The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-19
l..

There are extant, 1t seems, no explicit
memorials Of the process Of mind which
brought Bancroft TO beginning the master
work Of his lifetime, That the subject Of
American history was early engaging his
interest and study his closest friends and
correspondents must have known. His
letters Of the early sos abound in evidences
that he was seeking information in every
available quarter. Judge Story in letter
Of May IS, 1884, warmly commended the
portion Of the first volume Of Bancroft's
narrative. which he had read at the authors
request in proof. The biogapher tells US
that wherever one turns In the letters writ
ten and received by Bancroft at the time
there are traces Of prodlgious and indie
fatigable industry. When the fruits Of it
came 10 light in 1884 In the first volume OF
his History OF the United States the uses
to which no was putting his independence
we're patent. II was equally clear that he
bad undertaken no small task fol. the. first
words Of the preface are: Il have formed
the design Of writing a history Of the United
States from the discovery Of the American
continent to the present day Further
on he says; 'The work has already COCA
stoned long preparation, and it's compile
ton will require further years Of exertion.'
That these years would number nearly
three score and that the history would end
where the actual life Of the United States
begins neither writer nor reader could
have imagined.
Mr.. Howe reproduces some impressions
of the effect which Bancroft's first vol
ume produced upon certain Of his con-
temporaies, Edward Everett wrote in
October, 1884: Il must tell you that l
think you have written a work which will
last while the memory Of America Lasts.
and which will instantly take its place
among the classics Of our language The
January, 1885. number Of the North AmeT-
con Retieb contained Edward Everett's
estimate Of Bancrott's first volume. In a
letter thanking the reviewer Bancroft
says: IF had not steeled my heart against
all weakness ! should have shed tears Of
delight az I read IL, and that not from the
qualification merely Of my hopes az an
author but also from a sense Of pride and
gratitude that such praise could be be-
slowed upon me by one whose candor
! have ever admired and whose genius I
have venerated.' The biographer we'll
says that the commentator Of Bancroft's
Gottingen instructor, Prof. Heeren. must
have been no less welcome than that Of his
American adviser. Heeren writes: Il am
still reading your book, and the further l
read the more il nvets my attention. You
have chosen a great subject; IL is a life
work, for 1t will occupy you a great part Of
it, and altogether IT is the most agreeable.
the most grateful and the worthiest labor
you could enter p The treat
ment is entirely worthy Of the subject.
Your work is no mere compilation; it il
written with the warmth and enthusiasm
which the writer feels in q subject dear 10
him, a warmth natural in writing a history
Of ones own country. This is the true in
SEPARATION Of the historian
AZ bearing on the new position which
Bancroft was ultimately to take in a Demo-
cratic Administration it is interesting to
recall that in September, 1885, William l..
Marcy, the Democratic Governor of New
York, wrote from Albany: we all feel a
deep interest in your historical labors.
It is exceedingly important that the history
OF our country should be written by a man
thoroughly imbued with the Democratic
principles Of our Government, and 1t Ia not
TO be disguised that almost all our scholars
competent 10 such m enterprise have a
penchant toward the aristocracy.' In a
letter written TO Edward Everett in Novem-
Der, 1884, Bancroft uttered the following
prophecy: 1T will be some years before a
popular party can become powerful in this
State IMassachusettsl. But 1t will rise.
and within six years il will eliminate.
Webster will run for the Presidency and will
get at most t~wenty-four votes. Van
Buren, will come in and Massachusetts
will come over to his support The pre-
diction wal not fulfilled exactly. but within
two years Van Buren, was elected 10 tho
Presidency, and the fourteen electoral
votes Of Massachusetts, were the only ones
cast for Webster After the publication Of
the first volume Of Bancroft's history
no became, az bis correspondence reveals.
a factor Of weight In Democratic party
councils. His political views upon matters
great and small were sought not only by
Gov. Marcy OF New York but by Marcus
Morton Of Massachusetts, aud Levi Wood
bury Of New Hampshire. In the spring Of
1888 Bancroft paid = visit 10 cS-Prcsident
Madison at Montpelier, and found him
faithful in the last days Of his life 10 the
American Democracy IA he had been from
1895 10 the close Of the war Of 1912. The
party that was to rally around Van Buren,
was TO Madison the Party Of Union.'
$780,
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