New-York daily tribune., 1859-02-11

sparIus time nor labor hls Efforts 10 arNe al INC
truth. He bad no theories TO MAINTAIN, or preJu-
dices 20 CRAFTY, but sought honestly ano patiently
10 ascertain the facts of history, and 10 penetFate
the character and motives of the persons about
whom be wss 10 write. No judge or juror, Win a
mans life hanging on his verdict. vas ever more
scrupulOus or conscientious, OF free from hias IN
sitting ard weighing evidence. Mr.. Prescott was
Republican in principle, lover OF Constitutions
freedom, and hearty hater of tyranny and wrong
Yet he wrote sbout kings aud mobiles, and lnqulsi,
tors aud narrated the hagrant acts OF royal and
priesty oppression, fairly and justly, and With all
due consideration of extenu.tiDg circumstances
His histories / am cOntds Dt, will forever remain
uDimpeached on the score of accuracy and impair
tialty.
The distinguishing traits of Mr. Prescott's per-
soual character were all agreeable ones. In daily
intercours of the most intimate KIND, during
whole YEAR never perceived anything unpleasant
in his conduct or disposition. Though not at All
difident. he was singularly modest and unassumiDg
He had not particle of arrogance or haOghuness.
II required the closest scrutiny TO detect that he
had any share Of the natural vanity OF man. Praise
did not eate him, nor censure disturb MN. ne
read all the criticisms upon his works, favorable
and uniayorablc, and was always eager 10 prOnt Cy
any suggestions OF improvement. lie cared niue
for the complimentary criticism which was l''lshed
upon him through the American and English press,
honest could not be sufficiently conversant win
the authorities and sources of Spanish history 70
decide nteligently upon the merits or dement's 0t
his books 4 hey could judge of the style and TEN.
per. but not of the fidelity, and thorougness, and
accuracy These latter qualities were those he
most valued in Others aud was most deslrous 20
exhibit in his own works. He took very little
pains with his style, compared with the labor he
bestowed in searching for the truth OF history.
Washington Irving in this country, and the late
Richard Ford in England, were the only writers
of English whose favorable judgment be cared
much for, because they were the only ones VINO
were well acquainted with the authorities from
which be drew the materials Of his histories.
There We're also, few scholars IN France and Ger
many, whose applause gave him satisfaction Tor the
same reason. He took much pleasure, likewise
in the good opinions of hs Spanish critics who, he
said, were ncomparably the best judges OF the
merits of histories Of their own country.
Mr. Prescott's cheerfuness and amiablllty were
trnly admirable He had finely wrought, sensl-
tive organizations he was high-spirited, cour-
aeeous, resoute, independent; was free from cant
or sffectation of any sort. Yet no annoyance,
great or small the most painful illness or the m)st
intolerable bore could disturb bis equanlmity, or
render him in the least degree sullen or trettul or
discourteous. lie was always gay good-hlmored
and manly; most geutle and afectlOnate 70 his
family. most kind and gracious te all around him.
This made him peculiarly delightful companion;
and look back to the year passed in his service
as the most agreeable of my life.
He carried his kindlness of disposition not only
into his public but into his private writings. In
the hundreds of letters many OF them OF tue most
confidential character, treating freely OF other
authors, and of great variety of persons, which l
wrote at his dictation, not single unhnd or harsh
or sneerng expression occurs. lie would wrlte
nothing of man which he would not say To his
face. He would not fatter, and II he could not
honestly praise, he said nothing.
He was very warmly attached to his friends and
constant in his attachments, and would never per-
nit any thing to be said against them In their a6-
sence At the time of which write, Mr.. George
Bancroft was singularly unpopular in Boston and
Cambridge, at least among the cultivated society
Of those cities, which was IN politics, almost ex-
clusiyely Whg. He had lost caste by leaving the
Wing party and becoming u Democrat. Party
spirit and political bgotry were then at their hight
in Massachusetts, and | bad lived in that State SIX
or seven years without having heard George Ban
croft spoken of except in terms OF detestaton.
Mr. Prescott, who knew him well, was the first
man met who adhered to him through thick and
thin in defiance Of the ban of society, and totally
regardless of all that Mrs. Grundy could say. He
always defended him warmly, and denounced with
unusual yehemence the intolerance that would pro-
scribe man socially, because of his political
4 ship for Charles Sumner, who, from beiag great
ayOrite in society, was ostracised IN consequence
of leaving the Wing party, and opposing Mr. Win
throp. Mr.. Prescott, though he did not then ap
prove Mr.. Summers political course never varied
in his attaci ment nor abated in his intimacy with
him, even when nearly all around him joined in the
Outcry against the ap0state from the true faith, as
it was understood aud agreed upon in the high
/ circles Of Beacon Hill. He carried the same gem
] inf la ia Hp
/ free from the jealousy and envy so common among
authors, and was always eager, in conversation, as
in print, to point out the merits OF the great con-
/ temporary historians, whom many men IN his posi-
ton would have looked upon rivals to be dread
ed, If not detested
/ OF Mr. Prescott's beneyolence to the suffering
/ and the destitute--a beneyOlence however which
is almost universal characteristic in the highest
class Of Boston society," could cite many striking
instances, If it were proper TO speak Of private
affairs. One-tenth of his expenditures was always
devoted to charity, but tenth his minimum,
which i have known him to exceed very largely.
/ His mother, who lived with him, at the same time
devoted nearly the whole OF the income Of her own
large fortune TO benevolent purposes, 10 which she
attended personally with all the zeal of Sister of
I Charity. single example out of many will Illus
! trate Mr. PrescOtts character in this respect:
One bitter cold day in Winter came 70 the study,
as usual, at half-past 10. Mr. Prescott went to
work Immediately on two long and important let.
/ ters one to Senior GayangOs at Madrid, the other
| to Count de Circourt at Paris, which he was very
anxious to have finished in season to go by that
weeks mail to Europe. There was barely suffici-
ent time to get them ready before the mail closed.
They were about half done, when II o'clock, his
/ hour for exercise, arrived. He was SO anxious 10
/ get them off, that he did what had never known
him to do before: be relinquished his walk, and
D L t.l. 20 and