The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-02-08
Death OF William III. Prescott.

ton, the announcement of the sudden
death of William Ii. Prescott, the eminent
Historian, which took place at his residence
in Beacon street in this city, yesterday af-
ternoon about 2'oc,ock. lie was attacked
with paralysis between IL and / o'clock,
and within the short space of time we have
indicated, his mo.al nature sunk before the
disorder Thus passes away one of the
real celebrities of the present age.
William Hickling Prescott, son Of dis
tinguished lawyer, and grandson Of the
immortal leader of the American troops at
the battle of Bunker Hill, was born
in Salem, in I796. Coming Of his
| torical ancestry, it is little wonder that
his tastes carly inclined him to tho glorious
records of the past. although it was many
years before he deliberately gave himself
up to tho lead of his impulses. When he
was twelve years old his family removed to
Boston, where lie continued his classical
studies under the tuition Of DR.. Gardiner,
q pupil of the celebrated DR.. Parr. Three
years later, at the age Of fifteen, no enter
cd Harvard College, and graduated with
honor in 1914. lie bad intended TO enter
the profession of the law but serious ac-
dent destroyed, for time, all bis ambitious
hopes. Previous to leaving College, he
had lost the sight of one eye from an acci-
dental blow; and the other weakened by
over-exertion, began to fail him, SO that
when he recovered from severe illness into
which his situation had thrown him, he
found b;p,eolf pearly Hind
His father, dcspairing Of seeing him
cured by our physicians, sent him to Eu
rope. During his two years. residence
abroad, ho visited England, France and
Italy, and consulted the most eminent ocu-
lists in London and Paris, but was Obliged
to return home without reicf. His Euro
pcan tour was so far beneficial TO him, that
it entirely restored his shattered physical
health, and by freeing him from bodily
pains, enabled him TO turn his attention to
that quiet but cngrossing department of
knowledge which hid so early attracted
his mind. Singular to say, if we look at
his bodily infrmitics alone, he determined
to be historian. He knew, too, what
that title meant, and with proud con-
sciousncss of his powers, as well as Just
appreciation of the aim lie had set before
him, he gave himself up to ten years
preparatory course Of reading. Then Sc
Letting his subject, he worked upon !. an.
other ten years, and in 1888, at the age Of
forty Two, he gave to the world his "His
tory Of Ferdinand and Isabella publish
ing it simultaneously in London aud Bos-
ton.
If the fruit was long ripcning, il was
perfect when it fell. The history was re-
ceived on both sides of the Atlantic with
unhesitating applause, and took its perma-
ncht place among theclassics Of our tongue.
/. has since run through many editions,
and has been translated into German, Ital-
ian, French and Spanish. His eye had, in
the meanwhile. somewhat improved, and
ho was enabled to dispense with roader,
Upon whose services, in the composition Of
his first work, he was obliged to rely, while
he wrote in dimly lighted room. In ls43
appeared his second work, "The Conquest
Of Mexico" While this was received with
increased honor in Europe-causing its au
thor to be chosen member Of the French
Academy of Sciences, and procuring him
many similar honors--its reception at home
was still moro gratifying; and it probably
remains to the present time the favorite Of
all Mr.. Prcscott's works, with American
readers. In ls47 appeared the conquest
If Peru" marked throughout by the same
high qualities which distinguished its pre-
lecessors. A volume Of misccllanies fol-
owed, containing many papers Of great in
crest followed, containing any papers Of
great interest. He also supplied new
,dition of Robertson's Charles V :, with an
interesting appendix, compiled from lately
discovered materials, relating 10 heoloister
ito of the Emperor. In 1850 Mr. Pres
,ott visited nglaud second time, where
ie was received in avery fatteripg manner,
he University Of Oxford copferring upon
hin the degree Of Ill. d. Since then he
has been at work upon 0History Of Philip
H., Of which the three first volumes have
,cen published. How much further to-
wards completion this exceedingly interes-
ing was carried before the pen fell from
he hand Of tho historian, we arc not in-
Boston Journal, Jan. 29th.
-