The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-03-04
Nessrs. Harper d. Brothers

'"''e', ''S'' caileu 10 pay my res,
poets to Mr.. Prescott. Forgetting his hours,
reached the door at five minutes past one.
when learned from the servant that. rs
was his custom, he had left the house rs the
clock struck one, TO take his daily walk. !
called again after tea, and was shown into
the library, the gathering place for the
family at that hour. This beautiful room
Is, after the fashion Of Boston houses ON
the second floor, in the rear of the ,lrawino
rooms; it is, perhaps, thirty feet long hv
twenty wide; at the western end there is Il
large bow window, over which are suspend
cd the swords worn by the grandfathers of
Mr.. and Mrs. Prescott ut the battle Of Bunk.
er Hill, Colonel Prescott commanding the
American forces, and Mrs. Prescot,'s grand
father, Captain Linzec. commanding the
sloop Falcon, engaged in throwing shells
upon the American redoubts. Bv the two
long walls OF the room are arranged hand
some cases, l think Of maple, on which are
sheved about 5000 volumes of wellsclcc,ed
and handsomely bound books. On the lief,
side OF the room, as you face the window. q
door is painted in exact imitation Of shelves
with books, so that the visitor is startled
when 1T is pushed aside for the historian TO
enter. This door opens upon Staircase
which leads to the room above, his work
shop, rs he called it, where his labors were
performed. Surmounting the cases, at ap-
propr'ate intervals, 'ne busts; among them.
as remember, those of Scott and Byron.
which he particularly priced. On the table
arc many choice and exquisite volumes,
presentation copies from literary friends
abroad and at home One shelf of the
library. he told me, was lis most expensive
and important feature, as it contained the
transcripts Of documents in the ROYAL
Archives Of Simancas and Madrid made
for him there, arranged in large number
OF volumes handsomely bound and which
had then Cor this was several years aco)
cost him over five thousand dollars. The
room throughout is furnished in perfect
taste, and is at the same time the perfection
Of comfort, characteristic of the libraries
of tue gentlemen Of Boston.
"Prescotts house is filled wit, cngravincs
pictures, busts, statuettes, and mc,lallions
the tokens Of admiring regard from friends
in every part Of Europe, and North and
South America. Behind the door in the
hall, hangs full length portrait of Herman
do Cortez, in full armour; and on the op-
poste wall is a striking likeness OF Philip II,
both copies Of originals, sent him by friends,
the first from Mexico, the other from Spain.
"On the evening in question, Wednesday,
Jan. &c, Mr.. Prescott entered the library
with slower pace and heavier step than
when I had been in the habit Of seeing him
years before; but his manner had the same
unaffected simplicity and cordial warmth
Whether stranger would have perceived
it cannot say, but my ear, sharpcned By
necessity, at once detected the work of par
alysie in an occasional thickcniag of the
speech. l mean difficulty in perfect artic-
ulation now and again. Among his very
flrst inquiries was particular one concern
ing the members of your own firm; your
health, the state and prospects Of your bust
ness, DC, manifesting the deepest interest Il
adding the remark that, through all the
, years Of bis business ano personal connec.
ton with your firm, he had never experience
ed anything but the greatest kindness and
consideration at your hands-that his en-
joyment OF your success was undiminshed:
and that he felt particularly grateful for the
kindly mention which had been made of
. his personal affliction last year in your pa
per, and for the handsome notice of the
third volume of his Philip II in the current
;: number Of your Magazine.
"He then proceeded to mention of vari.
GUS mutual friends that had passed away
since our last meeting; especially of the
: Hon. Abbot Lawrence and:Francis c. Gray,
Esq, at whose dinner tables we had often
: met; and then of some of his surviving
friends, especially Of GeorgeTGkuor ESQ.,,
who, he said, had shortened and frightened
vhat, but for him, must have been many a
Sad and weary hour; and of Mr.. Agassiz
4 concerning whose museum he expressed
.t&he .liveliest interest. He remarked that
Ahe eyes of the, latter had suffered greatly
kom his work, and that he would Be sadly
tsulked in his prospects. but that he was
able to find reliefin manifold manipulating
shbors. This led naturally TO speak of bis
.sosn and my in6rpity,, which were about
Z sdnal ID degree :. and Of the different lives
ssEea had led his, Of a retired study, mine
travel and activetoik =, 4
ale added: II suppose that Tiskpor
Mfssrer:write ad6thef book; but be has
>. been. doing perhaps better for the conma
nifty and. posterity byo, devoting himself for