Year: 1868

From the Revue des Deux Mondesl


1t is an evident fact, which may be as
certained in different parts Of his works,
that while sincerely deploring the evils re-
sulting from serVitude, Prescott was struck
with sense of the dangers that might
accrue from its sudden suppression. He
could not even conceal his impatience
when Jealous philanthropists advocated in
his presence the doctrine Of immediate and
boundless freedom to the negroes, without
preparatory measures. "Whena Yankee" !"
he writes in one of his books, "makes his
appearance in a London circle, the first
question addressed to him is Are you
in favor of, or against slavery?' and he is
treated according to his answer. When
an Englishman puts his foot for the first
time on American soil, would it not seem
very strange to him if he were greeted
with the words !: Do you think it right or
not, to let the Chinese swallow opium p as
if that question could decide the manner
in which he should be welcomed or ILL
treated"


1t may be that this singular view of the
case was part of his social and political
principles, although he can hardly be called
a politician, for be had great fear of pub
lie life, with its stormy emotions, and gave
but little attention to the political ques-
tions by which America was then agitated.
He considered them an element Of disor-
der in the peaceful and studious course
of his existence. In his relations with the
leading statesmen of his tine, we can dis
cover traces of that disdain, mingled with
fear. He wrote to Bancroft /: (" How can
you thus flirt with the inconstant virago
of Politics while the glorious Muse of His
tory is ready to receive you? l can not
say that ! understand the fascination ex-
ercised by such mistress, and / suppose
you must pity me-"


Tt, the last, Prescott remained faithful
to the quietude of retired Life to the
last, he was fortunate enough rot to meet
with any discordant element ia the peace
ful atmosphere in which he delighted to
live, and which was necessaryto the wants
of his heart, and the development of his
faculties. Only once it happened that he
voluntarily sacrificed the monotony Of his
habits in order to realize lopg-desired
project he went to England; but he was
Unable to remain long from home, and in
five months after he was back again, hav-
ing doubtless enjoyed his trip, but happy
to return to his family, his friends, and his
library. From that time he spent his life
equally between Boston, where he always
passed the winter; villa by the seaside,
where he took refuge during the great heat
Of the summer months, and his favorite
country-seat at Pepperell, where he lived
during the autumn, the most splendid sea-
son of the year in that part OF the country.
In getting old, he became more and more
attached to this home, which had been
bought from the Indians by his ancestors,
ga remarkable fact" he says, " in Amer
lea, where the son seldom sits in the shade
of the trees planted by his father" He
had constantly embeIlIshed this estate,
and his greatest anxiety was that it should
not go out of the possession of his family.
He lived there patriarchal existence, sur
rounded by his children and grandchildren,
and having no other interruption to his
daily studies than the visits he received
from his friends, or the many Strangers
and foreigners who would not leave Amer
lea without seeing the renowned historian.


His ardor for study was not diminished,
and the work to which he devoted the rest
Of his life did not cost him less trouble Or
labor than his former efforts. For long
time he had determined to write the Life
of Philip II, and had already conceived
the plan Of history of his illustrious and
nefarious reign. When he returned from
he expected to receive the in
formation that for the previous ten years
his friends had collected for him in vi
emma, Florence, Venice, Paris and London.
Such long contemplated preparation had
made his project known. One day, he
vas visited by a young man who came to