B51 



aituated. The associations which were most prominent in 

 our minds, as we assembled this evening, were those relating- 

 to the great historian who had deceased since our last meet- 

 ing. This was the spot where that bright light was first 

 kindled. This was the scene of the boyish feats of him who 

 had achieved such renown by describing the feats of others, 

 — a renown more enviable than that of the most of those who 

 had performed these exploits. Here was that early develop- 

 ment of mind and cliaracter, which had been so happily de- 

 scribed by Judge White. Then the mind went forward to 

 school and college days — to the piece of bread thrown in the 

 Commons Hall, by a light hearted college mate, which 

 closed against young Prescott the avenue to usefulness and 

 distinction which he had before contemplated, and led him 

 to enter that in which he had achieved such a brilliant 

 success. 



Mr. C. then remarked upon the admirable judgment with 

 which Mr. P. had selected his field of labor. The man who 

 writes a philosophical or scientific treatise may gain a high 

 reputation, but he is not read by the masses ; he must con- 

 tent himself with the " fit audience, though few." On the 

 other hand, the writer of fiction is read by great numbers, 

 but wins not the homage of the learned ; and for the most 

 part, his writings are hastily read once, and then forgotten. 

 Works of this kind chase one another, each effacing the im- 

 pression of the preceding, like waves upon the sea shore. 

 The department of the historian is intermediate, combining 

 the interest of the novel, with the instruction of the philo- 

 sophical treatise ; he writes that which, if well written on a 

 well selected theme, is read and admired alike by the learned 

 and the unlearned, by the scholar and the man of business, 

 by the philosopher and the operative, by the select few and 

 the great masses. 



Mr. C. then spoke of each of the three great obstacles to 

 greatness which Mr. P. had conquered : his blindness, an 

 especial obstable to historical research, and one which most 

 men would think insurmountable ; his wealth, as far greater 

 obstacle than poverty, but which he had lavished in procuring 

 the means of prosecuting his investigations ; his social po- 

 sition, continually tempting him, in connection with his 

 most amiable disposition, to expend his time and talent in 

 the interesting and brilliant family and social circles to 



