GEORGE BANCROFT. 3G1 



performed by him under a separate appointment. The decision 

 of the Emperor sustained tlie title of the United States, and finally 

 disposed of the vexed question. In 18G8, he received from the 

 University of Bonn the degree of Doctor of Laws, and in 1870, on 

 the fiftieth anniversary of his Doctorate of Philosophy at Got- 

 tingen, that University conferred upon him an honorary I'h. D. 

 The circumstances connected with this event attracted much atten- 

 tion. Congratulations were showered upon the head of Mr. Ban- 

 croft in person, by letter, and by telegraph, from crowned heads, 

 from learned societies, from generals, and from men of letters. 

 Bismarck sent his from the field. Americans when they read the 

 story of these events realized that rare honors had been heaped 

 upon the head of their Minister. 



In 1874 he was at his own request recalled. On his return 

 to this country he divided his life between Washington and 

 Newport, making the former place his winter, and the latter his 

 summer home. Almost to the last day of his life, he continued 

 his methodical habits, parcelling out his labors and his pleasures, 

 allotting specific periods of the day to each, and rigidly adhering 

 to his plan. Those who were present at the opening session of 

 the American Historical Association in Washington, in 1886, will 

 remember an incident which will illustrate the value he attached 

 to punctuality. At the appointed hour he was ready to open the 

 meeting, but owing to circumstances over which he had no control 

 was unable to do so. As soon as he was able, he called the audience 

 \o order, saying, "I pray you all to bear witness that I was here, 

 prepared to open this meeting, at precisely ten o'clock." 



Volume X. of his History, which practically completed the work, 

 was published in 1874. The Centenary Edition, revised and con- 

 densed into five volumes, was published in 1876. An edition was 

 published in London in 1862, and a German edition in Leipzig in 

 1875. Perhaps these foreign editions did not have his personal 

 supervision. Volumes XI. and XII. were separately published 

 under the title of "History of the Formation of the Constitution 

 of the United States," in 1882. A revised edition, which included 

 the history of the Constitution, and which was termed by him 

 the ''final revision," was published in six volumes in 1883-85. 

 The last volume which he published was a "Life of Martin Van 

 Buren." The manuscript for this sketch had been prepared many 

 years before. The last work actually given by him to the public 

 Avas a trenchant criticism of the Supreme Court in the Legal Tender 



