New-York tribune., 1878-12-20

welcome. 1t was pronounced Dy compe'eht Juuees
both in this country and in England to be history
as complete it could be made by industry ana
genius, and emitting the author to place among
the first historians in the language. The lonely
student who had almost forgotten the look of living
men in the solitude of archives haunted by dead
memories found himself suddenly in the full blaze
of a great reputation"
Mr.. Motley visited this country in 1856, passing
the Winter of that year with his family IN Boston.
His early friends witnessed the change which ma
turity, success and the opening of great literary
and social had wrought in his character and
| being He was in every way greatly improved, the
impulsive youth had ripened into noble manhood.
The grand themes with which he had been convers-
ant lent their dignity to his own mind. The Hat
terry of society had added new grace to his natural
modesty 1hongh citizen of the world by bis
reputation he showed no desire TO plume himself
on his fame. In 1858 he revisited England, where
he became the object of great attention in the high
est social circles. The first portion of his second
historical work, the History of the United
Netherlands" was published in ls6O enhancing the
reputation as an author which he had gained by his
previous venture.
The breaking out of the American Civil War re-
called Mr.. MOtley's attention from the struggle OF
the sixteenth and seventeeth centuries to the
country would not suffer him to be silent at such
moment. Everywhere around him he found only
ignorance and prejudice. He felt himself called
upon to stand forth as the champion of cause
which to him was that of liberty and justice. lie
wrote two long letters to The London Times explain
ing to Englishmen and to Europeans the conditions
of complex system of government the real cause
of the strife. and the mighty issues at stake
Nothing could have been more timely, or more pro-
duc i've of excellent effects. Mr. Motley returned
to America in 1861, and after was appointed
Minister to Austria. His subsequent Official career
is narrated at length by the author, showing the
highly honorable character of his diplomatic ser
vices, both in Vienna and London, but as the sub
iect has often been discussed IN these columns, we
must devote our scanty remaining space to details
of more personal nature
The two concluding volumes of the History of the
United Netherlands" were published simultaneously
in London and New-York in 1858. His last great
historical work, "The Life and Death of John of
Barneveld" was issued in 1874, and was every
where received as worthy continuation of his in
teectual labors On the last day of that year, his
wife, whose health had been failing for some years,
was taken from him by death. The blow found
him already weakened by bodily infirmity and he
never recovered from the shock His last visit to
America was in the Summer and Autumn of 1879.
He walked feebly and with some difficulty, and the
weakness of his right side made writing labOri-
GUS. HIS features and speech were without any
paralytic character. His death took place after
his return to England on May 30, 1877, and he was
followed to the grave by distinguished COM
pany of public officials, literary men, and personal
friends.
Every reader of this biography will fully accord
with the apprecative estimate of Mr.. Motley, pre-
sented in the closing chapter. He is described as
man of sensitive, impulslve nature, sometimes too
easily excited when his prejudces were roughly
handled but with all his quickness of feeling his
disposition was kindly and generous, and his man
ners courteous and pTepossessng. His striking in
CIvidualty may have made him enemies his pres |
ence cast uncouth patriots into the shade, and
his highbred air night not have been always agree
able to those with whom nobility of bearing is an |
offence. He certainly did not illustrate the pODu
lar type of politician. He was too hgh-minded |
too polished. too much at home in the highest Euro
circles too much courted for his personal fasc
nation, to be easily favorte with the managers of
a caucus. Ii he was disappointed in his political
career, he amply consoled by his literary tr-
umphs He had earned them all by the most dill |
gent and faithful labor. His capacity for work was
greater surprise to those who knew him as a
young man than the brilliancy of his genius. His
record safe in the hands of history, and his
ory will be precious always in tue hearts of all who
enjoyed his friendship"
THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW. January.