The Press., 1893-10-26
ctavo volumes, under the direction of

Woo du uuucIIdhluS IIldG uau CQ6 SanCt1On of the nation, and it grew very naturally out of his plan to edit the writings of Washington. Congress had authorized this work in 1918, but it could not be un- dertaken until an historical scholar ap- peared who was equal to the task.
 MT. Sparks was not only an editor of historical materials, but also a protector of important work in the field of Ameri- can biography. His book on John Led yard, the American traveller, was @ pio- neer effort, almost as characteristic of MT. Sparks as of his hero. Before the Life and Writings of Washington" was published, which occupied four years and was completed in 1887, came the "Life and Writings of Gouverneur Morris, J which appeared in the year 1882. MT. Roosevelt, 8 recent biographer of this statesman, says that MT. Sparks collected with great industry facts about Mr. Nor ris, and edited large number of his let ters and state papers, but as MT. Morris did not wish to have his diary printed, he was prevented from making his work what it might and ought to have been. Soon after his return from Europe, in 1929, MT. Sparks formed a plan for the publication of statistical annual, to be called the American Almanac. With all these undertakings he had his hands full, but before any of them was completed, he had conceived the plan of a Biographical Dictionary of Distinguished Americans. '' He had been led to think favorably of this work, because in his travels and research es he had come across a great amount of material which could not otherwise be presented in any permanent form. He did not propose to write all of these mono g aphs, but intended to prepare such as were within his reach, and to give out such as he could not reach to other com- petent parties. The American Biogra- Of 10 volumes that the Harpers in 1839 urged him to continue the work. The new series extended to 15 volumes, and the two comprise 60 different biographies. Even to-day these biographies have cer- tain value and are greatly read. They were prepared by some of our best schoi- ars and writers, and they led the way to our
 PRESENT INTEREST IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
 After MT. Sparks had edited the fife and writings of Washington, he thought of publishing the papers of Alexander Ham, 1iton, and also the papers of John Jay and he received permission to edit the life and letters of Lafayette, but none of these plans matured. In 1880 he had in con- temptation an edition of the works of Franklin, which had never been properly brought together. A portion of them had been printed in English, and some in French, but his correspondence had never been edited, and no biography of him had ever been published. He found in a gar ret, seven miles from Philadelphia, two large trunks of Dr. Franklin's papers, which had lain there undisturbed for 40 years. They were chiefly the papers which accumulated in his hands during his pub- lie mission in France. The discovery was very fortunate one, and opened the way to large amount of matter which would otherwise have been inaccessible. AT equally fortunate discovery was made in London, where portion of the Franklin papers of priceless value was found in g tailor's shop, but this second discovery came after 1840, when he had con plete6 his work. After this task had been finish ed, he was chosen as the first professor of history at Harvard college. This was in 1889; but he did not hold the position without engaging in other duties; in 184( he sailed for London, and spent sever months in further investigations in the English and French archives.
 hl CpdL ha I0tCllOu III 1C4U d Il0W pOlnl in his literary career. His second visit tc Europe was marked by distinguished ac. quaintances abroad, and he had manifest ly risen in regard both at home anG abroad. The boundary question between Maine and New Brunswick, which ha6 not been settled in satisfactory way by the treaties of Versailles in 1793 and al Ghent in 1914, came into MT. Sparks hands for reference, because he had found a letter written by Dr. Franklin to Count de Vergennes in 1782, in which he tells him that he returns to him a map iI which he had marked with a strong rec line the boundary of the United States as fixed by the treaty. The discovery of this red-lined map was very important in the Webster-Ashburton treaty and the settle ment of the northeastery boundary. Be- fore he had accepted the call to profes sorship in Harvard college he had begun his career as an historical lecturer in Bos ton and in New York. His success was remarkable, and this paved the way tc his introduction to Harvard. It was the first attempt in this country and in our in- stitutions to study American history, and the need of proper textbooks was severely felt. Much help was derived from the re- publication of Dr. William Smyth's "Lec lures on Modern History" and Dr. Fran cis Lieber was interested with him ir writing history of ancient political so ciety for the instruction of American youth.
 All this time MT. Sparks was writing different volumes in his American biog raphy, and was attracting attention to the literary treatment of American history
 The highest distinction of his life was yet to come. In 1849, when Dr. Kirkland had been out of the Harvard presidency for nearly 20 years, and the conflict be- tween George Ticknor and Edward Ever cit was so sharp that neither of them could be elected, he was chosen to be the head of the university. It was specially happy choice, and Dr. Sparks brought to his position excellent administrative abil Ities and had a decided opinion as to the value of the elective system in an Ameri can college. In the four or five years o his presidency he brought Harvard col lege to a higher degree of efficiency thar it had reached before. Pleasant relations existed between him and the students and these years were among the happiest of his life. His relations with the liter ary men of the period were extensive anC important. He was especially intimate with MT. Everett, MT. Irving, and MT. R c. Winthrop. During his last years ht was bitterly attacked by Lord Mahon and MT. William B. Reed, who claimed thai he had not properly discharged his duties as editor of the Washington papers. This attack on the part of Lord Mahon was concluded by friendly relations which were honorable to both.
 The remainder of the life of Dr. Sparks was spent in comparative retirement While attention is mainly drawn to him as scholar, there is another side of his life which was singularly attractive. He had a noble presence, a massive head and, as age crept on, he never lost his in. tellectual power. He greatly enjoyed the society of ladies, and in domestic life he was always at home with young people and children. He was married in 1889 and was left a widower in 1885. He was was again married in 1889, and the second wife survived him over 20 years. The portrait of her in this volume, in her old age, is strikingly beautiful and impressive and it was chiefly through her wishes and provision that Prof. Adams was en- l l s<-a T