the Latin classijs. He nai
the courage to carry out this programme to
the lotter, and he was seen to study eagerly
like a scholar the works on rhetoric in use at
the universities. This task once performed,
he resolved to devote himself to the study of
foreign languages, embracing in his protects
with the French and Italian literatures, which
be knew a little, the German literature, which
he did not know at all, without neglecting,
however, to read at the same time in the trans
lation, if his eyes could not endure the fatigue
of the original text, his old Greek authors.
"That will be sufficient," he added, modestly,
"as a general preparation." Spanish, which
was to be later the principal oooupation of his
reading, did not then enter into his plans. He
conseorated a year to the reading of French
authors from Froissart to Chateaubriand, wi h
out much relish for any of them; and a year
likewise to that of Italian authors, of whom he
was always a great admirer. Uace familiar
ized with Italian, he undertook German; but
his will, in spite of its firmness, failed before
this difficult work. So far he had been able,
thanks to the help of a secretary, to accom
plish such vast undertakings without making
much use of his eyes, which moreover seemed
to grow stronger; but it could not be so with
Herman. The first condition was to habituate
himself to these Gothic characters, which were
completely unknown to him, and his sight
was not sufficiently strong for the task which
he imposed on it. Alter some months of use
less e Holts, he abandoned German, but it was
not without a strong sentiment of regret and
sadness. For the first time his infirmity became
for him no longer an inconvenience, but a
complete obstacle, and he could touch with
his finger the insurmountable limits which
the weakness of his body oppose! to the
strength of his will. As the result of this
trial, he fell into a profound discouragement,
which had on his daily labors a rapid reaction.
How he was drawn from this state of intel
lectual marasmus is what Mr. Ticknor can
tell us better than any one; for he can assume
the credit of having shown to his friend his
true road, and of having brought him to the
entrance of the way which was to conduct him
60 rapidly to celebrity.
Mr. Ticknor is in foreign languages what
our neighbors call a distinguished soholar.
He has specially occupied himself with Spanish
literature, and he has published a history of
that literature, which has placed him in the
rank of the most distinguished critics of
America. At the epoch with which we are
concerned he had just prepared a series of
lectures on this subject for the students of
Harvard University, and he proposed to him
self to collect them in a volume. To distract
his friend, who wa3 both sad and ill, he of
fered to give him his manuscript to read. The
proposition was accepted; .soon Prescott took
a passionate liking tor this language, and he
resolved to replace the study of German by
that of Spanish. Without losing a moment,
he borrowed from Mr. Ticknor grammars,
books, dictionaries. By a siugular accident,
the History of the Conquest of Mexice, by
Solis, was the first work on which he cast his
eyes. At the end of some months he had so
mastered the idioms, that he wrote to Mr. Tick
nor letters in Spanish, in which he appreciated
the literary value of the authors he was read
ing. At the end of a year, this new course
of study was terminated, and as he wanted to
have always before him Borne vast project,
and as he could without vanity believe him
self Well prepared, he began to occupy him
self seriously with seeking some subject for a
work. He remained for a long time uncertain.
Spain appeared to him with reason an inex
haustible mine for the historian; but a scruple
of conscience stopped him. He feared that
material obstacles would prevent his bringing
to the work he would undertake the indispen
sable measure of care ami exactness. Ambi
tion ended by carrying the day, and, after
some final hesitation, he fixed Ins d.j';u on
the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. Twenty
yomra aHur, on tlio ujargiu vf tUo Jam -
nal in which he had recorded this reso
lution, he wrote with a pencil, "Happy
choice!"
Happy choice, without doubt; but might
one not also say singular choice ? Is it not
strange to see a democrat and a Protestant
make himself the partial historian of two
sovereigns, in whom the traditions of monar
chical and Catholic policy were incarnated in
the Middle Ages, in that in which they are
most absolute? We would understand him
better devoting himself to relate, a3 he for a
moment thought of doing, the last days of the
Roman republic and the last combats of lib
erty against Cicsarism. Prescott was to remain
not lesB faithful to his first inclination. To the
end he was to celebrate the exploits of this great
and strong Spanish race, which has sustained
everywhere a desperate struggle in favor of
the principles the most opposed to the tenden
cies and sympathies of a citizen of the New
World, and tne most bitter, or even the most
odious, of these principles bad never touud iu
bim aught but an impartial and intelligent
judge. Prescott is not the only example of
this singularity, and one knows with what
Bcrnpulous equity one of liis compatriots has
not long ago caused to pass before our eyes
one of the most agitated epochs of the history
of Spain, the revolt of the Netherlands. Must
we not conclude from this, that, to relate with
out passion and without prejudice the quarrels
of our old Europe, the cuildren of youug
America have a natural superiority f For us
these struggles are of yesterday, the battle
is hardly gained; victorious or vanquished,
no one is sufficiently sure of his vic
tory or defeat not to prepare in secret
the arm 8 for a new combat. For them, on the
contrary, the phantom of a dreaded past does
not come to haunt their minds; the glauces
which they throw back awake no irritatiug
memory; they have nothing to fear and noth
ing to wish for. What is there astonishing
that they do not become excited at the recital
of our bloody disputes ? They awake in them
but an interest of curiosity, one might say of
archeology; they nave no diniculty in relat
ing them without emotion. That is not one of
the least advantages which the complete aud
assured liberty which they enjoy gives thaiu
over ns. May God grant thai we may oue
day share it with theui 1
The history of Ferdinand and Isabella, the
appearance of which was saluted wiih so deep
an enthusiasm, is certainly a work of great
merit. Prescott exhibits iu it a wouder'ul
aptitude in seizing and putting iu relief the
striking feature oi the different personages
around whom the interest concentrates, the
virile gentleness of lri&btdla, the commou-pliioe
cleverness of Ferdinand, the simple geuius of
Columbus, the intractable temper of Ximeues.
In fine, we must acknowledge the happy
effects of certain episodes which develop them
selves in the midnt of the rather limited irame
woik of the book, as in a dark landscape a
spot struck by a ray of the sun separates
iteelf from the rest; but, while praising, we
have at the sama time criticised. A guod his
tory should not, to our mind, have any epi
sodes. It i.s not proper that the author, aban
doning biuii-elf complacently to his preferences,
Bhould give to a certain portion of his reoital
an unmeasured ex eut aud care, while to re
establish the equilibrium he shortens arbitra
rily or neglects another. Without doubt,
it is not possible for a long recital to preserve
from the beginning to the end an always equal
interest. Fveuts have their character, one
might say their peisonality, independently of
him who relates them; but these inequalities
must be the act of history, aud not the act of
tn historian,. A painter can draw with a
more skilful hand, paint in more brilliant
colors the figures placed on the foreground of
a picture, aud trace with a less careful pencil
aud olothe in duller oolors those which are
destined to lose themselves in the distance of
fierspective. The historian .has not this
icense. Ue is rather to be compared to the
architect who would not be forgiven the ex
cessive carving of one stone of a facade, and
the leaving the others untouched. A work of
history is like a monument; proportion, har
mony, are its imperious laws. If tho-e laws
be violated, oue may accomplish beauties, but
not beauty.
Perhaps Prescott did not sufficiently remem
ber these eternal principles. Let us hasten to
say that the subject of which he treated lent
singularly to the error into which he fell. The
period of which he undertook to give the
history embraces more than a hundred years,
and a hundred years filled, perhaps, with the
greatest events of which Spain has been the
theatre. Within, after a long period of civil
wars, a sudden transformation takes plaoe iu
her constitution, and she ceases to be a
geographical expression serving to designate
the peninsula comprised between the Pyre
nees and the Straits of Gibraltar, to become
the nation, one and formidable, whose
monarchs were for a century to make
Europe tremble. Alongside of this national
movement, a great political revolution is ac
complishing in her bosom. The crown, lean
ing on the Corte, breaks and reduces to the
role of courtiers these proud lords of Castile
and Arragon, which still form to-day the most
exclusive aristocracy of Europe. Ten years
suffice to Ferdinand and Isabella to arrive at
this result, which the constaut policy of our
kings from Louis VI to Louis XI had in vain
pursued. WUhont, the Spanish armies are
always in the field; they struggle with France
in the plaius of Koussillon aud on the bauks of
the Garigliauo; they drive out of Spain the
followers of the Koran, and, crossing the strait,
carry the war even into their territory.
The narrow limits in which he thought to con
fine himself did not permit Prescott to measure
according to their historic importance the
place which he gave to each of these grand
facts. Consequently, in the fear that this work
should have no other merit thau that of a
clear, judicious, methodical exposition of the
principal events of an important epoch, he has
chosen, as we said just now, a certain number
of episodes in the development of which he
ha3 taken pleasure. The wars with the Arabs
rnd the conquest of Granada in the first part,
the struggles with France aud the exploits of
Gonzalve of Cordova iu the second, hold a place
that one would hardly wish less important, for
they are the finest pages of the book, but which
one cannot prevent one's self from acknow
ledging as exaggerated. Oue pays afterwards
the pleasure one has experienced in feeling
the interest languish aud the atteutiou be
come distracted iu reading certain chapters in
which incidents of real importance are rotated
with too much brevity. By deciding to
lengthen his work a little, while at the same
time not going back, p-rhaps, quite so far,
and by knowing how to add aud to retrench,
Prescott could have made of his Ferdinaud
aud Isabella one of those finished works which
defy criticism and remain as models. His
countrymen, as we have seen, had no fault to
find; but for ns, who know what he is captble
of doing, we believe we render him homage
by showing ourselves a little more severe.
If we are to believe Pre.cott, one of the
faults against which he had the greatest diffi
culty in contending was a constant inclination
to idleness and discouragement. To whoever
reads hi3 tiography, with the most attentive
eye, it is difficult, however, to perceive at
what moment he gave himself up to this in
clination, and what space these attacks ot dis
couragement fill. Scarcely four months after
the publication of Ferdinaud and Isabella
that io to eay, in the spring of 1839 we find
him writing to Europe to have sent out docu
ments relative to the history of the conquest
of Mexico, and, full of ardor for this new sub
ject, beginning a vast course of general and
preparatory reading. Great was his joy when
the precious boxes of manuscripts which he
had asked for arrived from Spain. While he
occupied himself with delight in abstracting
their contents, a new accident, of a very dif
ferent nature from those which he had passed
through so far, interrupted hiiu in the midst
of his labors, and was near making him aban
don forever his design.
America numbered then among its mo3t dis
tinguished liitrrateurs the romancer-historian,
Washington Irving, better known in Frauce
by the graceful compositions of the "Sketch
Book" than by his other more serious works,
the "Life of Columbus" aud the "Chronicles
of Granada," the publication of which had
preceded that of "Ferdinand aud Isabella." It
seems that a disagreeable fatality had always
devoted itself to direct the attention of those
two writers towards the same subject. Pres
cott had been absorbed for a year iu the "His
tory of the Conquest of Mexico," when he
learned from a common friend that Washing,
ton Irving had forestalled him in this
road. This friend, indeed, assured him,
that, on the news of this rivalry, Irving had
protested his repugnance to enter thus
into a contest with the historiau of "Ferdinand
and Isabella;" and that he had announced
his intention of abandoning to him the groaud
on which they had both set foot at the same
time. In this delicate conjuncture, Presoott
decided on the only step worthy of him
worthy also, as we shall see, of the man with
whom he had to do that of explaining himself
frankly with Irving. An exchange of cour
teous letters took place letters which for the
honor of both are worthy to be transcribed
here in full. In this correspondence, Wash
ington Irving acquainted Prescott of the defi
nite abandonment he made iu his favor of the
disputed subject. Perhaps Prescott would
have accepted les willingly this renunciation
if he could have known at the same time how
painful it was to his rival. "When I made
this sacrifice to Mr. Prescott," wrte Wash
ington Irving many years after, "it was my
bread in some measure that I sacrificed to hiiu,
for I counted ou the profit I should derive
from this work to mend a little my ivupaired
finances. My pecuniary position would have
been transformed. Nevertheless, I do not
regret what I have dO'ae."
To what do the great hintorlins of antiquity
owe their immoitali y, if it is not tu.it they
Lave lwayb iu their works let facts speak for
themselves, the eternal youth of which
nothing altera, without accommodating them
to doctrines which would to-dar be struck
with tenility ? Can one imagiue Thncydides,
in liis Pel iponnesian War, eudeavoriug to de
monstrate by the triumph nf Lace beiuou tin
superiority of an oligarouy over a democratic
constitution ? Can oue imagine Livy drawing
from the murder of Vuyiuia au argument
again -.t the dominion of the upper classes?
If it waj permitted us to name Presooti bo
soon after such models, we would Bay
that, except the necessary difference if
time and place, he has known how
to give 1o his works the same stamp
of unalterable serenity. How couli he
have done otherwise, and how could he have
let himself be assailed by foreign preoccupa
tions he who, living in the midst of his tiun
as if he were not of it, inexorably closed his
ear to the clamors from without, to the tumults
of partier, and shut up iu his study, took, as
he said himself, no interest in political discus
sions, if they did not relate to events or par
sons at least two centuries old ? It must not,
however, be imagined that there is in Pres
ontt'a manner an affected search after sim
plicity, nor that he has fallen into the error of
taking for hia model the simple language of
our ancient chroniclers. Prescott had too great
and too simple a talent to delight in suoh pro
ceedings. Joinville and Frolssart might have
been in their time historians of the first rauk:
the readers of our day do not the le33
require a more substantial food than their
inimitable prattling. Presoott knew this
well, and he excels in mixing in a Just pro
portion general considerations with the
recital of facts; but whatever he does, and
whenever he appears for a moment to wander
far from his subject by rising above it, every
where and always be remains the historian
nothing but the historian. To narrate is
always Prescott'a chief business, to narrate
with intelligence and gravity, without pueri
lity and wi hout affectation, but to narrate,
however, that is to say, to give life to the
persons and things of the past br taking plea
sure unreservedly in the speotacle of human
activity. If sometimes he set off his recital by
foreign ornaments; if by some graceful compa
rison, by some poetic similitude, he colors the
gravity of his style it is always with a perfect
proportion, with an exquisite sobriety, which
takes nothing from the severe harmony of the
whole.
In the beginning of the year 185S the first
three volumes of the Life of Philip the Second,
the only ones which have seeu the day, had
already appeared. Of all Presoott's works,
this history is certainly the least known. For
our part, we should not hesitate, however, to
class it with the History of the Conquest of
Mexico, it it nas not obtained in America and
elsewhere more popularity, it is because it has
remained unfinished. It was not to be given to
Prescott to pursue further this great under
taking. For some time a vigilant eye could
have foreseen by the gradual decay of his
organs his approaching end. He could no
longer, as he had done for a long
time, sit down aud work under the
shade of a group of trees near Fep
perel, and known in the country by the
name of the Fairies' Grove, where he came to
enjoy the last fine days of that season that is
called in America the Indian summer. Already
his enfeebled eyes no longer permitted him to
discern the outlines of the beautiful country
he had so long contemplated. Soon he wa3
forced to confine his walk to a solitary turn
around an old cherry-tree quite near the house,
hollowing out the ground under his feet, as
the charmed Bonivard hollowed out the soil of
the dungeon of Chillon. At the same time he
felt the symptoms of a new infirmity. He lost
by degrees the sense of hearing, and he per
ceived it with terror. Can one imagine what
a trial deafntss would have been for him ? lie
would have probably known this last and cruel
a miction, if he had remained longer on earth.
One cannot then pity him, that a sudden stroke
removed him before his hour.
In the beginning of 1S.1S he had received the
first shock of a formidable malady, which, t)
jude lrom the words uttered by him as soon
as he felt the attack, had nothing unforeseen
for him. Struck by a slight attack of apo
plexy, he murmured in an indistinct voice to
his wife, who was leaning over him, "My
poor friend, I am very sorry for you that this
misfortune should happen so soon." He
escaped the peril, however, and the entire re
covery of his faculties could give him the
hope that tbe danger was at least adjourned.
The last lines found written in his journal ex
press confidence in the future aud gratitude
towards God; but his friends were less confi
dent than he, and experience was only too
soon to verify their fears. The 27th of Janu
ary, lb50, he was suddenly struck at the mo
ment he was entering his study; and Bouie
hours after, sunonnded by his wife,
his children, the favorite sister who
had been the companion and confi
dant of his early years, by hi3 old friend,
Mr. Ticknor, who had run to his bedside,
he yielded his last breath. To die in the
midst of those he loved was one of the things
he most wished for. In his will was found the
expression of a singular wish. He asked
earnestly that, before being carried to his last
resting-place, his body might be left some
hours in the study where he had passed the
(leasantest hours of his lite. His last wisli
was religiously fulfilled. The same day his
coffin was carried to the church, and lowered
into the vault where his parents were sleeping.
and the little girl he had so tenderly loved, in
the midst of the sobs of hi3 friends, and the
general emotion ot an assemblage which ex
ceeded in number all that it is possible to
imagine. Many people who had seen Prescott
once or twice in their lile, or who knew him
only by name, had followed to the end the
funeral procession, badness was painted on
every face, and it was easy to see, add3 the
faithful biographer to whom the last word
should belong here, "that every one had suf
fered a great loss, and that a beneficent, as
well as brilliant, light bad just been extin
guished by the hand of death."
Prescott has been preceded a very few years
in tne tomb by anotner writer not less lllus
trious, not less tried, and who has sought like
him in the joys of labor an alleviation for the
most cruel bodily sufferings; we mean Au-
gustin Thierry. His name is sometimes met
with in Prescott's biography; but there is no
need to find it there, in order that one's
thoughts should be directed to him every
moment, uow many points, indeed, were
there in common in the destiny aud in the
nature of these two men I Both have had to
exhibit an almost equal energy, in order to
triumph over obstacles which their common
infirmity opposed to the strength of their will
Both devoted themselves, Presoott for the in
digenous populations of Mexico, Thierry for
those ot ureat liritain, to celebrate, one might
almost say to sing, the inisforiuues of two
proud and generous races, both crushed under
the barbaiiein of conquest. Both writers have
' known how to color with the reflections of a
; brilliant imagination the most obscure episodes
ot an almost unknown History, in oue ot the
xuoft touching pages that he has written,
J hierry tells ns, that, n&ving condemned hiru
Belt to an absolute repose in the hope of saving
what sight was left to him, he tried to divert
his weariness by undertaking a sort ot ml
crimace to the principal monuments which
tbe architecture of the Middle Ages ha3 left on
our soil; uud he adds that on his return from
this expedition he astonished his friends by
tbe vivacity ana precision wan wnton ue de
scribed the edifices he had visited not that
his weak eyes had discerned clearly their de
tails, but because a sort of wonderful intuition
repieseuted them to his mind as they should
be. It is in the same way, it is with the same
; intuition, that these two glorious rivals repre
; stuted to themselves aud to the reader the
peonages which they brought on the scene
and the events which they narrated. Bjtu
finally at the price ot a struggle courageously
; undertaken against one of the greatest trials
with which Providence cau nlllict our mis
' erable humanity, have conquered two bless
ings of this world which are the most seldom
to be eDjoytd, reputation aud serenity. The
touching faying of Augustin Thierry is well
known: "1 have men able to make a friend to
niytelf of the darkness." On the other baud,
we have seen in this recital how peaceful, and
one m8y say how happy, the life of Prescott
was. 1 here Is in the spectacle or these two
existences so exclusively consecrated to study,
and so generously rewarded, something en
couraging and strengthening. What have
they to regret in not baving played an active
part in the tumultuous movement of publio
a II airs, and id liavmg yielded to an inexorable
neeessity by living outside aud above the
noisy quarrels of their time f One would
assign too humble a rank to the abstract and
disinterested labor of thought, if one would
only see in it a harbor of refuge open
to all those whom the inconstant
wave of politios leaves disabled on the
beach. Is it not. after all, the most glorious
and the most extensive field that it is given
man to fertilize ? is it not the only soil where
be can sow germs which shoot out deep mots
and branches eternally green ? In hours of
trouble and anxiety, men like Augustin
Thierry and Prescott are there to recall it to
ns. They are there to tell ns that the ever-
open breast of stnly oilers to the impatieut
and the discouraged the same sanctuary that,
as the immortal verses say, the ever-open
breast of nature offers to the man disabused
of the affections of this world. At the bottom
of this sanctuary, where they Bought especially
repose of soul, both found glory. Without
hoping for bo much, one may be sure of find
ing: in it at least independence, dignity, the
employment of one's life. This is already a
good deal for a child of the second half of the
nineteenth century.
SHIPPING.
4rjfjs LORILLARD'S OUTSIDE LINE.
FOR NEW Y O R K.
Great Reduction in Freights.
On and after MONDAY, Julv d, vbe rates of freight
by tills Hue will be as fuliowi:-7 cent per 100 lo., or
8 ceuts per cubic loot.
OneofthefcrteamfMorthla Line will sail for New
York eveiy Inesdav, Tbnrgdy, aud Saturday, from
Ptlr 19 NORTH WHARVlB.
For limber lufoiniailoii, apply on the pier to
8 216m JOHN F. OHL,
r.r- van P I T A T? T , KK'INI V tK. r. ni.
mMRKCX. The bie'.nlily l'KOM K1UEUH
In uow net Whig IreiKbt at Pier lrt ts. Utt'vi a, una
will positively sail ou Yi tiiMKbi)A.Y, dept. 2, at
8 P.M.
i or freight apply to
KUilUND A. SOUDKR A CO,,
g 28 4i No It l)OLK bireel wuarf.
NKVV EXPRESS LINE TO AIAX
rttuaandria. UvorKeiown. auu WaabiiiKtonl
Li v , vi Cbesnpeake auu Delaware Canal, with cou
necliuna at Alexaudrla from the moat direct route
lor L) Dchhurg, Brmtol, Knozyllle, Nashville, Daltou
aud ihe Sou lb west.
Bteumera leave regularly every Saturday at noon
from the lint wbarl "" Market Btrnet.
height received dally. WM p CLYDE A CO.,
No, 14 Norib aud Houth Wharves,
J. B. DAVIDSON, Agent at, Ueorgetowu.
M. KLUlUiiUJi: 4c Co., Ageula at Alexaudrla, Vir
ginia. 1
S M)IIOE.--FUK MW YOHK, VIA
DLLaWAHU AMIKAKITAN caNaI.
j'.Afni.na nii.ainBU11 LUMrAWl,
Tbe feieaui Propellers of litis Hue leave DAILY
from flriil wbarf below Mantel atreei.
THKULUH IN Z UUUK8.
Goods forwarded by all the linen going ontof New
York, Norib, Kuai, aud West, free 01 couiiulaalou.
Freights received at our usual low rules.
WILLIAM 1. Cl.YDK A CO., Agenta.
No. 14 a. WHAKVKS, Philadelphia.
JAMFS HAND, Agent. 3uJ
Ko. lia WALL street, corner of Houth, New York.
sg KT RAM TO T. IVKHPfirvr. PAT.rrvrs
AT UUEKNaTOWN.
i lie luiuan Line, uuder contract with thn TTnltari
Btaies aud British uoverumeula, for carrying tl e
Id aila. iMeiid debpaichiog thulrateaiLera aa follows;
CITY OF PAKla ...Hatnrday, SeuiPiulier 8
CITY OF WA5HINUT'is(via Halifax) l'uesd'y.ae Jl. 8
CITY OF LONDON Haiurday, Septembtr 12
CITY OF iSALUMORE Saturday. HeniHiiihttr lu
CITY OF NfcW VOKlv Tuesday, Wepieniber 2i
auu em u nuuieeuing naiuruay auu alternate 1 ueJilav
at 1 P. M., from Pier No. 45 JNOltTH. River.
Vales of passage by the Mali Hleauier SAILING
EVMtY BaTUKDAY:-
Payaoie lu Oold. payable in ourrency,
CAJBb I.UU1U. , f ioulE3ioeiuge.M.M. o-j
to London lufi " to London i
tti Hurl. linf " fr-J I'nria .7
Panaage by the Tuesday steamers: Cabin, t'JO, gold;
Steerage, .i(i, currency. Hates ot passage from New
York to JlaliKx Cabin, fju; otOfrugn, lu, in gold.
I'a8engera also forwarded 10 Havre, llaniniirg, Bre
pieu.eic, at moderate raiea. bteerage pmiPage. from
Liverpool or Queeuntown, 4U. currency. Tlckeia can
be bought here by persons aendiug lor their frieudg.
For further Information, apply at the Company's
ftlCO. JOHN O. DALE, AgHui.
No. 15 IJKOADWAY, New York.
Or, O'DONNELL : FAULK, Manpgers,
J2 No. 411 CHE3N UT Mtreet, Fhlla.
NORTH AMEiilCAN STEAM8FII1
i&Jfe4uuCOAlPAN Y.
WnrougU Lima to California, via Faaama
Kallroad.
NEW ARRANGEMENT,
Bailing from New Yoik on tbe 6th and 20th of
KVERY MONTu, or the day before when these date.,
tali ou bunuay.
Peonage lower than by any other line.
For luforniallon address
D. N. CAKUINUTON, Agent,
PIerNe.4NOKTH BiVEil, New York,
Or THOMAU K, BWAKLK,
No. 817 WALNUT blreet, Philadelphia, Pa,
W. H.WEBB. President. OHA8. DANA, Vice-Pres
Ofllce 54 EXCHANGE Plac. New York. 1 3 am
PASSAflh'. TO ANrn Pimi nDpin
42, Bltl I'dlJN AN k) IKKLaNII
Hi olKAMdlii? AND BAILING PACKET.
A'K UL'llIU'L It tf A 'I. Liu
A A Ayf MHJ A A a 4U3
DRAFTS AVAILABLE THKGUGHOUT ENG
LAND, IBELAND. SCOTLAND, AND WAX Ed,
For particulars apply to
TAPaCOrTb, BROTHERS A CO,,
NO. 86 SOUTH Street, and No.M BKOAKWAY,
Orto THOMAS T.8EAKLK,
11 Nj. 217 WALNUT (Street.
ii PHILADELPHIA, RICHMOND
and Norfolk, steamship line.
TjtUiOLUH FREIGHT AIR LINE TO TA1
feOUTH AND WEST,
EVERY SATURDAY,
At noon, from FIRST WHARF above MAR KIT
Street.
THROUGH RATES and THROUGH RECEIPTS
to all points In North and South Carolina, via feea
board Air Line Railroad, connecting at Portsmouth,
and to Lynchburg, Va., Teunessee, aud the Weal, via
Virginia and Tennessee AUr Line and Rlcnmond and
Danville Railroad.
Freight HANDLED BUT ONCE, and taken at
LOW ER RA'i itb THAN ANY OTHER LI ft if.
The regularity, safety, aud cheapness of this route
comnjeud it to the puollo aa tne most dealmble me
dium for carrying every description ot freight.
No charge for commission, dray age, or any expense
Ot transfer.
Steamships insured at lowest rates.
Freight received dally.
WILLIAM P. CLYDE A CO..
m No. 14 North and feouih WHARVES.
Point PORT-hK Age"' l Richmond aud City
T. P. CROW ELL A CO.. AgeuUj at Norfolk, a 1
r aAirrr FOli NEW youk-swift-surb
anir i ii i t iTnrrrrrm ilnn Compauy Despuuh
a u cm it sure Lines, via Delaware and Ruiitan
Canal, ou and alter tne 18th ot March, leaving dally at
12 M. aud 6 If. M connecting with all Northern aud
Eastern lines,
For freight, which will be taken ou accommodating
ternia, appiy to WlLLlA.il M. BAiKD A CO ,
1 11 Ko- ! DELAWARE Avenue,
STOVES, RANGES, ETC.
Jh.. KOT1CJJ. THE UNDER 8IGXEB
P .5 WOUiii cull ulteutlou of liiu puolic to his
FWSi NEW GOLDEN EAGLE FUKNACE.
V tfr This an entirety new healer. It isbouju
atructed hs to alouce command liselr to general favor,
ben g a ct.Uibiiiailou ot wrougnt aud cast Irou. It It
Vety biutple in Itt. construction, and I peru-otly air
tight; sell cleanltg, having uo pipes or drums to be
takeu out and cleaned, it U a ) arrauged wltu upi Igal
hues as to produce a larger amouut ol heat from lu
D.nie weight of ioal than auy mruaceuow la use
'1 he bygromeirlc condition ol the air aa produced by
niy new arrangement of evupora lou will at ouce d
moi htrate ibat It is lb only Hot Air Furnace thai
will produce a perfectly heultby a'OiOapuere.
Those In wsnior a comuiete Heating APPrnti
would do well to call and examine tne Golden I'.agle
OH A KLKh WILLI A Mis,
Nos. 1182 and 1134 M ARK Ki' Hir.M-t,
Phila'teipula.
A large assortment of Cooking Ksnges, Vire-noarO
Roves, Low Down Urates, Veu.llators, etc, alway
on baud,
N, H. Jobbing Of all kinds promptly done, 6 lu
CORN EXCHANGE
KAO MANUFACTORY.
JOHN T. BAILEY A CO.,
BKMOVKO TO
N. E. corner ot Ma UK El' aud WATER "troets
Philadelphia.
DKALETtS IN BAUa AND BAGUINQ
Of every d Kcrtption, for
Grain, Flour, Salt, Suier-Phosphate of Lime, Bone
Dust, Klc
Large and small fitINN Y BAGS constantly on hand
itJI Also, WOOL BACKS.
JtiiM T. Bail. jAum Cascadkw.
DRY GOODS.
Ladjes about to leave tub
city for tnetr country noose, ot the Boarihore
will Bud It greatly to their advantage, before pan
chasing elsewhere, to examine
The Extcnsire Stock, at (Jreatlj Reduced
rrlcca, ef
ETs M . NEEDLES & CO.,
No. HOI OIIKSNUT STUKET
GIRARO ROW,
Comprising a complete assortment for personal Ot
household nse, of
LACKS, EMBROIDERIES HANDKKROHIRTS
PUFFED, REV Hkkl) AND TUCKED MUS
LINS, CAMBRICS, JACONETS,
PIQUES, and WHITE GOODS,
In every variety.
VEILS AND VEIL MATF.RTAUS of every dracrle.
lion, together wltu au extensive assortment of
HOUSEHOLD LLNEXS,
AT TEMPTING llli01S8
In every width and quality.
BHIRTINO.PILLOWOASK, SHE ETING, ATABLS
UNENH, NAPKIN 4, DOYMKS, Fl.ANNKLS,
DIMITIES FOR fPKF.ADH, AND M7HNI.
. TURE COVERS, MARSEILLE HO
NEYCOMB, AND OTHUR SPREADS,
TOWELS AND TOWELLING IN
DAMAhK ANUHUCKABACK, '
HUMMKUHLANKrcIH, TA- '
BLK COVERS, ETC '
ALSO, 8HIRTINO. PILLOW-C1A8E AND SHEET
INU MUSLINS,
2. IV3. NEEDLES & CO..
No. HOI OHE8NUT 8TltKl'lTt
1 OIRARD ROW.
LINEN STORE.
a sis a.roh street;
IiISEN BUCKS AK D DRILXfi.
WIII1E Ul'tHS AlVDDUuy,,
BUFF COATINUnUCKN.
F1.AX CLOHi:iI)UILWAD DUCKS.
BUFF 1'OATIMU BUCKS.
FANCY BKILLN, FAstT COLO UN.
NTIIII'KD BBIL.L.M, FAST COLO KM,
Itl.OCME UN F.SH, NK VERAL dlI,OBll,
PLAIN t'ULOBEII tlNEH8,FOKLADIia
TItAVliUIaU SUITS.
PUIKTF.B .Ml I Ul INU LINEN.
LINEN I'AHIBKIC BBC&SES.
TIIF.LARUm ASSORTMENT OF LINEN
UOOBS IN HIE CITY, SELLINO AT
less than Jobbers' Prices.
GEOROB MILLIKKN,
Uneu Importer, Jobber, and Retail Dealer,
18gmw WO. gS ARCH STREET
STEAMBOAT LINES.
BRISTOL LINE
BETWEEN NEW YORK AND BOSTON.
VIA RKlSTOAi.
for PROVIDENCE, Ta UNTON. NEW BEDFORD
CAFE COD. aud ail points of railway communica
tion. Rust and Norm.
Tbe new aud splendid steamers BKISTOL and
PROVIDENCE, leave Fler No, 40 NOR1H RIVER,
foot of lauai blreet, adjoining Dobraatieg Sirt et Ferry.
New Ywrg, at 6 P. to., ually, buudays excepted, con
netting with steamboat train at Bristol ht 4 3u A. M,.
arriving in Ronton at A. M., in time to connect with
all the iiiorulug trains iroiu that city, l'ue most de
Biraole and pluanaiii rou.e to the White Mountains.
Travellers lor tnat point can m.ke direct oonaeo
Hons by way of Providence aud Woice-iter. or Boston.
Slate-rooms and Tickets secured at ulnue on Pier la
New or.
6 1 6m H. O. BRIGOS, General Manager.
ptiTN PHILADELPHIA. AND TRB!f-
-L. -jV L. fin Bteamuoat Line. Tue steamboat
iiu uitRErT leaves ARCH Street Wharf, lor
Trenton, siopplug at Tauosy, TorresdalP, beverly,
Burlington, Brlbtol, Florence, Rob alua' Wharf, and
White Dill.
Leaves Aich Street Wbarf! Leaves South Trenton.
Saturday, Aug. I'J, 10 a.m Saiurday, Aug. as. 2 P.tf
Suudaj , Augu t nu, to Luniugiou, Bristol, aud Inter,
meulaie lanulugi, leaves Area streei whan at 8 A.M.
places, 25 cents
, FOB CHESTER, nOOK, AUD
3SSm WILMINGTON At 8 Su ana V 60 A. M.
an" 4 ou P. Al
The steamer 8, M. FELTON and ARIEL leave
ChEbNUT btreot v harf (Sundays excep edi at 8 80
auu Woo A. M., and 8'rU P. M., returning leave Wil
mington at 6'50 A.M., 12'50, and 'U P, M. Stopping at
Chester and Hook each way. j
Fare, 10 cents between an points
Excursion tickets, 15 cents, good to retnrn by either
boat. 88tl
vxTEZZs 0PP08ITI0U TO THE COM-
BiTlVr'irr " r RAILROAD AD RIVER
Steamer JOHN SYLVESTER will make dally
excuislous to Wiiniiugniu (auuuays excelled), touch
ing at Chesier aud iHaiuus iiook, leaving ARCtf
Sneet whaif at 10 A. M, aud 4 P. Ju.4 returning, leave
Wt rxilugii r at 7 A. M. aud 1P.M.
Light freights taken. .-,,..
L, W, BURNS,
28tf Captain.'
lAirs DAILY EXCURSIONS. TH1
splendid cteamboat JOHN A. WAR
leaves CHESNUT Street Wuarf, Philada,, at t
o'clock aud 8 o'clock P. M., for Burlington and
BrlHiul, touching at Rlverton. Torrendaie, Andalusia,
and Beverly. Returning, loaves Bristol at 7 o'oloo
A. M . and 4 P. M.
Fare, 26 cents each way: Excursion 10 eta. 111 tx
WOOD HANGINGS.
T
UK MAGNIFICENT NEW R iOMS
OF T3E
WOOL I1ANGIKG COMPANY,
Ko. 1111 CHESNUT STREET.
Are now open, where thoy are prepared to respond
to ull or tlei s at ibe shortest notice Ibe pjbllo are
Invited 10 call aud examine the beauttfal effucts Of
WOOD HANGING Iu
WALL DECORATIONS,
And get correct end reliable Information In reference
to Its adaptation, cost, aud all particulars respecting
tbe same. tluiwumrp
PATENTS.
TTNITLD STA'l'KS PATENT OPi'ICK, WASH.
U Inmou. D 11.. Aug. 16 lniS .
CII ARIES 1'AKHjM, or Philadelphia, P., hav
li g peliilnned for au , xiensiou 0 Hie Patent granted
hlui 00 the 21st i'y o' November I8'4. and reissued
ou tlix Sit day of Novembe , latii, tor au Improvement
'"it isjrareaib' reiltlon bs beard at this otHcA
on 1 lie 2d day 01 November next. Auvpersin uiay
oiios this etleohlun, Oljjeo Ions, nep ihituma, aud
01 Ik r pai ers should l e ttlea In Hi's ottiie Iweu'y duyg
beh re lie day ot hearing EL tail A FoOTE,
b mil Gommlnsiuuer of Patuutt.
auu . i . ju.i ituvro xiio"i 107. 1. iu , auu jr. jxl.
Monday, A dg. SI. 11 A.M Monday, Aug HI, 8 J'.AI
Tuesuay, kept J, 12 M Tuesday, Sept. 1, 4 P.M
WeO'uay, " 2,12 M. Wedduy, " 2, 4 P.M
'i bursday " 8. 1 P.M I buiaday, " 8, 5 KM
Vrday. " 4, l.'iP.k Friday, 4. 5. P.M
1 11