Evening journal., 1891-01-19

croft, without neglecting his preparations
for the future, thought II right, since he
had but one life to live, TO devote several
years to national politics and to his own
political career. There was an intermis-
sion Of twelve years between the third and
fourth volumes of his history.
Secretary of the Navy.
On the accession OF Harrison TO the pres
idency IN March, ls4l, Mr. Bancroft had
TO yield up his post as collector. The next
three years were chiefly devoted TO politics,
Mr. Bancroft having been in 1874 the lead
er Of f3rlorn hope as Democratic candi
date for the governorship OF MassachW-
setts. Ills sacrifices, however. were not in
vain, FOR On the accession Of Mr. James x
Polk TO the presidency in March, 1S45, he
appointed Mr.. Bancroft secretary OF the
navy. His tenure OF that Office was sig
nalized by the foundation, in 1915, OF the
naval academy at Annapolis, and by the
dispatch 20 California OF naval force,
which subsequently took possession OF
that region for the United States During
Que month la lS46 he was acting secretary
Of war, and in that capacity issued to Gen.
Taylor the order TO advance to the Rio
Grande a step which was the precursor OF
the Mexican war.
In the latter part Of 1876 Mr. Brancroft
was transferred TO the more congenial post
OF minister 20 Great Britain, and resided
at the Court OF s. James until the acces.
sion OF President Taylor in lsi9. His chief
official activity was displayed in obtaining
from the British government some modi
ications of its navigation laws I'm favor Of
American vessels and in vindicating the
rights Of some Irish-American citizens
who were released from imprisonment at
his instance. The intervals Of official leis-
ure were spent in accumulating stores Of
unpublished data from the British and
French record offices, as also in numerous
private collections. Al Paris he was aided
in his researches by the distinguished his
torians Guizot. Mignet, Lamartine and De
TocQueville. He was elected correspond
ing member of the French institute, OF the
Royal Academy Of History at Berlin, and
ia lSi9 the University of oxford conferred
upon him the degree Of DC.L
Completing His History.
| In 1Si9 Mr. Bancroft returned to Amer
| lea, settled in New ork city aud acquired
a country seat at Newport, r. l., where be
had ever since passed large portion Of his
time lie now settled down TO his long IN
terrupted task. Instead of Fastening on
TO the actual epoch OF the revolution he
spent five more years In the mere prelim-
inaries Of the revolution devoting three
large volumes to the period OF a quarter Of
n century from l14S 10 l1i4. The first vol
ume OF his series volume ~ of the whole
work. appeared in 1852. lt comprised the
sixteen years from l74S 10 l763 and bore
the special title Of "The Overthrow Of the
/ IfrtH -. al H..
ume Q163 To l16O appeared promptly IN
1888, and still another u766 to 100 in 1854
In 1855 Mr. Bancroft issued revised
edition OF his first two volumes and in IN,
same year gave TO the world his nHl
volumes devoted TO the actual Revolution
ll174 TO 1910. being volume VII Of the en-
tire work The eighth volume appoarel
in 1860 He then rested for six years ant
devoted himself in considerable degrc
90 national politics during the critica
period Of our civil war lie was the orato
at the inauguration Of the Perry monu
ment, NJ Cleveland. O., Sept. 10. 1850, an,
Ia March, 1861, delivered "A carefully pre-
pared eulugy ON President Lincoln befor
tAe two houses OF congress at Washington
Ills Last Literary Work.
In 1866 Mr.. Bancroft published the mint
volume OF his work, and the tenth volume
bringing down the history TO the close q
che War of the Revolution appeared /
1874. In the interval of eight years h
filed the post OF envoy at Berlin, bein
first accredited 10 Prussia in 1857, then 3
the North German Confederation in tSd
, and lastly to the German empire in 1871.
In 1876 he published revised and muc
, condensed edition of his work in six due
decimo volumes, having spent nearly
year in this labor. In .lSS2 he publishes
volumes NI and MI, under the title O
History of the Formation OF the Constl
tuition Of the United States" The last re
. vised edition Of the whole work appeare'
, IN lSoj The last literary work Of Mr.. Ban
croft was a pamphlet on the legal tende
decision Of the supreme court. Il was pub
lished in January, 1886, and was az brigh
. aud vigorous as anything from his earlie
; pen. Il was entitled "A Plea for the Con
stitutiou, Wounded in the House Of 10
Guardians"
An Optimist by Conviction.
Mr. Bancroft's life was happy one. II
, maintained TO his latest day fresh AM
+ unfagging interest in all the events OF Oh
. day, and especially followed with unceR'
| ing delight the development and prosper
ity Of his native land. lie was an optimis
by conviction, and IN The darkest moment
4 OF our country's great crisis never los
-, faith ia the destinies Of America.
He was married 70 the widow Of AlexaI
Z der Bliss, OF Springfield, Macs, once ti
law partner oi Daniel Webster. She die
March 10, 1886. The children Of that lad
/ 10y her former marriage constituted hi
I household and one Of them, Col Alexai
der Bliss, became his secretary Of legatio
At Berlin One OF his sisters became Oh
wife OF Honest John Davis. who was n
4 | peatodly governor Of Massachusetts, men
Der Of congress and United States senate
, | Her son, J. e. Bancroft Davis, was assis
ant secretary Of state under Presider
Grant, aud succeeded Mr.. Bancroft as mil
. lister az Berlin