Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-02-18
From thc Boston Transcript
MIR. PBESCOTT'S METHOD OF LITER
AIRY LABOR

Everything that relates to the historical la
bors of the late William II. Prescott is of
general interest. We have, therefore pre-
pared a somewhat minute sketch of the meth
cd Of preparation and composition adopted
BY the deceased. bv which he was enabled to
overcome his impaired vision, and to place
his name among historians Of the very first
rank. Mr.. Prescott, it is well known though
not blind, was affected with a disorder of the
nerve of the eye, so that he was wholly inca
pacltated for reading and writing in the ordi-
nary ways. He was exceedingly systematic
in his mode of life, and devoted five hours
out Of the twenty-four to his historical la
bors After breakfast he listened for an hour
to some light reading, novel, poem, or other
entertaining book. He then walked for an
hour. At halfpast ten o'clock his secretary
came to his study, and remained till twelve
o clock. Another walk of an hour was then
taken, after which he went to his study and
remained another hour and a half with his
secretary. After dinner light reading was
again resortod to, and at six o'clock the sec
retary returned and remained until eight
This routine Of work and leisure was very
rgidly observed throughout the season, dur
ing the years devoted TO the preparation of
his elaborate volumes.
Mr.. Prcscotts mode of writing history was
this we will take. for example, his last
work, "Philip the Second He arranged in
his study all the books and manuscripts relat-
ing to that monarch, which be had been years
in collecting, at an expense Of many thousand
dollars. They numbered three or four hund-
red printed volumes of all sizes. There were
also some twenty thick folios Of manuscripts.
ri oh lx oh oi,all L..
all the rest of the collection, though some Of
the printed works are exceedingly rare and
valuabe--the libraries and bookstores of all
Western Europe, from Cadiz to Amsterdam
having been rausacked by agents in search of
everything that could throw light on the
history Of Philip the Second. Except die
tionaries and other works Of reference books
not specially relating TO the subject in hand
were excluded from the study
With his materials thus gatherd about him,
the Historian commenced his work. The
secretary first read the only English history
of the King and his reign. Notes and obser-
vatious were dictated as they were suggested
by the book Having ireshened his recollec-
tions by hearing this volume read, Mr. Pres
colt proceeded to examine the treasures he
had collected. Each book was taken from
the shelf in turns by the secretary, who read
aloud its title, its table Of contents, and fow
pages by way of specimen Of its style and
character. Notes were taken while this ex-
animation was going on, which we're preserved /
for future reference. OF the three or four
hundred volupes, a great majority of course
proved worthless, being either merely rcpeti !
tions, or compilations or translations Of pre- (
ceding authors or else if original. without
authority. The number Of books Of real .
value would be thus reduced down perhaps .
to a hundred
The huge folos of MSS. were next attack
ed These had been examined by compe-
tent person, who prepared a careful digest and
table of contents. The secretary read this.
and notes were dictated as he proceeded -
Having thus, as il were, taken an account 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 contains an ac-
count of the abdication and last days of his
father and predecessor, Charles the Fifth.
The secretary gathered round him every vol
ume, printed or MSS. which contained any
thing about the last named monarch The /
books are in the English, French, Spanish,
Italian and Latin languages. One by one
they were read aloud and copious notes were
dictated. When everything that related to
Charles the Fifth had thus been perusod and
noted, the Historian began to compose his
work, or, more properly speaking, to writo it
for the process of composition had Of course
been going on in his mind during the prepar-
atory labors
The apparatus used by Mr., Prescott con-
sisted of frame the size of common
sheet Of letter paper, with brass wires insert
ed to correspond with the number Of lines
marted. Thin oarhona'od manor wae used