INTRODUCTION. He William Hickling Prescott, one of America's most distinguished historians, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, May 4th, 1796. His family was one of old Puritan stock, and of considerable wealth. His early education was received in Salem and Boston. entered Harvard College in 1811, but almost at the beginning of his collegiate career, he met with an accident, which powerfully affected his whole future life. A pellet of bread, flung at random by a fellow-student, struck his left eye and irremediably destroyed its sight. He continued his college studies, however, and was graduated with honors in 1814. He then began the study of law in his father's office, but, within a year dangerous signs of inflammation appeared in the uninjured eye, and he was obliged to relinquish his legal work. He went to the Azores, and afterward traveled in England, France and Italy. Much of the time, however, he was confined to a darkened room, which interfered greatly with the advantage that would have been derived from his journeyings. The physicians declared that the only way to preserve the sight of the right eye was to maintain general good health. He re |
