New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-12-09
Netu9lprk DAILY Gtibn,le
NEW PUBLICATIONS
pRESCOTT'S PHILIP III.

kiNG or sPAIN BY WILI,m II. PREscofr. Sol H.
Bvo. pp. 40. Philips, Sampson Co.
The unity of topics treated Of in this new volume
of Mr. Prescotts great work, affords to the his
tcran an ample opportunity for the exercise OF his
peculiar and admirable talent. With no embsr.
rassment from the perpetual change OF scene, the
complication Of cro,s-ightr, or the conflict OF
salient points of interest, broad and inviting field
is opened for the picturesque narrative, in which
Mr. Prescott has attained such rare eUinence.
The fortunes of the Moors in Spain, from the
oppressive edct Of 1866 To the issue IF their
rebellion in 1870, occupy the foreground of the
volume, to the exclusion of every other theme
while in the latter psriion, an equally prominent
place is Assigned to the Of the allies With the
Turks including the famous battle of Lepanto
l57I. Nearly the whole Of the volume accord
ipely is divided into two grand historical mono
praphs. each of which is elsborat u with signal
felicity, ard throws around the reader tpell Of
enchsntment not le,s potent than The gorgeous
pictures of Mexico and Peru.
At The epoch Of Philip the Seconds accession to
the throne Of Spain, Gr9nads, Malaga, and the
| other principal ctit, Of the south were hlled With
mingled population of Span'ards and Moris:oes,
as the descendant, Of the Moorish race were
now called The largest pant OF tho Moorish
population, however, was scattered over tue
| mountain range Of ths Alpuisrrss, and among
the bold sieIras thsi stretched along the
southern shores Of spsin. Amid those frosty
peaks was many green, sequestered valley,
on which the NoOu.h peasant had exhaust
ID the resources Of i hugh artificial cultivation.
He Lad constructed terraces from the rocky soil,
and planting the m w'L vines had clothed the bald
.ides Of the sierra with deliccu, yerdure. The
lower levels were interi4ced With canals, which
were fed by the streams from The mountains, and
nOur.,hed the land with perpetual moisture. The
different elevators afforded the sdysntsse OF
variety Of climates ior agricultural production.
The fig, the pomegrana.e and the orange grew
almost side by SIDE with tie hemp of the north snd
! tie grain of mider letitudes. Flocks of merino
sheep pastured on the lower Slopes Of the sierra.
The mulbtrv-tree VI. raised in great abundance
for the manufacture Of elk. In these Little ham
lets among the mountains, the Moriscoes cherished
the traditions of their fathers. aud perpetuatei
the customs that kept alive the memory OF ancient
days. The hardy life Of the mountaineer gave ro-
business 10 his frame, and saved lin from the
tfT' minacy which corrupted the inbabitant. OF the
, csptal. Though destitute Of a country which he
could call his own, he was attached TO the soil OF
his native bhl., sDd cherished 3 spirit Of indePend
ence iii iuited TO conquered race.
Tie conitaDcy with which the Morlscces adhered
TO the faith Of their ancestry gave great scandal
TO the church, and especially the clergy. After
various NE assures to reduce them into sucecton 10
the dominant 81 stem, the work was undertaken By
EspiDO.a, tie favcrie minister OF Philip. AT that
| time, Q56G) be Was IN the meridian Of lis power.
He combined high evil and ecclesiastical dign-
ties IN his own person. lis talents for business
were extraordinary. He wss patent OF toll, cheer-
, fully dong the work Of others a. well AZ bis own.
With every justification ior the place Of grand In
quistor. he could not feel riuch sympathy for race
@. unberevers. Twas stern element in the fate
Of the Mo-iscoes, tbs. they hoEld be brought under