Part 4 (1/2)
After giving a slight analytical sketch of the series of events related in the history, Mr Froude objects to only one of the historian's estimates, that, naracious, however,” he says, ”even to find so slight a fault with these admirable volumes Mr Motley has written without haste, with the leisurely composure of ahim only to accept our hearty thanks for these volulish library Our quotations will have sufficed to show the ability of the writer Of the scope and general character of his e have given but a languid conception The true reat book must be learned from the book itself Our part has been rather to select varied specimens of style and power Of Mr
Motley's antecedents we know nothing If he has previously appeared before the public, his reputation has not crossed the Atlantic It will not be so now We believe that weourselves as he will receive even in A the first historians in our coe”
The faithful and unwearied Mr Allibone has swept the whole field of contemporary criticism, and shoide and universal was the welcome accorded to the hitherto unknown author An article headed ”Prescott and Motley,” attributed to M Guizot, which e, judging by its freedoh Review” for January, 1857 The praise, not unreat historian bestowed upon Motley is less significant than the fact that he superintended a translation of the ”Rise of the Dutch Republic,” and hieneral chorus of approbation followed or acco voices The reception of the work in Great Britain was a triumph On the Continent, in addition to the tribute paid to it by M Guizot, it was translated into Dutch, into German, and into Russian At home his reception was not less hearty ”The North Araphical ranted a decent space and a tepid recognition to his ”seiven the reading public a taste of his quality as a narrator of real events and a delineator of real personages,--this old and awe-inspiring New England and land representative of the Fates, found roo and most laudatory article, in which the son of one of our uished historians did the honors of the venerable literary periodical to the new-co-doors of all the critical headquarters were flying open as if of themselves Mr Allibone has recorded the opinions of some of our best scholars as expressed to him
Dr Lieber wrote a letter to Mr Allibone in the strongest terht of after events borrows a cruel significance:--
”Congress and Parliament decree thanks for military exploits, --rarely for diplomatic achievements If they ever voted their thanks for books,--and what deeds have influenced the course of huht to have the thanks of our Congress; but I doubt not that he has already the thanks of every American who has read the work It will leave its distinct mark upon the American mind”
Mr Everett writes:--
”Mr Motley's 'History of the Dutch Republic' is inresearch for years in the libraries of Europe, patience and judg his materials, a fine historical tact, much skill in characterization, the perspective of narration, as it orous style unite to make it a very capital work, and place the nareat historical trio,--Bancroft, Irving, and Prescott”
Mr Irving, Mr Bancroft, Mr Sumner, Mr Hillard, united their voices in the same strain of commendation Mr Prescott, whose estimate of the new history is of peculiar value for obvious reasons, writes to Mr Allibone thus:--
”The opinion of any individual seems superfluous in respect to a work on the merits of which the public both at home and abroad have pronounced so unanimous a verdict As Motley's path crosses ht to possess soround
”However this may be, I can honestly bear my testimony to the extent of his researches and to the accuracy hich he has given the results of theister of events, he has penetrated deep below the surface and explored the cause of these events He has carefully studied the physiognoreat e is instinct with the love of freedo of free institutions which could alone enable hiratulate ourselves that it was reserved for one of our countrymen to tell the story-better than it had yet been told--of this memorable revolution, which in soresemblance to our own”
The public welcomed the work as cordially as the critics Fifteen thousand copies had already been sold in London in 1857 In America it was equally popular Its author saw his nareat writers of his time Europe accepted him, his country was proud to claiuarded seal upon the result of his labors, the reading world, which had not cared greatly for his stories, hung in delight over a narrativethan rootten the look of living men in the solitude of archives haunted by dead reat reputation
XII
1856-1857 AEt 42-43
VISIT TO AMERICA--RESIDENCE IN BOYLSTON PLACE
He visited this country in 1856, and spent the winter of 1856-57 in Boston, living with his family in a house in Boylston Place At this ti the changes which reat literary and social career, had wrought in his character and bearing He was in every way greatly i, i with great thenity Accustomed to the company of dead statesher standard The flattery of society had added a new grace to his natural modesty He was now a citizen of the world by his reputation; the past was his province, in which he was recognized as a master; the idol's pedestal was ready for him, but he betrayed no desire to show himself upon it
XIII
1858-1860 AEt 44-46
RETURN TO ENGLAND--SOCIAL RELATIONS--LADY HARCOURT'S LETTER
During the years spent in Europe in writing his first history, froreat retire himself to his work and to the education of his children, to which last object he was always ready to give the most careful supervision He was as yet unknown beyond the circle of his friends, and he did not seek society In this quiet way he had passed the two years of residence in Dresden, the year divided between Brussels and the Hague, and a very tranquil year spent at Vevay on the Lake of Geneva His health at this tiood, except for nervous headaches, which frequently recurred and were of great severity His visit to England with his manuscript in search of a publisher has already been land His fame as a successful author was there before him, and he naturally became the object of many attentions He now made many acquaintances who afterwards beca those hter, Lady Harcourt, are Lord Lyndhurst, Lord Carlisle, Lady William Russell, Lord and Lady Pal winter was passed in Rolish and American friends
”In the course of the next suland, and for the next two years, marked chiefly by the success of the 'United Netherlands,' our social life wasHe was in the fulness of his health and powers; his works had made him known in intellectual society, and I think his presence, on the other hand, increased their effects As no one knows better than you do, his belief in his own country and in its institutions at their best was so passionate and intense that it was a part of his nature, yet his refined and fastidious tastes were deeply gratified by the influences of his life in England, and the spontaneous kindness which he received added much to his happiness At that time Lord Pale House were the centre of all that was brilliant in the political and social world, while Lansdowne House, Holland House, and others were open to the 'sommites' in all branches of literature, science, rank, and politicsIt was the last year of Lord Macaulay's life, and as a few out of many names which I recall come Dean Milman, Mr
Froude (whose review of the 'Dutch Republic' in the 'Westnitions it ever received), the Duke and duchess of Argyll, Sir Willia of Keir, the Sheridan family in its different brilliant members, Lord Wensleydale, and many more”