Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-08-28
American Observation-Disclosures BiOgr;-
ply, and ElOqucnce.

TO the Editors Of Tie National hteHigmer
There are few if any kinds Of composition
quring higher order Of genius, or more profound
and varied requirements, than History and It
might be supposed therefore, that it would bea-
mong the last of the fields in which the authors
new nation would be successful. Yet our lite a.
ture embraces fair proportion Of historical wot;s
of such excellence, that any people would relero
them with proud satisfaction.
What the estimate of Mn PREscoTr would le
among ourselves, but for the concurrent judgments
of the best European critics that he has no supfi-
or if he has an equal among contemporary hist'f-
ans il in;-h. be difficult to tell He fame hov.y-
er, is so high, so universal, and so firmly est b.
lished and cheap newspapers have made fore On
opinions Of him so familiar here, that the slies Of
those persons who found claims TO reputation Tor
taste upon expressions ofcontempt for what is Amer
lean, are in the habit Of making an exception o-iis
writings from their condemnation. How fortunate
for him-if he cares for his home populariiy-that
his subjects are of such general interest as tohaye
made scholars of all countries the Judges e his
merit.
Ferdinand and Isabella and The Conqu st Of
Mexico are not the only among the finest u1dtls
of historical composition, but in a very geuine
sense they are national works, breathing so RELY
the liberal spirit of institutions that transators
abroad have had TO change utterly their toe, as
well as their language, to make them acceptable TO
the subjects of arbitrary power.
The words Of panegyric have been well nth ex-
hausted in commentaries upon the Claue-like
beauty of MIR Prescotls descriptions, the jut pro-
portion and dramatic interest of his narratie, his
skill as a character writer, the expanslyenos and
completeness of his views, and that careful nd in
telligent research which enabled him to mae his
works as valuable for their accuracy, as thy are
attractive by all the graces ofstye.
Mr. BANCROFT has remarkable merits, ofsome-
what different nature, and some faults, thoCh not
of such sort or magnitude as 10 prevent III being
placed in the very front rank of great historians
lie is emphatcally an American. He think feels,
and acts the American. fIe surveys the lain Of
ages, and perceives that humanity is progressive
In our own polity, our institutions, our Universal
and safe liberty he sees the iarthest point ttwhch
the race has attained. lie looks hopefully Ito the
future, far as the human eye can see, aud Is pow
erful mind kndles with enthusiasm as he his our
country fulfilling her mission, in the subyeion oil
false opinions, the overthrow Of tyrannousdynas-
ties, the liberation of mankind. All thiss we'll
But Mr. Bancroft is perhaps too ardent pQlician
and too deeply imbued with the principle OF hi.
party, 10 be calm spectator of the preset or ar
unpreiudced reviewer of the past lie ny serv,
the spirit of the age, instead of wrestlingwth it
and placing himself on an eminence from hich e
survey the historical drama Of the world. Howev
or these things be- his work is eaborely an,
strongly yet elegantly written IT is altoeher tn
most accurate and philosophical accountant ha
been piyen Of the United States; and PITS of
may be ranked among the most splendid all his
torical literature
To Mr. CoopERs admirable Naval Hiory, tn
learned History Of the Mortimer by n WnEA
TON, the History of the Life and Voyaes of CO
lumbus by WAsmNGroN lRvNG, and o'er class
cal historical compositions By our contrymen
with the vast number Of works in this epartmer
produced in the several States, whe--thoug
American in spirit and in many instauGSAkilfull
wroupht-are to be regarded rather materi
and authority for the historian than asactual aii
standard histories, the limits of this suey will Il
low me TO refer only in this brief manrr. Frol
what have written, however, trust il III be cor
ceded that in the division of History o. Naiioac
Literature is not deficient in extent IN stinctiy
ness or in any of the qualities which sOuld mar
this kind of writing.
Our works in Historical Biography hume
Gus, and many of them are executed wi snguli
Judgment and ability. The Life of Washgton /
Marshall Tudors Life Of Otis, Wits lie of Pa
rick Henry, the Life of the elder onicy by h
Son, fuckers Life of Jefferson ! 9 l.llenf' lami
ton by his Son, the Life of I Kiln J fpark
many of the Lives in Sparks'sl rqrg oAaeriea
Biography, Coopers Lives Of th MAYA Cop man
ers ofthe United States, and parS Of th' san
character, will be remembe VI ile 1tllige
reader as productions of pero qIlatrst an
Importance ~ .Mh