dinary circumstances of his times, when great social and political questions were brought to new and popular tests, which made the homely scientific republican an oracle in the most luxurious and artificial of despotic courts. When the intricate tactics of rival armies have been exhausted, the able general has recourse to a coup de main, and effects by simple bravery what stratagem failed to win. When a question has been discussed until its primary significance is almost forgotten in a multitude of side-issues, the true orator suddenly brings to a focus the scattered elements of the theme, and, by a clear and emphatic statement, reproduces its normal features, and, through a bold analysis, places it in the open light of truth, and heralds the bewildered council to a final decision. In like manner, when vital principles of government and society have been complicated by interest, speculation, and misfortune, when men have grown impatient of formulas and ceremonies, and aspire to realities, he who in his speech, dress, habits, writings, manners, and achievements, or, in the exponent of all these, his character, -represents most truly the normal instincts, average common sense, and practicable good, of his race, is welcomed as an exemplar, an authority, and a representative. Such was the American philosopher at once in the eyes of a newly-organized and self-dependent nation, and in those of an ancient people, in its transition from an outgrown to an experimental regime. -- He took his degree in the school of humanity before the technical honor was awarded by Oxford, Edinburgh, and the Royal Society. It was this preeminent distinction which led Sydney Smith to playfully threaten his daughter, "I will disinherit you if you do not admire everything written by Franklin;" and which enshrines his memory in the popular heart, makes him still the annual hero of the printer's festival, associates his name with townships and counties, inns and ships, societies and periodicals, - with all the arrangements and objects of civilization that aim to promote the enlightenment and convenience of man. The press and the lightning-rod, the almanac, the postage-stamp, and the free-school medal,* attest his usefulness and renown; maxims "I was born in Boston, in New England," this is the simple language of his will," and owe my first instructions in literature to the free grammar of practical wisdom more numerous than Don Quixote's garrulous squire cited gave birth under his hand to a current proverbial philosophy; and his effigy is, therefore, the familiar symbol of independence, of popular education, and self-culture. Those shrewd and kindly features, and that patriarchal head, are as precious to the humble as the learned; and in every land and every language Franklin typifies the "greatest good of the greatest number." Mignot rightly defines him as "gifted with the spirit of observation and discovery;" Davy calls his inductive power felicitous; Paul Jones augured success in his desperate sea-fights from the "Bon Homme Richard;" and the memorable epigraph of Turgot is the acknowledged motto of his escutcheon: "Erupuit cœlo fulmen Sceptrumque tyrannis." schools established there." He added the bequest of a fund, of which the income should be annually applied, in silver medals, to be awarded to the most meritorious boys in these schools. LLIPS, SAMPSON, & CO.'S PUBLICATIONS. HISTORY. Prescott. HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF PHILIP II. By William H. Prescott. With Portraits, Maps, Plates, &c Two volumes, 8vo. Price, in muslin, $2 per volume. The reign of Philip the Second, embracing the last half of the sixteenth century, Is one of the most important as well as interesting portions of modern history. It is necessary to glance only at some of the principal events. The War of the Netherlands the model, so to say, of our own glorious War of the Revolution -the Siege of Malta, and its memorable defence by the Knights of St. John; the brilliant career of Don John of Austria, the hero of Lepanto; the Quixotic adventures of Don Sebastian of Portugal; the conquest of that kingdom by the Duke of Alba; Philip's union with Mary of England, and his wars with Elizabeth, with the story of the Invincible Armada; the Inquisition, with its train of woes; tho rebellion of the Moriscos, and the cruel manner in which it was avenged-thes form some of the prominent topics in the foreground of the picture, which presents a crowd of subordinate details of great interest in regard to the character and court of Philip, and to the institutions of Spain, then in the palmy days of her prosperity. The materials for this vast theme were to be gathered from every part of Europe, and the author has for many years been collecting them from the archives of different capitals. The archives of Simancas, in particular, until very lately closed against even the native historian, have been opened to his researches; and his collection has been further enriched by MSS. from some of the principal houses in Spain, the descendants of the great men of the sixteenth century. Such a collection of original documents has never before been made for the illustration of this period. The two volumes now published bring down the story to the execution of Counts Egmont and Hoorn in 1568, and to the imprisonment and death of Don Carlos, whose mysterious fate, so long the subject of speculation, is now first explored by the light of the authentic records of Simancas. HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF FERDINAND AND ISABELLA, The Catholic. By W. H. Prescott. With Portraits. Three volumes, 8vo. Price, in muslin, $2 per volume. "Mr. Prescott's merit chiefly consists in the skilful arrangement of his materials, in the spirit of philosophy which animates the work, and in a clear and elegant style that charms and interests the reader. His book is one of the most successful historical productions of our time. The inhabitant of another world, he seems to have shaken off the prejudices of ours. In a word, he has, in every respect, made a most valuable addition to our historical literature." - Edinburgh Review. PHILLIPS. SAMPSON, & COVE PUBLICATIONS HISTORY OF THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO, With the Life of the Conqueror, Fernando Cortez, and a View of the Ancient Mexican Civilization. By W. H. Prescott. With Portrait and Maps. Three volumes, 8vo. Price, in muslin, $2 per volume. "The more closely we examine Mr. Prescott's work the more do we find cause to commend his diligent research. His vivacity of manner and discursive obser vations scattered through notes as well as text, furnish countless proofs of his matchless industry. In point of style, too, he ranks with the ablest English historians; and paragraphs may be found in his volumes in which the grace and eloquence of Addison are combined with Robertson's majestic cadence and Gibbon's brilliancy."- Athenæum. HISTORY OF THE CONQUEST OF PERU; With a Preliminary View of the Civilization of the Incas. By W. H. Prescott. With Portraits, Maps, &c. Two vols., 8vo. Price, in muslin, $2 per volume. "The world's history contains no chapter more striking and attractive than that comprising the narrative of Spanish conquest in the Americas. Teeming with interest to the historian and philosopher, to the lover of daring enterprise and marvellous adventure, it is full of fascination. A clear head and a sound judgment, great industry and a skilful pen, are needed to do justice to the subject. These necessary qualities have been found united in the person of an ac complished American author. Already favorably known by his histories of the eventful and chivalrous reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, and of the exploits of the Great Marquis and his iron followers, Mr. Prescott has added to his wellmerited reputation by his narrative of the Conquest of Peru."- Blackwood. Mr. Prescott's works are also bound in more elaborate styles, - half calf, half turkey, full calf, and turkey antique. Barry. THE HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS, By Rev. John Stetson Barry. To be comprised in three volumes, octavo. Volume I. embracing the Colonial Period, down to 1692, now ready. Volumes II. and III. in active preparation. Price, in muslin, $2 per volume. Extracts from a Letter from Mr. Prescott, the Historian. BOSTON, June 8, 1855. Messrs. Phillips, Sampson, & Co. Gentlemen, The History is based on solid foundations, as a glance at the au horities will show. The author has well exhibited the elements of the Puritan character, which he has evidently studied with much care. His style is perspicuous and manly, free from affectation; and he merits the praise of a conscientious endeavor to be im. partial. The volume must be found to make a valuable addition to our stores of colonial history. |