New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-02
DEATH OF RICHARD HILDRETH'

DEATH OF Richard HlLDkETH'
The death OF Richard Hidreth is announced
by recent European adyices to have taken place
| in the CITY OF Florence on the eleventh day o.
July. His health, which was always delicate had
been in precarious condition for several years
past, and after his appointment to the Consul
ship at Trieste. upon the accession OF
President Lincoln, it had become so much
IMPAIRED as to disable him in great
measure from performing the duties OF the
Office He retired from the post more
than a year ago, and since that time the inroads
| Of disease had made such havoc with his consti'
| tuition, even, to certain extent, echpslng the
admirable powers of his intellect, that bis de-
parture from the world presents no occasion fol-
surprise. With highly excitablc nervous tenn
permanent, and almost incredible habits OF men,
tai labor and facility Of literary execution, his
physical strength at last yielded to the burden
of his responsibilities, and for considerable time
past, he had led the weary life OF confirmed
and incurable invalid.
Mr.. IIldrcth had inst completed the fifty
eighth year Of hs age, at the time of his death.
lie wa, born June ~, 1907, in Dccrield, Mass,
his father, an eminent clergyman of the Con-
gregaiional order being then prcceptor OF the
| nourishing academy in that village. lie
early displayed an eager thirst for learning, and
neglected the natural sports of his age for the
entcements of books. In l-22 he entered
Harvard College, where, after the
usual course Of four years, he was
graduated with high honors. After leaving
college, he completed the regular course of
legal studies, and was admitted to the bar; but
finding more decided vocation to the pursuit
of letters than to the practice Of law, he quilted
the profession in order To devote himself 10
authorship. At the commencement of his liter
airy career, he was a frequent contributor to the
leading Boston magazines. and in the year
1899, he became an associate editor of the
Boston ATLAS celebrated political journal
for many years, of which he was one of the
original founders. His articles in the columns
Of the "itlas' at once attracted public nt.en-
ton. They were remarkable for the yehemcnce
of their tone. the closeness OF their reasoning.
their elaborate historical illustrations, and the
point and vigor of their diction. II strongly
partisan in their spirit, it was impossible that
they should have been otherwise. Mr.. llildreth
was not born to steer skillfully between con-
flicting opinions. His mind was less dis
tingushcd for balance than for decision.
His nature was too earnest, too sincere too in
tegral, We may say, to permit any halfway ele-
ment in its composition. His perceptions were
clear. his convictions Of an iron strength, and
he hated compromise. His love of controversy
was also innate and genuine; it had the force Of
a passion; he scented the battle afar off; he
rushed into it with tingling blood and heart on
fire; if he had no quarrel of his own to fight
for, he was always ready to throw down his
gauntlet in the quarrel Of another.
He continued his connection with the "Atlas"
the state of his health to seek residence in a
Southern climate. Remaining on q plantation
for about eighteen months, he devoted his
leisure to the composition of "Archy Moore"
an anti.Slayery novel, of which an enlarged
edition was subsequently published under the
title OF the "Whitc Slave" This was sue
cecded by translation from the French of
Dumont's abstract Of BenthamS "Theory of
Legislation QSiO). a History Of Banks"
"Dcspotism in America" "Theory of Morals"
$50, and "Theory Of Politics" Qsj3) Mr..
Ilildreths principal literary work was the
" History of the United States " Qci9-j6), in
six octave volumes, embracing the period be-
tween the earliest colonial settlements and the
second term Of President Monroe's administra-
ton. The composition Of this work had been u
iavorite purpose with Mr.. IIldrc,h for
many years before its actual commence
ment. His study of American history.
without reference to the original sources in
public records and other manuscript authorities.
had been extensive, ii not profound; his habits
of research were methodical AMI accurate; and
his fidelity to what he deemed the true func-
tons of the historian was vigiant and alert.
The merits of his history, therefore, are unde-
niable, and rest upon substantial basis. The
narrative is simple and unaffected, the facts are
usually sustained by probable evidence, and
the estimates. of character, if somewhat prcju-
diced at times, are certainly honest and
sincere. But taken rs whole, the history does
not render full justice to the nature of the
theme or the intellect of the author. ltevinces
little sense Of artistic symmetry, and no moral
enthusiasm whatever. The enterprise of the