The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-02-10

The following obituary tribute to the
memory Of the historian, WILLIAM lltcN.
LIMO Paxscorr. is probably from the pen
of his friend, Mr.. GkoRux =. llLLAsp. Of
Boston. We take Il from the Courier OF
the 29th:
William Ilickliug Prcscotts dead There
Ia no spot on this earth where the English
language is spokcn--indced no one 10 which
letters are valuct---in which this startling
Intelligence will not fall with a saddcning
weight upon the heart, lie died suddenly
in the prime Of life, with all his faculties
about him. In the midst 0i unfinished labow
and loving friends Wecan hardly I,el that
We shall no longer sce on earth, that tiuc
aud cordial lace, or again bc checred by his
warm hearted grcting.
About two years since he had slight
stroke Of paralysis, which, however, noon
yielded 10 medical treatment, aud for many
months past hc has seemed IN excellent
health and spirits ; aud his friends confident.
ly predicted for him many years Of active
literary cxertion. But IL was otherwise or.
daincd by the All.Dsposcr. At twelve
o'clock yesterday he was IN his usual health;
at hali.past twelve he was stricken with
Apoplexy. and at two o'clock he breathed
his last.
Mr.. Prescott belonged tn New England
family Of high honor. His grandfather, Col.
nel William Prescott, M IN well known.
commanded the American forces nj the bat
tie Of Bunker lin. His father, William
Prescott, gcnerally known and addrcsaed In
this community, during the later year. Of
and men wiscst who have ever lived and died
among us. liz was lawyer, in very argc
practice for great many years. and very
acute. succeAdnl and learned jurisl. But his
mind was never subducd 10 what IL worked
in there was nothing IN II narrow, limited
or technical. On the contrary. he was
man Of large Sagaci,y comprehensive wis
dom. who looked ut all things from high
pon, Of view. aud, although his lie passed
In u private walk-though hc never held
any other than u Judicial Office and ior u
short period, yet in the judgment Of all who
knew him. there was no civil tuactios or
trust which hs was not competent % dis
charge with algnal ability. Ills mother was
u daughter Of Thomas ilicklng. who for u
grca, many years wins United States Consul
at the Azores lIc was born in Salem,
Mass, May 4tb. 1896, and resided there IN
I'll his fathers removal to Boston. when he
himself was twelve years old, lie entered
Harvard College in isl and wa gradus
ted 10 1914. While 10 college. be Was do.
priyed by accident oi tlH USE VI one eye. and
the sight Of the other was 80 impaired ~ TO
prevent him from engaging In any occups
tion 10 which tho constant use of that organ
should be necessary. Happily bis fathers
circumstances were such M " preclude the
necessity. OF his toiling for bread. lie early
determined 10 devote himself 10 life Of 1T.
cratnre. Soon after leaving college, being
advised 10 travel. he went ~ Europe and
spent two years 10 40 extended journey
through England, France aud Italy, aud at
the end o il returned home IN excellent gen
eral health, but with no great Improvement
in the state Of his eyes.
Ills marriage soon after took place and
from this period his days flowed on 10 dill.
RsUt huI V'NOlWi w
pursui,s. he was never enabled 10 use his
own eyes bat for short time 10 the day,
but was constantly obliged TO usc the eyes
Oi others for his studies and researches, ~
well M ~ record the result Of them. His
quiet perseverance, and continuous industry
enabled him to triumph over this difficulty,
and tD achieve al amount Of literary pro
duction which ia not merely most honorable
10 his intellectual powers, bat conveys no.
bIe moral lesson 10 oil who may be bur,iened
with similar trials. His earliest literary ei-
loru were contributions 10 the North Amer.
,oaa Rernp, upon subjects drawn from
Spanish. English, American, and especially
Italian literature. Indeed. nj one time he
contemplated an extended work upon itsl.
ian literature. lie also contributed 10
Sparks's American Biography q beautiful
notice of Charles Brockden Brown. Most
Of there otber productions we're published In
ls45, IN volume entitled " Biographical
and Critical Mscellanies-"
After some deIiieration and hesitation,
he selected the reign Of Ferdinand and Isa-
bella ~ the subject Of an extended historical
work and 10 this the AssidoOis labor 0i
many years was cbeeriuIiy and patiently
given. lie drew his materiss not merely
from all printed sources bat be was enabled
To procure many manuscript Authorities
which no writer before him. at least 10 En-
glish, had been able To gain access 10. The
work was published 10 1888, 10 three vol.
unes, under the title of ,hs 3" History Of the
KsigD Of Ferdinand and Isabella. the
! Catholic"
A. We are giving only rapid sketch Of
Mr.. Irscott's lie. without any extended
literary criticism oi hi works. It Ia enough
here to say that this admirable production
was received with the utmost enthusiasm,
both in Europe and Amsr'ca, scholars snd
philosophers admired ts depth of resesrch,
wbis geDxs readers we're charmed by the