Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-02-04

The announcement of the death of this
gentleman was startlinglv sudden. It il but
n short time since that our senior enioyed his
charming society "a his guest mt Newhury-
port. and wrote in hopeful friendship that he
would b. spared to win other triumphs in the
field of literature which he had entered with
such distinguished success. In all the appar-
ent vigor of fine health. Mr.. Prescott was
striker down by paralysis on the 2Sth ult..
and expired almost Immediately. The decease
of this great historian is loss not only to
the large circle of his friends. but in the
broadcast national sense ii is irreparable. No
one has shed more honor on our country and
no one has garnered more to the treasure
heap of historical literature. Mr.. Prescott
was the son Of a distinguished jnr-t. and
grandson of Col. VIM Prescott, who com
manded at Bunker Hill in l775. lie was
born at Salem. Mass, May 4th. 1896. educated
at Harvard. and graduated in 1914. with the
intention Of devoting himself to the law.
hut. Just at the close OF his collegiate clrecr.
he lost the sight Of one eye by an accident,
and the other soon became so enfeeble and i'm
paired that he was compelled to change his
intention. He Travelled in Europe, consult
ing eminent oculiSts without finding allcvia-
tiOn, and then resolved tn acquire knowlcdg re
of modern languages and European literature.
with the determination tn become II historian.
We learn FROM Duyckinck's Cyclopedia that
to this task he devoted on well-consdcred
plan. ten years; and, except that he often suf-
fercd severely from inhammations of his de-
bilitatcd organ Of sight, and that his reading
and studies of all kinds were carried on to
much disadvantage from the necessity of using
the eyes of others rather than his own,
they were years of great happiness to him.
His industry never tagged: his courage never
ialtercd 4; his spirits, buoyant by nature.
never sank under the burdens imposed upon
them. 1t was the period when he laid deep
and sure the foundations of his subscqle tent
success.
In choosing a subject he was eminently for
tunate. DR.. Robertson. in 1869, had succeed
ed in fastening the attention of the world on
the reign OF Charles V, when the power of
Spain was ut its z-nith, and the wide Euro
pean system was consolidated, which Napn-
leon first broke up. But DIR. Robertson did
not O. hack to the capture Of Grenada, that
central point in the history Of Spain, which
was necessary in "A work intended to present
that country in its entrance upon the grand
theatre Of European affairs. Eight centuries
had been preparing for that epoch, and four
centuries had developed its results and conse-
auences. AT this period of the elimination
Of Spanish power created by the Moorish wars
and It's expansion over Europe came The dis
covery Of America, which combined To give
that power an unprecedented liz, aud eficien-
CIV. These were the elements upon which
Charles V. established his vast Influence. and
are only referred To by DR.. Robertson in his
introduction. Mr. George Ticknor in his me-
moir Of Mr.. Prescott says our historian no
doubt perceived this, and chnSe for the sub
j-ct of his first work-''The Reign of Ferl-
nand end lsabella'--the grand consolidation
of Spain into one compact monarchy, the
r =.
Europe. and the discovery OF America and it,
wealth. This was Published in 1888, and, az
ter hiS train Of study and RESEARCH. il was
natural that Ms. Prescott should turn his al
tCntion 10 the American continent and It's con-
quests by Spanish adventures.
He accordingly wrote the Conquest of
qexico,n In ISi3. which In lSi7 was followed
10y his Conquest 81 Peru.r These works
have been reprinted In MI the European Lam
guag :. aud were prrdieated on materials oh
tanned after much research amid the archives
IL Madrid and Seville. Preparing himself
for another effort. and leaving 10 DR. Robert
SIN the field ri history covered by the reign
of Charles v. Mr.. Prescott commenced the
history OF Piihp H.. which was iiually con-
pletcd b fore h = death. Literary bodies, az
home aud abroad, have showcrrd honors upon
him. lie r ceiyed the degree ~ l.. l.. ID.
from Oxford, and the still higher compliment
OF bring ELECTED successor 10 Nayarrte. the
SPRlish historian. a corresponding member
OF the cla-s 81 Moral aud Political Philosophy
In the French Institute.
The philosophy aud wisdom 81 his works;
their attractive and brilliant style: their deep
rcrestch into Earop~rn history and south
American tradition, have reud, r,d them she
most popular OF any reFies ever Published,
aud cent extracts which have h,en made
public OF hi Philip III show thar /, will add
10 his previous reputation. The -alh Of Mr..
Prescott, la the yigor oi his INTEL CT. j. an
event which will he rs'gTettsd ia both hrmis-
phercs wnile hs own eoanuy will mourn
his loss. Enrops will T 81 that oae o. the great
eat iDtellVets OF Alb agr has bren aneiiohrsi ia
the dark waves 81 the ise isatsie river, and
the Muse at Iii tory vill weep the IA { Of b, !
Iiosl eLerisls.d yotasy. Ia. JoarAai.