Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-02-17


otNritMlN Happening to he in Boston on
Wednesday last | called to pay my respects to
Mr. PRESCOTT. Forgetting his hours | reached
the door ut five minutes pnst one when learned
from the servant that. ms was his custom, ho had
left the house tho clock struck one Ia tnke his
dnily walk ! called agnn after tca and was
shown into tho library. tho gatherinr-nlac for
the family Mt that hour This beautiful room IT,
alter the iashion OF Boston, ON the second floor in
the rear OF tho drawing rooms; il is, perhaps,
thirty ioct long. by twenty wide: ut the western
end there is u largo bow window. on which nre
suspended the swords worn by the grnndtathers
of MIR. aud Mrs Prescott Mt the battle of Bunker
li'll, Colonel Prescott commanding tho American
forces, and Mrs. Prcscotts grandfather, Caotain
ihnzce, commanding the soop Fairon engaged in
throwing shells upon the American rcdonhts By
the two long wills ot tho room nre arranged hand
some cases, think of maple. on which ara shcved
about 1000 volumes of welseccted and hand
Somely bound books. On the left Of tho room ns
kou lace tho window, door is painted in cxnct
imitation of shelves aud books M that tho visitor
ls startled when it is pushed aside for tho hsto-
RAN to onler. The doors opens upon n staircase,
which leads to tho room above his work shnp ms
he enllod IT, whcro his labors were poriormcd.--
Surrounding tho case, at appropriate intervals,
ino busts; among thcm | remember those of
scott aud byron, which ho particularly priced
')n the table are many choice and exquisite vol
umes, presentation copies from literary friends
he told me. was its most expensive and important
icntnre, as it contained tho transcripts of ,ocu-
ncn,s in the Royal Archives Of Simnncas md
Madrid made Tor him there, arranged u largo
number of Volumes Handsomely bound; aud which
had hccn ior this wns several wears ugol cost him
over 10000. Tho room throughout s furnished in
perfect taste. and ls ut the time the perlec-
ton of comfort characteristic OF the libraries
of the gentlemen Of Boston.
Mr.. Presrolts house is filled with cngravings
pictures. bustS, satuctics und mcdallions the to-
k"ns OF ndmiring regard from friends in every
part at Europe and North and South Americn-
Behind the door in th" hall, hangs II full length
portrait of Ilcrnnndo Cortez in full nrmor; and
ON the opposite wnll isa striking likeness Of Philip
H.. both copies of originals, sent by friends. tho
first from Mexico tho other from Spain
on the evening in question, Wednesday Jan 90
MIR. Prescott entered the library with II slower and
heavier stop thnn whom had been in the hnbit of
seeing him years before: but his mauncr Ind the
.nlnc unaffected simplicity and cordial warmth.
Whether stranger would have obscr, ed it | can
not say, but my cnr. shnrpcned by ncecssv ut
once detected th" work Of parnl ysis in occasion.
nj thlcknnng of tho speech mean difficulty in
perfect articulation now and then. Among his
very first inquiries wns particular one concern.
ing Tia" members of your own firm; your health
the sialo and prospects Of your hu ,incss &C. man
llcsling the deepest interest; adding tho remark
that. through u tho years Of his business and pre-
sona connection with your firm. ho had never OK
prrcnccl anything but tlr greatest Kindness and
consideration at your hands; that hls enjoyment
of your success was undmnshcd and that he
felt particularly grateful for the kindly mention
which had bocn made Of hia personal airtion last
year in yonr piper, aud for the handsome notice
of the third volume of his PhWtp H. in tho cur
rent number Of your Magazine.
lie then proceeded ton mention Of various mutual
friends that had passed away since our last meet
ng--cspcclally Of the Hon. Abbot Lawrence and
Francis G. Gray. Esq, Mt whose dinner tables We
had often met; and then somo of hs surviving
friends, especially Of George Ticknor, Esq, who,
he said, had shortened and bri shtened what, but
for him, must have been many II sad and weary
hour and of Mr.. Agassiz, concerning whose mu-
scum he expressed the livclicst interest. He re
marked that the eyes of the lattor had suffered
greatly from his work, and that he would be sadly
hnlkca IN his prospects, but that he was able to
ind relief in manifold anipulating labors. This
led him naturally to speak of his and my in
frmity. which were about to equal in degree and
of the different lives we had ledhs. of retired
stud whine, Of travel and active toll.
He added, Il suppose that Ticknor will never
write another book; but he had been doing per-
baps better for the community and posterity by
devetng himself for several years to the interests
of the Boston City Library, which may he taken
in good part ns his work, and more valuable
contribution to the good of the people has seldom
been made 1t is rare thing for such an institu-
ton to get n man rarely qualified by tnste,
knowledge and accomplishment to look after its
interests with such energy and patience"
OF Mr. Gray he observed "Poor Gray! ! think
| he was the most remarkable man ever knew for
variety and lullness Of information, and perfect
command Of it, lie was n walking encyclopedia.
| have seen many man who had excellent memo
RES, provided you would let them turn to their
Libraries to get the information yon wanted; but
| no matter on what subject you spoke to him, his
cl wna at his t,npars' ends md ontirev