Disciples of the dismal school of history often yield a very grudging tribute to the enduring merit of what Prescott patiently achieved. Yet in their own field he met them upon equal terms and need not fear comparison. Though self-trained as an historical investigator, his mastery of his authorities has hardly been excelled by those whose merit is found solely in their gift for delving. The evidence of his thoroughness, his judgment, and his critical faculty is to be seen in the documentary treasures of his foot-notes. He did not, like Mommsen, write a brilliant narrative and leave the reader without the ready means of verifying what he wrote. He has, to use his own words, "suffered the scaffolding to remain after the building has been completed." Those who sneer at his array of testimony are none the less unable to impeach it. Though historical science has in many respects made great advances since his death, his work still stands essentially unshaken. He had the historical conscience in a rare degree; one feels his fairness and is willing to accept his judgment. If he seems to lack a special gift for philosophical analysis, the plan and scope of his histories did not contemplate a subjective treatment. What he meant to do, he did, and he did it with a combination of historical exactness and literary artistry such as no other American at least, has yet exhibited. Without the humour of Irving, or the fire of Motley, or the intimate touch of Parkman, he is superior to all three in poise and judgment and distinction; so that on the whole one may accept the dictum of a distinguished scholar[57] who, in summing up the merits which we recognise in Prescott, declares them to be so conspicuous and so abounding as to place him at the head of all American historians. INDEX A Academy, Royal Spanish, 76, 80. Adair, James, 146. Adams, Dr. C. K., quoted, 180. Adams, John Quincy, library of, 20; absence in Europe, 20, 23, 37; professor at Harvard, 23; Minister to England, 37. Adams, Sir William, 37. Albert, Prince, 105, 106. Amory, Thomas C., 43. Amory, William, letter to, 172. Athenæum, Boston, 19, 20, 21. Aztecs, 76, 82, 136, 143, 144, 146; as viewed by Wilson, 147-151; Morgan's view of, 152-155; later opinions regarding, 155-156. B Bancroft, George, 10; letters to, 48, 114, 117; reviews _Ferdinand and Isabella_, 69; honour conferred on, 86; quoted, 87; estimate of, 122. Bancroft, H. H., quoted, 153, 159. Bandelier, A. F., 155, 163, 165; quoted, 136, 153, 154. Bentley, Richard, 69, 80, 85, 112, 116, 117. Bradford, Governor William, 8. Brougham, Lord, Prescott's description of, 107, 108. Brown, Charles Brockden, novels of, 5; _Life of_, 65, 112. Bunsen, Baron, 107, 108. Byron, Lord, Prescott's estimate of, 113; as exponent of romanticism, 122; quoted, 166. C