The Kanzas news., 1859-03-26
from the Boston Evening Transcript

Everything that relates TO the historical
labors of the late William 81. ? rescott Is OF
general interest. We have. therefore, pre-
pared somewhat minute sketch Of the meth
cd of preparation and composition adopted
by the deceased. by which he was enabled
to overcome his impaired vision. and to place
his name among the hislorisns of the very
first rank. Mr.. Prescott. it is well known.
though not blind, was affected with disor-
der of the nerve of the eye, so that be Was
wholly inespacitstsd for reading and writing
in the ordinary ways. He was exceedingly
systematic in his mode Of life, and devoted
five hours out of the tWenty-fouF 70 his his
torical iabors. After breakfast he listened
for an hour to some light reading. novel,
poem, or other entertaining book. He then
walked for an hour. At lU4 O'Clock his Sec
retary came to his study, and remained till
12 o'clock. Another walk of an hour was
then taken, after which he went to his study,
and remained another hour and half with
his secretary. After dinner light reading
was again resorted to. and at O'Clock the
secretary returned and remained until g.
This routine of work and leisure was very
rigidly observed throug ghout the season, du-
ring the years devoted to the preparation of
his elaborate volumes.
Mr.. Preecott's mode of writing history
was thiss We will take, for example, his last
work, "Phillip the Second" He arranged
in his study all the books and manuscripts
relating to that monarch, which he had been
years in collecting, at an expense of many
thousand dollars. They numbered three or
four hundred printed volumes of all Sizes
There were also some twenty thick folios of
manuscripts, richly bound, which probably
cost more than all the rest of the collection,
though some of the printed works are ex-
ceedinyly rare and valuable-the libraries
and bookstores of all Western Europe. from
Cadiz to Amsterdam, having been ransaoked
by agents in search of everything that could
throw light on the history of Philip the
Second. Except dictionaries and other works
of reference, books not specially relating TO
the subject in hand were excluded from
the study.
With his materials thus gathered about
him, the historian commenced his work
The Secretary first read the only English
history of the King and his reign. Notes
and observations were dictated as they were
suggested By the book. Having freshened
his recollections by hearing this volume
read. Mr.. Prescott proceeded to examine the
treasures he had collected. Each book was
taken from the shelf in turns by the Secre
| tary, who read aloud its title, its table of
contents. and few pages by way of speci-
men of its style and character. Notes were
taken while this examination was going on,
which were preserved for future reference.
| Of the three or four hundred volumes, a
great majority of course proved worthless,
being either merely repetitions, or compila-
tions. or translations of preceding authors,
or else. if original, without authority. The
number of books of real value would be thus
reduced down perhaps to hundred.
The huge folios of MSS. were next attack
ed. These had been examined by a compe
tent person, who prepared careful digest
and table of contents. The Secretary read
this and notes were dictated as he proceed
ed. Having thus, as it were, taken an ae-
count of stock, and ascertained the general
character of his materials, they were next
inspected in detail in the following manner:
The first chapter of Philip the Second con-
tains an account of the abdication and last
days of his father and predecessor, Charles
the Filth. The Secretary gathered round
him every volume, printed or MSS. which
contained anything about the last-named
Spanish, Italian and Latan Languages. One
by one they were read aloud, and copious
notes were dictated. When everything that
related to Charles the Fifth had thus been
persued and noted, the historian began to
compose his work, or. more properly speak
ing, to write it for the process of compost
ton had of course been going on in his mind
during these preparatory labors.
The apparatus used by Mr. Prescott con-
sisted of frame the size of a common sheet
of letter paper, with brass wires inserted TO
correspond with the number of lines mark
ed. This carbonated paper was used, and
instead of pen the writer employed sty-
lus with an agate point. The great difficult
ty in the way of PERSONS writing In the
ordinary manner, whose vision is impaired.
arises from not knowing when the ink is ex-
hausted, and moreover the lines will be run
into one another Both difficulties are obvi-
ated by the simple arrangement just descri-
bed. The pages thus written by Mr. Pres
colt were copied by the Secretary. and read.
that such interlineations, alterations and
amendments might be made, ss we're need
ed. The materials for the second chapter.
on the early life of Philip, were next taken
up, and the same progress repeated, until the
volume is ready for the printer. About siz
wears were devoted to the Grst two volumes
of "Philip the Second. % including the pre-
/ paratory studies. These volumes appeared
In 1882, the third of the series WAS issued
within few weeks, and it is understood
that the fourth is considerably advanced.
Mr.. Prescott's library was adorned With
striking portraits of Ferdinand and Isabel
| Ia, of Columbus. of Don Sebastian, King of
Portugal. and of mosto of the characters that
figure IN his histories. He possessed orig
inal letters of ferdinand, Isabella, and Charles
", and q piece of lace from the shroud of
Cortes. The historian did not usually write
IN his library, but in small room over it,
made very light to meet the wants Of one
l r. H.