The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-31
BALTIMORE.
MONDAY, JANUARY 81, 1859.

MONDAY, JANUARY 81, 1859.
Our Eastern exchanges confirm the melancholy
intelligence, received by telegraph in this city, on
Saturday of the DEATH at his residence, IN Boston,
Of WILLIAM HIcKLING PRESCOTT, the historian. The
sad event took place. very suddenly, on Friday the
2sth inst, and appears to have been entirely I'M
expected although slight stroke of paralysis, from
which the deceased was a sufferer two or three
wears since, must have rendered his health, in
some degree, subject of anxiety to his friends.
Mr.. PRESCOTT was born in Salem, Massachusetts,
on the 4th of May, 1896, but resided, from his
childhood, in Boston. While at Harvard Univer-
sity, where he was graduated in 1914, he was de-
prived by an accident, of the sight of one of his
eyes, and sympathetic inirmity, which very
much impaired the usefulness of the other, caused
him to abandon the idea of prosecuting his studies
for the bar The affection which has since been
the chief impediment in his career, was thus the
cause of that change in his intellectual occupa-
TONS which has placed his name among the first in
the annals of historical literature and has made
his death a national calamity Upon his return
from Europe, which he visited for his health
shortly after leaving the University, Mr. Prescott
dedicated himself altogether to literary pursuits.
The more important of his labors, as our readers
aware, were directed to the illustration of that
brilliant period of Spanish-indeed, European
history, commencing towards the middle of the
fifteenth century, and extending till the close
of the sixteenth. The History of the Reign of
Ferdinand and Isabella, which appeared in 1888,
was followed in l943, by the History Of the Con-
quest Of Me1ico, and in ls47, by the History efMe
Conquest of Peru. At the time of his death, the
lameated author engaged upon the History of
the Reign Of Philip the Second, King Of Spain,
the third volume of which was issued but two or
three months ago. These, together with valua-
BILE edition of Robertson's History of Charles the
Fifh-rendered complete by the story of the
cloister-life of Charles, and his death, from the
pen of Mr.. PRESCOTT himself, and published in
1956-and volume of Miscellanies, which orig
inally appeared in the North american Reoieac--
constitute, we believe, the whole of his contribu-
tons to literature.
Upon the merits of the historical productions
which we have enumerated, it is unnecessary to
dwell. They have conquered the criticism of the
whole literary world, and have been translated
with unvarying applause, into all the cultivated
languages of Europe Happily for their value as
mere historical records, they were not commenced
until the liberalized policy of the Spanish govern
ment had opened the wealth of its archives to lite
rary Investigations policy of which Dr. ROBERT
son wrote too soon to have the advantage. How
faithfully Mr.. PRESCOTT awaited himself of his OPP
portunities, is made known to the world, by the
copious learning of his text and his annotations,
and the admirable fulness and accuracy of his de-
tails in every department of his enquiries. To Span
sh scholars, his pages are perfect treasure-house
OF rare and curious lore, and of the most acute
and delightful criticism and appreciation. Their adj
mrabe fairness, and the manly independence
which puts aside all suspicion of prejudice, whether
religious or political. has made their author as
popular with the people whose history he treats
as if he had been born among them and had writ
ten in their own language In point of style and
historical manner and genius, Mr.. PRESCOTT stands
by himself He has not the wonderful faculty for
generalization which distinguishes GUIzoT-nor the
brilliant declamatory condensation and contrasts
Of MAcAULAY whose extraordinary analysis he
also lacks-neither does he dazzle like TnERRy,
with the strange, beautiful effects of the picturesque.
But he unites in himself what no one of the three
possesses, so admirably blended-the calm his
toric Judgment, and the power of sustained
and perfect narrative-profound without obscurity
analytical without controversial once philo-
sophical and gorgeous, yet simple and severely
pure. In none of his works does the charm of his
various faculties appear in more delightful play
than in the last volume of the History Of Philip the
only unimpaired but heightened and improving,
renders his death, in the midst of his still busy
and unconsummated lahors, the saddest of dispen-
satons.
Of the personal deserts of Mr.. PRESCOTT, as de-
voted literary laborer too high an estimate can
scarcely be formed, when we reflect that all his
works were given TO the world through an amanu-
enss, and that the painful and protracted investga
tons, to which they their chief historic value
were conducted without the aid Of his own eye
sight. About half an hour, in the day, was the
whole time that his imperfect and sensitive vision
could be employed, and that period was exclusive
ly devoted to the final revision of the engrossed
manuscript. The rest of his labors went on in that
darkness of the senses where HOMER and MILTON
safe and were immortal.
To those who had the honor of Mr.. PRESCOTT S
personal acquaintance, without the privileges
of friendship, his death can carry but unminged
sorrow. He was gentleman of most attractive
qualities-all of which beamed, joyously, from his
bright, handsome, youthful face-and his manners
were so genial and engaging, so full of sympathy
and fascination, that the briefest contact with him.
in his familiar circle, was perpetually pleasant
memory. The consciousness of recognised genius
and the highest honors of popular admiration and
literary renown had wrought no change whatever
in the beautiful frankness and simplicity of his ma
ture. In his domestic and personal relations, he
was all that was needed to make up perfect char
acter. For the blow which has stricken him down
so prematurely and so suddenly, even the name
that he has left, and the enduring monuments on
which it is inscribed, can bring no consolation to
those who knew and loved him. His country
will treasure his fame as the brightest that has yet
illustrated her literary records.