New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-02

left some work Unfinished for he belonged 10 tao c'sss
OF men Of that delicate orgsnizst on which leSses
impossible for them b. live for themselves alone, est
makes of their powers not private possessions, sss
| gifts 10 the word; and at whatever time he mshs
have received from the gea. workmaster his gu ..
! So long ~ Consciousness reu aimed he woulk
have still been found aboreri to the last obed-
It las been said ths, the injury to HI. eyesish.
cs,sed his deyotedness TO the of letters. I
hardly think 10. From his earliest years, he vas
canes. in tie stndy Of all that purest and ncblest
ard bsst in modern and ascient h.erstns. Tue 6rst
time that can recall having seen him, was at hsr-
ward College. az he pronounced Latin ode that he
had writ,e9 10 Spring; and bis polished lines had .
grace sr6 eleg which at that early day pointed
out distinctly the cowse OF As TO whch DE va
called. When the effects OF az socdens tnsS Aneced
his sight became az gre waited by severe bess, the
inward light shone all the rehlgently IN 4. we'll
prepared mind, and its chambers became ongH rta
The clear vision Of the purposes which ne was 70 mmu
He disciplined himself for the execution ot the gfest
designs which be then conceived, with tbs icugese
copprehensiveness Of industry. Whis ne 8atu~ca
books from al quarters and ransacked the recessesa
public archives and private objections a msnoecnPO
for mStenals, he drew still more closely hs intimacy
vita the ancient classics and with modern hfere-
ture, not of France and England only bus o.
Spain and Italy. He made moreover, special Nedy
Of the historic art; not merely by reading the wshs
Of us.rous historians hut by the study ai solitary
mediation Of what had been said best on the manner
Of writing history. His eyesight was impaired, not
destroyed so that in all the works which he had
printed, ne was dUlc Al SOME ethkcs vi pIcpoIo'
ton TO cad for two or three hours each day lie COM
pensated the necessity Of using 90 much the eyes 81
others by wonderful development OF bis powers he
gsiSed the faculty Of attention it's highest perfection
ar his memory took such fast hold OF the knowledge
that came 10 him through the ear, that 1t remsiced
with him in exact and welidetned outlines, as If had
been written with diamond pen on tablets OF steel.
His habits were methoiically exact; retiring early
ard ever at the same hour, he rose early alike ia
Winter ard in Summer at the appointed moment,
rousrg himself Instantly, though in the soundest
sleep at the first note of his alarm bell; never giying
Indulgence TO lassitude or delay To the hours which
he cove TO his pursuits he adhered scrupaousy ~
possible never lightly suffering them TO be intererod
with; listening to his reader now debating whst
was TO be written, now usirg bis own eyes spsnngy
for reading; now writing by the aid OF simple ma
chntry devised for those who are IN carknes; nov
passing time in thoughtfuly revolving his great
theme ktor this reason at the period OF hs nfe whcu
he rode much on hcrsebsck-and he WAS an exceilens
and fearless riderit his choice and his habit 70
go out alone and in his stated exercise ON foot, you
might be sure that, when by himself, his mind wes
shaping out work for the rest OF the day. La this
way systematic in his mode of life, he oceeded on-
ward and still onward, till the eyes OF the world
we're turned with admiration on the genial scholar,
who with placid calmness, courageously hanpied sp-
palrg difficulty under foot, and gained the rst place
an org his countTymen the historic instructor OF
mankind.
parert TO every reader. Compare what he has WIT
ten with the most of what others have left on tho
same subjects and Prescott's superiority beams upon
you from lhe contrast. The easy now oil ms IAN
guage and the faultless ucidity OF his style, may
make he reader forget the unremtung toll whicn inc
narrative has cost; but the critical inquirer sees
everywhere the fruits OF investigation rgidly pur-
sued and an impsrtiaty and soundness OF Judgment,
which give authority to every statement, and weight
to every conclusion. 80
Each of Prescott's works has a charm of its own;
the first has the special attraction that belongs To the
earliest but thoroughly matured fuit OF ms youtniW
aspirations. In the Conquest OF Mexico, saoue,
~. ,y.t oil n
the style Of the whole W Jrk, running through every
sentence from the fret TO the last. The plastic power
of the author in moldpg crude and homogeneous aud
forbdding materials into shape aud unity anu NE, APP
De ars most con picuously in the Conquest oil Peru
Ia his last work discern 10 the highest degree tue
hand Of the master. Years seemed only TO renew the
freshness Of his talent, enhance the bihancy OF ms
coloripg and confirm the vigor OF his grasp.
I remember bening Bryant, in bis eulogy On
Fenimore Cooper, speak with wondering admire
ton OF the undumed luster OF invention when no dig
played in one of his works written when be was moro
than fifty years old. Prescotts last volume wa: hu-
isLed after he was sixty and it is perfect model Of
skill IL narration. Every statement is tue result Oh
most elaborate research, and yet as he passes from
court TO country, from valley TO mountain ranges,
from Spain to tue Levant, among Moors and Turks
and Christians and corssirs from Barbary bis move
ments easy and graceful as those of the hum
ming bird as 1t Ioves after honey among the h0wersof
Sumner; and bis pictures of battles are as vivid as
though the had taken them in its brghtes. colors
at the very moment they were raging.
In tse writings Of Prescott bis individual charao-
ter is thrust the attention Of his readers but,
as should ever be the in n true work OF art, It
appearr only in gmpses or as an abstract on from tho
whole. Yet his personality Ia the source oi the charm
Of his etyle, ara All who knew him will say, he waS
himself greater and better than his writing While
his histories prove Lin to have felt that he wed his
time 10 the service Of mankind everything about him
marked him gu. 10 be the most beloved VI companions,
and the hfe and joy and pride OF society.
Ills personal appearance itself was singuarly plead
inc ard won TOR him everywhere In advance a vel
come end favor. His countenance had sonothag that
broug ht to mind the beautiful disdan that hovers
on that Of the Apollo Bat, while he W ~ hgh-spiref,
he was tender aud gentle and humane. His voice was
like music, and could never hear enough OF It.
His cbeerulDess reached ana animated all about him.
lie could indulge in payiuness, and could also speak
earnestly and proioundy but he knew NOT noH 70 %
upgracious or pedsntic In truth, the charms Of hs
conversation were uneqraled, he SO united the nch
stores Of memory with the ease oil one who familiar
with the world.
always true TO the last; never allowing bis confidence
10 be 20 much rufled by the noisy csIa0rs Of cal
umny or by rivalry or BY differences OF opinion. In
the cement Of his affairs he was prudent and con-
siderate; in bs expenditures liberal 70 all about him,
ard TO Ii ose in want largely generous having an
open hand, but doing good without oDservatioh' MS
affections re sted early and happily on the congenih
object OF his choice and the rosy hght OF ms YOUTH
never dinmed by cloud, went with hun all his way
Broihers Of the Historical Society see among you
those who knew Prescott friend; We join the cult
waited woTd in IGNORING his memory, we mibgle our
tears with those of bis family Standing o. 1t wore By
his grave cam OF recall anything In his manner h
character, bis endowments or bis conduct, that wo
could wish changed. II he hsd faults, bis associates
loved him too well 10 find them out: We none OF US
know Of bis writing one line that he could wish 70
blot, or uttering word Of which tho echo need Dc
supprt ssed. Those of who are growing OLD muss
bear in mind that he has gone but little before
his rprit speaks to you young men, charging you 70
in nil of