GEORGE BANCROFT. 357 



raise his strong, nervous personality above the plane of prejudice, 

 and to help him to measure events upon a just standard. The 

 estimate in which he was then held may he judged by the language 

 in which Humboldt introduced him to Pictet. Bancroft was de- 

 scribed by Humboldt as a "young American, who has made an 

 excellent study of philosophy and philosophic history in Germany." 

 His reception at this time by prominent men in the world of Euro- 

 pean letters doubtless inspired in him the confidence which was 

 required when, a few j^ears later, he concluded to undertake what 

 was to prove the work of his life. 



The privilege of study in Europe had been afforded him by 

 Harvard College, with a view to his thus preparing for a professor- 

 ship in that College when there should be a vacancy. So far as 

 his immediate prospects were concerned, he had not on his return 

 to the United States, in 1822, ultimately abandoned his intention 

 of adopting the profession of the Christian ministry; and he did 

 in fact preach in his father's pulpit, and from time to time else- 

 where, for a brief period. He was appointed Tutor of Greek at 

 Harvard College in 1822, and filled that office for a year. 



From 1823 to 1830, his time was devoted to teaching at Round 

 Hill School, Northampton. In 1827 he married Sarah H. Dwight. 

 She died in 1837. By this marriage he had two sons and one 

 daughter. The sons survive their father. In 1838 he married 

 Mrs. Elizabeth (Davis) Bliss, who died in 1886. She bore him 

 one daughter ,who died while yet a child. 



It was while connected with Round Hill School that he launched 

 his first literary venture, a volume of poems, published in 1823. 

 His pen during this period of his life was also busily at work upon 

 translations from the German, and on articles for the prominent 

 reviews of the day. An oration delivered on the 4th of July, 1826, 

 and published the same year, in which he announced the democratic 

 nature of his political views, and a pamphlet on " The Bank of the 

 United States," published anonymously in 1831, indicate the in- 

 terest he took in the political questions of the day. In 1830 an 

 opening was afforded him through which he might have entered 

 political life if he had cared to do so. He was elected to the legis- 

 lature, but declined to take the seat. Next year he was tendered 

 the nomination to the Senate, but, notwithstanding the fact that 

 his election would have been certain, he declined the honor. 



In 1834 he published the first volume of his History. *' I have 

 formed the design," he says in his Preface, " of writing a History 



