The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-31
LonN MorLEY HISTORIAN

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THE GoRRLsPoNDENCE OF JOHN LoTHRoP
MOTLEY, u. e. L., E1itcd by George William
Curtis. With portrait Two volumes. New York:
Harper nrOS, lSs9.
These letters are a vivid life record Of oncof
Americas most brilliant scholars and litcra.
tour1, and nothing more entertaining has been
published In a long time. They are all the
more delightful because OF the charm OF spon-
tnnicty, and ~ the writer's own loyable
nature In the easy abandon Of confidence,
which pervades every page. Mr.. Motley
was quick TO observe, and what he saw aud
experienced he described with a graphic
fidelity and grace seldom met with, even In
mrr otherwise equally gifted and accom-.
plished. His mind was both symmetrical
and strong. lie was n born historian. and
In hat capacity Is best known 10 the world.
Tho namt OF Motley Is a synonym for that
of Holland. IL i 20 closely interviewer
with her marvellous history that at the mon.
ton OF one we insiinctiycly think of the
other. In his three great works "The
Dutch Republic" ''rhe United Neither
lands" and John OF Darneyeld,' 20 the
achievement of which Mr.. Motley devoted
twenty u the best years Of his life, lac has
left a by the side Of which mar
bic aud bronze become cphcmeml and com.
monplacc. FROM first 20 last the history Of
Holland and her wonderful people was to
him a study. In which both head aud heart
engaged. Enthusiastic and unswcrving, de.
spite ali discoumgcmcnts and doubts, he
tcnnciously pursued his aim. lie was con.
scicntious and indcfatighblc, aud In every
other respect e%mincntly qualified for the
task he had set himself. An accomplished
linguist, Mr.. Motley was the easier enabled
10 make that thoroughncss Of research 70
essential 10 a faithful aud vivid historic
picture Of the tragic scenes and event, On.
acted during tho long and bloody pcrsccu.
lions Of a handful Of people who not
only ''won their soil from the sea-" but
tfiumphantly resisted an Empire In their
valiant and persistent struggle for indcpcnd.
cncc aud freedom. Prescott. the historian,
who knew Mr.. Motley before he conceived
the idea 81 writing the history Of Holland
wrote 10 him April. 1856. ON receipt Of a
copy Of the "Dutoh Republic" SAYING
Everywhere you seem 10 have gone into the
subject with a scholar like th0roughncss Of
research. furnishing me on my W beaten
track with a quantity II new facts aud views
which I was not aware u could present 10
the reader. Your descriptions
are everywhere graphic and picturesque"
Beginning In Nav. is2i, when Mr.. Motley
was a boy Of ten, these letters extend with
occasional breaks over q period Of more
than fifty years, ending only within q short
time ~ his death. II q. interesting 10 know
that while n student NJ Oottingcn. In 1872
Motley met bismarck. also q student nj the
amc university. aud the friendship then be.
gun lasted a. long as Motley lived. In 1855.
twcnty.thrcc year, later. Mr.. Motley paid
bismarck a visit NJ Frankfort whore the lat.
ter then held the position Of Ambassador
and In a letter 60 his wife he
.aysi "I fnd I like him bet.
ter than I thought I did and
YOU know how high an opinion | always
expressed Of his talent, and disposition.
IIc isa man Of vury noble character and
very great powtr Of mind. .
And / have no doubt that he l. destined
10 be Prime Minister, unless his obstinate
tmthfuinssS which T. apt 10 be- a stumbling.
block Tor politicians, q mjs In his way"
Subsequent events show how brilliantly this
/ lfuIlNfNN NAH NtNN AAANNfAt Two OF iNftr
Of Bismnrck's lctiers arc reproduced II these
volumes, part In German, part In English,
and with all tho in%soucinncc Of spirit char.
nctcrlstlo OF tho German student Tho
great Chancellor hddrcsscs Mr.. Motley as
MY Dear Jack. and writes with a down.
may-carc abandon comical la the extreme
and quite foreign % our ideas Of bismarck.
the cold. stern lcaiicr Of the German Reich.
smth. before which holy In his speech last
year. he quoted The old college song. 'sThe
Good Old Colony Days and said be- 'had
learned n from his dear deceased
/ friend, John Motley Mr.. Motley
. had also known one Of the Grimm,
who has written lives Of Michael An.
pclo and Raphael, at Goitinecn. Mr..
Motioy's diplomatic career was extensive,
and socially speaking, exceptionally bril-.
liant. In isli he was appointed Secretary
OF legation 10 the Russian Mission. but
finding u distasieful aud uncongcnial. he
resigned a few months aitcrward and 70.
turned home. Ia 1851. haunted siill By his
drcam Of Holland and her history, he sailed