The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-21

Literary. Sass j s4ea
We have received the eighth number of ssThe Gal
lery OF llusrous Amercans'--a national work which
is intended 10 contain the portraits and biographical
sketches OF twenty OF the most eminent citizens of
the republic since the days of Washington The daguer
reotypes by Brady engraved by Davignon and the
biographical sketches are from the pen of Lester assist
ed by an association OF literary This eighth mum
Der is dedicated to an American who is entitled by uni
versa fame, TO distinguished niche in the Gallery Who
has not heard of William Hckng PRESCOTT Who has
not read his History of Ferdinand and Isabea.-hs
Conquest OF Mexico'-and his Conquest OF Peru y
Among the precious arts OF country is literature and
among the choicest branches OF that art generally the
latest well the most memorable triumph OF genius
is the eminent production OF the learned historian But,
Prescott has weathed the brow OF his country with not
less than three trophies OF his pen and yet amid what
difficulties has he struggled
Prescott is the grandson OF the patriot VIM Prescott
who commanded our troops on Bunker Hill II 1911 he
graduated in Harvard College with distinguished honors
but he had already been visited by misfortune which
cut him off from the legal profession TO which he had
intended TO devote his talents. Yet what appeared ogi-
nally great misfortune to him has turned out to be
great blessing to his country, and hope even to
| himself. ..##ea. ..s
Before he graduated an accidental blow had com
@ The os nnd ss
partly by sympathy and partly by the increased OF
ha opened some months later and during which he was
entirely blind, he found the sight OF his remaining
far impaired. that he obliged to abandon his profe,.
sona stados and give up all hopes which his young
ambition had INDUCED for success in lilo urist The
cling in England France. and Iay or an Improvement Of
his paired vision through the skill OF tie ocus,s of Lon
don and Paris His health strengthened by his jour
neyngs but for his misfortune his sight he found relief
Still he not dishearened He had been endowed by
Nature with spirit cmneny cheerful and elastic and
when he back from his European excursion, he
turned himself at once and with the most earnest aacry
| to those studies which still lay within his reach.
4 his IN he ~
Ten years be devoted TO general OF classical
studies He then selected his subject and in years
produced his celebrated History OF Ferdinand and
in 1885, at the age OF az He at the high
est rank OF literary reputation Edition followed edition.
and his history travelled, TRANSACTIONS in German Span.
lsh, and Italian, throughout Europe "During his labor
this work. 1--WE adopt the language OF his biogapher
Mr. Prescotrs vision bad been somewhat improved by
dmnution OF the sensbilty which had earlier led to fire.
quen iniammaons, and compelled him often to live in
darkened apartment, and rely entirely reader when
collecting his materials. His Conquest of Mexico
therefore, first published in Is43 though prepared largely
from MSS, was, perhaps, a work of less troublesome
toll to him than his first work had been" His "Conques,
ofPeru" followed in 1s47 but he has not yet reached
the end Of his labors He is employed composing
History OF the Reign Of Philip the Second-one OF the
most evenul periods in the annals OF the world II may
be the labor of years.
Mr. Prescott il is true Is not blind and we rejoice the
nopo "c mover WIZ DO peesab, as we look
on his firm, manly features, observe that exterior
mark indoates his misfortune bis friends aud acquant
ances Sun, from the first period 10 which II dates back,
he has at no time been able prepare his manuscript.
erceptbY means OF a machine constructed that he
never looks what he writes and which gives results never
examined by himself I'LL after they lave been decpieed
and road to him by another From the period foo
he has always been obliged 10 rely mainly reader 70
order 70 gather, by his Judgment from the many DOCKS
he must consult the facts he needs for IN the bappes M
teva that have been granted him. he has been able TO
read le himself and now if he reads at ALL the pam he
suffers admonsbes him tina, he must sop or submit 70 con
| sequences the most disastrous.
Such the sketch of OF our first historIanssuch the
ph, steal impediments with which he has bad to struggle
and such the triumph Of enbusasma lesson that
not be too deeply impressed upon the minds Of our young
counnymen. Wboknows what seeds of genius are sown
in their composition. which il only requires time, and
ten,ion, and industry 10 develop, but which often
smothered up by the widest pleasure and the grosses
dissIpatons