The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-02-11
FEBRUARY II, 1859.
Death Of VIM H Prescott,

We clip the following biicl biographical
sketch of the great historian. Prescott, from
the Boston JoprndL:-
William Hickling Prescott. son Of n dis.
tingulshtd 'awNor. and grandson rf tho i'm
mortal leader ut the American tronpsHt ths
batt'o OF Bunker Hill, was bora in salem in
1895. Coming OF historical ancestry, Il is
litue wonder thar his tastes carly inclined
him to the glorious cords OF tho past. al
thsngh it was many years before he deiber-
atelN gave himself up to the lead of his inn
pulses. When no WAS twelve years Old ipis
family removed to Bnston. @hero he con-
tinurd his classical studies under the tuition
of Dr. Gardiner, u pupil of the celebrated
Di. Parr. Throe wears later AZ the age of
fifteen. he entered Harvard College, aud
graduated with honor ia 1874. He intended
to enter the profession nj tho law; but
serious accident destroyed for a time all his
ambitious hopes. Previous to leaving college
he had lost Ihe sight ut One eye from an ac'
cidenta blow, and the other woskened by
over cxerton. began to fail him, so hat when
lro recovered from severe illncss into which
his situation had thrown him. he found him
self nearly blind.
HIS father. drspairing of seeing him curod
nv our physicians. sent him to Europe. Du-
ring his two two years residences abroad. he
visitee England France and Italy, and con-
suited tho most eraincnt occulists in London
and Paris bnt was ohftqpd fo rrturn home
without obtaining rcliuf flm European
tour was So tar ben, fetal ~ him. thar IL en-
tirelv restored his shattered physical health,
aud. bv freeing bin from bodily pains, On"
ab!rd him to turn his attention 10 that quies
but eugrnssing department of knowledge
which had so early atiiscted hrs mlnd -
Singular to say, if W. look at his hod'Iy In'
fl mites alone. ho determined TO be u bis~
torian. lilo knew, too. what the tito meant,
and with proud consciousness of his powers
aa well US just appreciation Of the aim ho
had set before him. hn gave himself up TO
ten years preparatory course of reading
Then selecting his subject hr worked upon
il another ten years, and in 1888, at the age
of forty TWO. no gave 10 tho world his =" llis-
tory of Ferdinand aud Isabella" publishing
il simultaneously in London and Bustnn.
II the fruit was long ripcnng. It was per-
feet whcu it fell The histor, was received
on both sides of tho Atautic with unhes-
t.ting applause, aud took its permanent
place among tho classics Of our tongue. 1t
has since been translated into German. tia
liam. French and spanish. HIS eyo had, in
the meanwhile, somewhat improved and ho
WAS enabled TO dispense WITH reader, upon
whose services, IN tho cnmposltion of his first
work, he was obliged TO rely. whio he wrote
in dimly-ghtod room. In lS43 appeared
his second work. The Conquest OF Mexico"
While this was received with increased honor
in Enropc-causng its author to 5e chosen
u member of the French Academy of Science,
and procuring him many similar honors-its
reception at homo was still mere gratifying !;
and it probably romans to the present time
the tavori,o of all MIR Prescott.s works, with
American readers. In 1913 appeared the
CONG, est OF Peru" rna,k ked throughout by
the snro nigh qualities which distinguished
its predecessors. A volume of miscrIanes
followed Containing many papers OF greas
interest lle also supplied now edition Of
Rohertson's Charles ". with All interesting
appendix. complied from lately discovered
muteras, relating To the clolster life of tho
: Emperor. In 1850 Mr.. Prescott visited
: England second time. where he VAS re-
cuived in very tlattoring manner, the UGi-
versIty of Oxtord comforting upon him tho
degree of j.. l. d.. Since then he has been at
work upon History IF PhHp II of which
the first three volumes have beeu published.
How much further towards compilation this
exceedingly Interesting work was carried be-
fore tho pen tell from thc hand OF the hia-
torian, We are not informed.