turned to Boston and for some time led a very quiet life. As a pursuit of the legal profession seemed out of the question, he finally decided to devote himself to literature, in spite of his limited visual power. For several years he contributed essays to the leading magazines, and then he determined to undertake a narrative of some period in Spanish history. He was attracted to this, as history had always been a favorite study of his, and Spain was comparatively an unexplored field. The obstacles were great. He could read only at certain intervals, and it was impossible for him to prosecute his researches abroad, as traveling was anything but beneficial to his eyesight. He had, however, influential friends, independent means and ample leisure. He managed to obtain a large number of valuable manuscripts from Spain, and by means of an amanuensis and the use of a special writing-desk, he made careful investigations and took voluminous notes. These notes were then worked up in his memory, and he became so proficient that he could retain pages in his mind. The progress made was naturally slow, and it was not until 1837 that "The History of the Reign. of Ferdinand and Isabella" was ready for publication. The work met with instantaneous success, both in this country and in England, and from an obscure essayist Prescott leaped with a bound into the first rank of contemporary historians. He then turned his attention to a history of the conquest of Mexico. Washington Irving had contemplated taking up the same subject, but, on hearing of Prescott's intention, he generously yielded the field to his fellowwriter. "The Conquest of Mexico" was given to the public in 1843 and strengthened the author's popularity and reputation. "The Conquest of Peru," in no respect inferior to its predecessors, appeared in 1847. The next work undertaken by Prescott was a history of Philip the Second. His eyesight, however, was becoming more and more enfeebled, and he was forced to abandon temporarily his labors. He went to England, where he met with a most cordial and flattering reception, and he returned with renewed vigor to his work. Two volumes were issued from the press, but the third was destined never to be finished. An attack of apoplexy in 1858 was a forerunner of the end, and Prescott died in Boston, January 27th, 1859. What Motley did in order to give the general public a correct idea of the history of the Netherlands, Prescott accomplished in the case of Spain and her former possessions. The periods treated were and are of peculiar interest to Americans. As he himself has said in one of his prefaces: "Surely no subject could be found more suitable for the pen of an American than a history of that reign under the auspices of which his own favored quarter of the globe was first revealed." Prescott's style is one of the utmost fascination. There is nothing turgid, nothing strained about it. The course of his narrative sweeps on with irresistible force, his descriptions are painted in free and vivid colors, and his characters are replete with picturesqueness and vitality. Notable examples of this latter statement will be found in the portraitures of Isabella, Columbus, Cortés, Pizarro and Montezuma, which appear in the extracts given in these pages. In concluding this brief notice, we will quote the opinion of an eminent critic: "The romance of history has seldom had an abler or more brilliant exponent than William H. Prescott." ARTHUR D. HALL. |
