Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-11
City ano County gntelIigente.
MEETING OF THE AMERICAN. ANTIGUA
RAN SOCIETY

affection to the memery Of the late William II.
Prescott, who was member of the Society
The President of the Society, Hon. Stephen
Salisbury, in introducing the objects of the
meeting, spoke, in substance, as follows:
Gentlemen Of the American Antiquarian Society:
| would not neglect the obvious official duty
to give you the opportunity, by associated ac-
tion to take notice Of the dispensation of Prov
idence which Ias removed from this life Will
liam HiciE.ing Prescott, an honored associate
who was esteemed as light and an example
in the pursuits to which this society is devoted
He, whose net has gathered so richly from the
stream of time, has fallen and gone down with
the current. The approaching month of May
will complete the twentieth year since Mr..
Prescott was enrolled with this Society. Mem
bership was offered to him, as an expression of
respect and sympathy for his zeal and ability
in his own work, without the hope of his direct
personal aid in your labors The intirmity of
his sight confirmed the inclination of his retir-
ing disposition, to avoid new associations and
variety of employments. Though he chose to
seclude himself in his private laboratory, it
was for no private gain, but that he might there
transmute the gold which should be precious
wherever the English language shall he read.
do not remember that L ever heard the
voice of Mr.. Prescott, and l am not aware that
have the honor now to address an individual
who enjoyed his intimacy and friendship; yet
we all know his pure and noble soul as it is re-
fected in his writings. We cannot fully sym
pathize in the desolate grief of those, who so
recently, with weeping, laid his beautiful form
in the earth; for the object of our affection is
still living and life-giying.
But there is one aspect of the event which
we contemplate, that should dispose us, who
only loved Mr.. Prescott as an author, to join
the sad circle of his nearer friends with pain
full sense of bereavement. We have lost the
living and visible example of historian who
felt and could meet the responsibilities of his
task. Of the products of his labors, we have
enough for the demands of his individual duty,
for his own fame, and for the gratitude of his
age; but we deeply lament that he will not
continue to work in our sight-to give, by re-
iterated action, repeated models in his art, and
repeated protests, not audibly uttered but
deeply felt, against the abuse of the sacred
office of a historian, which has been in time
past, and is now, SO common, so popular, so
mischievous, and, in the end SO ruinous to the
author.
The speaker proceeded to draw an interest
ing contrast between Prescott and other illus
trious historians, especially Robertson, the au-
thor of the History of Charles ", in order
that they might more justly estimate the loss
they had suffered of a faithful and conscien-
tious historian. In closing, he invited them to
consider the character and services of the dis
tinguished historian, the ripe scholar, and the
true-hearted man, and to embalm his memory
with such fragrant offerings as their reverence
and gratitude might prompt
Hon. Levi Lincoln, at the close of the effect
i've remarks Of the President, rose and spoke in
substance as follows
Mr. President :-Now that we have had time
to recover, in some degree, from the sorrowful
surprise with which we received the announce
ment of the death of Mr.. Prescott, and have
yielded to the first outbursts Of grief to which
personal friendship and affection have given
most touching and eloquent expression, in the
great bereavement, we are the better prepared
to consider what becomes this Society in its
more distant relations to this accomplished
gentleman and scholar and in humble recogni-
ton of the mournful event.
William Hickling Prescott belonged, exclu-
sively, to no association of men. He gave his
fame to the world, as he had given his literary
labors to the service of mankind, 1t was not
my HdpplllSsS ~ eIJOy uuuCll vi HIS per-
sonal acquaintance. In his early life, dis
parity of years, and diversity of pursuits would
have precluded this qualification. While he
was wooing the Muse of History, and won her,
too, even as bride, it was my less enviabe
lot to be professionally engaged in itiga-
tions at the Bar, and in the dissOnance of
political strife. Yet, sir, there was one bond of
conneXion between us, to which can never be
insensible. knew well those, whom, most of
all, he reverenced and loved-his distinguished
father and most cstimable mother. With the
former l had the honor of occasional unreserv-
ed intercourse for more than quarter of a
century, and not unfrequently was associated
with him, in high official duties, in the Legis-
lature of the State, and in that rare assemblage
of remarkable men, the Constitutional Govern
ton of 1920 Sir, l trust that l possessed
somewhat of his friendship and confidence, as
l shared largely in his kindness and unstinted
hospitality. 1t is from these considerations,
in the absence, here, of more direct claims, by
others, that feel it not wholly inappropriate to
take some part in the purposes of the mournful
occasion, upon which you have been pleased to
call us together, and to submit, for the consid-
Grafton of this meeting, the following resolu-
tions:
The American Antiquarian Society," deeply sympa-
thzing, with other literary institutions in deploring
the accomplished scholar and eminent historian,
seek to offer the tribute of their respect to his char
acter, and OF mourntul regret for his loss-there-
FORE
Resolved, That in the death of Mr.. Prescott, the
world of letters lament the departure of man of a
high order of genius of rich endowments of mind,
and OF extensive and rare acquisitions in science,
under the most discouragng physical obstacles who
by his historical productions has added new charms
to the communication of knowledge, and loftier
reputation to the literature of his country and the
age.
Resolved that in the personal and private charac-
ter of the deceased, we admire the beautiful conss-
tency and purity of his life his laborous literary in
dustry, and indomitable persistence in noble pur-
suits, the sublime aspirations OF gifted intellect,
and the earnest devotion of genial heart to domeS
tic and social relations, and to the instruction and
improvement of mankind.
Resolved, AS William Hickling Prescott permitted
to this Society the honor of placing his name on the
roll of its members, so now, i'll his death, mourn
the departure of an illustrious associates and, al
though there was little opportunity for personal fell
lowship with him, in this hall, we ask to be allowed
the privilege and sOace of rendering our express
ions of truest coincidence to the more Immediately
bereaved and afflicted of the living, by the grateful
assurance of OUR admiring and anectionate regard
for the memory of the dead
Resolved, That the President Of this Society be
respectfully requested to transmit copy of these
resolutions, in such expressive terms of sympathy
he may deem fit, to the family of the deceased.
Rev. DIR. Hill moved the acceptance of the
resolutions. He briefly and in felicitous terms
ASASiiSu W WIZ ShSuiilotdhSes "hiSH Hiftue ~
eminently proper for them to consider their re-.
lations to the deceased. His ancestor was the
pioneer of the beautiful civilization which now
surrounds us. In their habits fife, and in the
circumstances of their death, they were not I'M
like. He could not look without admiration
on man venturing upon such work as
Prescott's-in field requiring something Of
the inspiration of genius and the enthusiasm
of the poet He referred to the purity of his
life and his modest Inconsistencies of merit,