Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-02-19

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 historians Of the very first
rank. Mr.. Prescott it is well knswn. though
not blind. was affected with disorder Of the
nerve OF the eye. so that he wholly in
capacltated tor reading and writing in the or
binary ways. He was exceedingly sysiema-
tic IN his mode OF life, and devoted five hours
ont OF the tw enty-four to his historical labors
After breakfast be listened for an hour to
some light reading. novel. poem- or other
entertaining hook. He then walked fer 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 be went to his study and
remained another hour and half with his
secretary. After dinner light reading was
again resorted to. and at six o'clock the sec
rotary return ed and remained until eight.
This rontine of work and leisure was very
rigidly observed throughout the season, dur
ing the years devoted to the preparation of
his elaborate volumes.
Mr.. Prescntt's mode of writing history was
this: we will take, for example. his last work.
'Philip the Second" He arranged in his
study all the hooks 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 hun
dred printed volumes of all sizes. There
were also some twenty thick folios of manu-
scripts. richly bound, which probably cost
more than all the rest of the collection.
though some of the printed works are exceed
ingiy rare and valuable-the libraries and
bookstores of all Western Europe, from Cadiz
to Amsterdam. having been ransacked by
agents in search of everything that could
throw light on the history ofPhilip the Second.
Except dictionaries and other works of re-
ference. 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 OBJ
servations were dictated as they were sug
gested by the book. Having freshened his
recolleetions by hearing this volume read,
Mr.. Prescott proceeded to examine the treas
ures 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
few pages by way of specimen OF its style
and character. Notes were taken while this
examination was going on, which were pre-
served for future reference. OF the three or
four hundred volumes, a great majority of
course proved worthless, being either merely
repetitions, or compilations or translationS OF
preceding authors, or else, if original, with
value would be thus reduced down perhaps
to hundred.
The huge foliOs of MSS, were next at
tackled. These had been examined by COM
petent person, who prepared 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 ast'rtained 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
volume, printed or MSS, which contained
anything about the last named monarch.
The books are in the English, French. Span
ish, Italian and Latin languages. One by
one they were read aloud. and copious notes
We're dictated. When everything that related
to Charles the Fifth had thus been perused
and noted, the historian began to compose
his work, or, more properly speaking, to
write it-for the process OF composition had
of course been going on in his mind during
these preparatory labOrs.
The apparatus used by Mr.. Prescott consis-
ted of a frame the size of common sheet of
letter paper. with brass wires inserted to cor
respond WITH the number of lines marked.
Thin carbOnated paper was used. and instead
of a pen the writer employed a stylus with
an agate point. The great difficulty in the
way of PERSONS writing in the ordinary
manner, whose vision is impaired, arises from
not knowing when the ink is exhausted, and
moreover the lines will be run into one an
other. Both difficulties are obviated by the
simple arrangement just described. The
pages thus written by Mr.. Prescott were
copied by the Secretary, and read, that such
interlineations. alterations and amendments
might be made, as were needed. The ma
terials for the second chapter, on the early
life OF Philip, were next taken up, and the
same process repeated. until the volume is
ready for the printer. About six years were
devoted to the first two volumes of Philip
the Second, including the preparatory studies.
These volumes appeared in 1855, the third OF
the series was issued within "A few weeks, and
it is understood that the fourth is considera-
bly, advanced.
The Hon. George Bancroft, in an eloquent
tribute to his friend, before the New York
Historical Society. thus referred to the studi-
Gus and systematic habits of Mr.. Prescott:
His habits were methodically exact; retiring
early and ever at the same hour, he rose early
alike in winter and in summer at the APP
pointed moment. rousing himself instantly
though in the soundest sleep, at the first note
of his alarm bell; never giving Indulgence TO
lassitude or delay. To the hours which he
gave to his pursuits he adhered as scrupuous-
ly as possible. never lightly suffering them to
be interfered with; now listening to his
reader: now debating what was to be writ
ten; now using his own eyes sparingly for
reading; now writing by the aid of simple
machinery devised for those who are in
darkness; now passing time in thoughtfully
revolving his great theme.
The excellence of his productions is. in
tram mt ~.
what he has written with the most of what
others have left on the same subjects, and
Prescott's superiority beams upon You from
the contrast. The easy flow of his language,
and the fautless lucidity of his style, may
make the reader forget the unremi.ting toll
which the narrative has cost; but the critical
inquirer sees everywhere the fruits Of
Investigation rigidly pursued, and an
impartiality and soundness OF Judgment
which give authority to every statement, and
weight to every conclusion"
Mr.. Prescott's library was adorned with
striking portraits Of Ferdinand and Isabella
of Columbus-of Don Sebastian. King of
Portugal--and Of most of the characters that
figure in his histories. He possessed original
letters of Ferdinand. Isabella and Charles W
and piece of lace from the shroud Of Cortes.
The historian did not usually write In his IL
brary. but in a small room over it, made very
light TO meet the wants of one whose sight
was imperfect. When fully prepared to write
M. Prescott's daily task would average about
sercn pgges of one If his printed volumes.
Most persons with perfect vision would CON-
plain if they were daily compelled TO copy
seven pages from those charming books.
The thirteen volumes which comprise Mr.
Prescott's works are noble monuments to his
lie Of labor and study. With knowledge