Connecticut western news., 1891-01-21


 American vessels and in vindcating the rights of some Irish-American citizens, who were released from imprisonment at his instance. The intervals of official leis- ure were spent in accommodating stores of unpublished data from the British and French record offices, as also in numerous private collections. At Paris he was aided in his researches by the distinguished his- torians Guizot. Mignet Lamartine and De Tocqueville. He was elected a correspond ing mem Der of the French institute, of the Royal Academy of History at Berlin, and in 1S49 the University of Oxford conferred upon him the degree of D.C.L.
 Completing His History:
 In 1849 Mir. Bancroft returned to Amer ica, settled in New York city and acquired a country seat at Newport, R. l., where he had ever since passed large portion of his time. He now settled down to his long in- terrupted task. Instead of hastening 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 8 quarter of 8 century from l74S to 1774. The first vol tune of his series (volume W of the whole work) appeared in 1852. It comprised the sixteen years from 1748 to 1763 and bore the special title of "The Overthrow of the British Colonial System." Another vol ume Q763 to 1766) appeared promptly in 1853, and still another u766 to 1774) in 1854
 In 1858 MT. Bancroft issued a revised edition of his first two volumes and in the same year gave to the world his first volumes devoted to the actual Revolution Q774 to 1775). being volume VII of the en- tire work. The eighth volume appeared in 1860. He then rested for six years and devoted himself in a considerable degree to national politics during tue critical period of our civil war. He was the orator at the inauguration of the Perry monu- ment, at Cleveland, O., Sept. 10. 1860, and in March, 1866, delivered Q carefully pre- pared eulogy on President Lincoln before the two houses of congress at Washington.
 His Last Literary Work.
 In 1866 MT. Bancroft published the ninth volume of his work, and the tenth volume, bringing down the history to the close ol the War of the Revolution, appeared in 1874. In the interval of eight years he filled the post of envoy at Berlin, being first accredited to Prussia in 1887, then to the North German Confederation in 1888 and lastly to the German empire in 1871. In 1876 he published revised and much condensed edition of his work in six duo decimo volumes, having spent nearly a year in this labor. In 1889 he published volumes XII and XII, under the title of History of the Formation of the Consti- tuition of the United States" The last re- vised edition of the whole work appeared in 1885. The last literary work of MT. Ban- croft was pamphlet on the legal tender decision of the supreme court. It was pub lished in January, 1886, and was as bright and vigorous as anything from his earlier pen. It was entitled "A Plea for the Con- stitution, Wounded in the House of it's Guardians"
 An Optimist by Conviction. MT. Bancroft's life was happy one. He | maintained to his latest day fresh and | unf1agging interest in all the events of the day, and especially followed with unceas- | ing delight the development and prosper | ity of his native land. He was an optimist | by conviction, and in the darkest moments of our country's great crisis never lost faith in the destinies of America. He was married to the widow of Alexau- der Bliss, of Springfield, Mass, once the law partner of Daniel Webster. She died March 15, 18S6 The children of that lady by her former marriage constituted his household, and one of them, Col. Alexan- der Bliss, became his secretary of legation at Berlin. One of his sisters became the wife of Honest John Davis" who was re- peatedly governor of Massachusetts, mem | Der of congress aud United States senator. Her son, J. c. Bancroft Davis, was assist ant secretary of state under President Grant, and succeeded MT. Bancroft as min | ister at Berlin.