the summer of 1850 shows the enthusiasm with which he entered into the spirit of the age of Charles V., and will probably remind the reader of the “musings” of the historian of the “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire amidst the Ruins of the Capitol, while the Barefooted Friars were singing Vespers in the Temple of Jupiter.” Volumes i. and ii. bring down the story to the execution of Counts Egmont and Hoorn in 1568, and to the imprisonment and death of Don Carlos. In the collection of materials for this history Mr. Prescott spared neither time, cost, personal labor, nor the services of willing friends. Public and private collections were freely opened to his use, and the long-closed doors of the ancient archives of Simancas and of other secret depositories flew open at the name of the magician whose genius had reanimated the glories of the Old World, and depicted with a vivid pencil the sorrows and desolation of the New. The reign of Charles V. is the intermediate link between the reigns of Ferdinand and Isabella and Philip II., and completes an unbroken period of 150 years of the Spanish annals. To the life of the emperor subsequent to his abdication six or seven pages only are devoted by Dr. Robertson, and these contain many errors. Robertson was unable to obtain the information then locked up in the archives of Simancas. Of this information and of the labors of his predecessors, Stirling, Pichot, Gachard, and Mignet, Mr. Prescott freely availed himself.
Prosper Merimée says of Prescott: “Of a just and upright spirit, he had a horror of paradox. He never allowed himself to be drawn away by it. and often condemned himself to long investigation to refute even the most audacious assertions. His criticism, full at once of good sense and acuteness, was never deceived in the choice of documents, and his discernment is as remarkable as his good faith. If he may be reproached with often hesitating, even after a long investigation, to pronounce a definite judgment, we must at least acknowledge that he omitted nothing to prepare the way for it, and that the author, too timid perhaps to decide, always leaves his reader sufficiently instructed to need no other guide.” Prof. Cornelius C. Felton wrote: “It is a saying that the style is the man; and of no great author in the literature of the world is that saying more true than of him whose loss we mourn. For in the transparent simplicity and undimmed beauty and candor of his style were read the endearing qualities of his soul, so that his personal friends are found wherever literature is known, and the love for him is co-extensive with the world of letters, not limited to those who speak our Anglo-Saxon mother language, to the literature of which he has contributed such splendid works, but co-extensive with the civilized languages of the human race.” The illustration on this page represents Prescott's birthplace.
_-_William_Hickling_-_birthplace.jpg)
PRESCOTT, William, physician, b. in
Gilmanton, N. H., 29 Dec., 1788; d. there, 18 Oct.,
1875. He was indentured to a farmer at sixteen
years of age, received few educational advantages,
taught, studied medicine, and in 1815 was graduated
at Dartmouth medical college. He practised
in Gilmanton and Lynn, and served in both
branches of the legislature. Dr. Prescott was an
enthusiastic collector of minerals and shells, and
was a member of many literary and scientific
societies. He wrote the “Prescott Memorial” (Boston,
1870).
PRESSTMAN, Stephen Wilson, clergyman,
b. in Charleston. S. C., 1 Oct., 1794; d. in
Newcastle, Del., in 1843. He obtained a good education
in Baltimore, Md. When the war of 1812 was
declared he applied for and received a commission
in the U. S. Army, becoming ensign in the 5th
infantry on 14 April, 1812, and 2d lieutenant in
July. He was in active service on the Canada
frontier, gained credit on several occasions in
battle, especially at Lyon's Creek, and was wounded
in the attack on La Cole mill, 30 March, 1814.
He engaged in business for several years, but, having
a desire to enter the ministry of the Episcopal
church, he studied for orders under a clergyman
in Baltimore. He was ordained deacon, 11 July,
1822, by Bishop Richard C. Moore, and priest, 15
June, 1823, by the same bishop. While a deacon
he served the church in Dumfries, Va., and in 1823
he was called to the rectorship of Immanuel church,
Newcastle, Del. This post he held during the
remainder of his life. Mr. Presstman, though
publishing no contributions to theological or general
literature, was very active and useful in various
departments of church work. He was for many
years president of the standing committee of the
diocese of Delaware, and was uniformly elected a
clerical deputy to the triennial general convention
of the Protestant Episcopal church.
PRESTON, Ann, physician, b. in West Grove,
Pa., 1 Dec., 1813; d. in Philadelphia, Pa., 18 April,
1872. She was the daughter of Amos Preston,
a Quaker, and, owing to the delicate condition of
her mother's health, the family was early placed
under her care. Meanwhile she received her
education in the local school, and evinced more than a
usual fondness for her books. In 1850 the Woman's
medical college of Philadelphia was founded,
and she studied there until her graduation in 1852.
Settling in Philadelphia, she began the practice
of her profession, in which she achieved deserved
success. In 1854 she was elected professor of
physiology and hygiene in the college where she was
graduated, and in 1866 to the office of dean, which
places she held until her death. Her lectures and
addresses were filled with striking thoughts and
practical knowledge. Dr. Preston was active in
the stablishment of the Woman's hospital of
Philadelphia, and was from its beginning one of
the managers, its corresponding secretary, and its
consulting physician. The Philadelphia county
medical society in 1867 made public objections to
the practice of medicine by women, and Dr. Preston
at once defended the claims of her sex so ably
that much of the adverse criticism was disarmed;
indeed her influence in removing prejudices against
female physicians was very extended. She
published various essays on the medical education of
women, and was the author of a book of poems
entitled “Cousin Ann's Stories for Children”
(Philadelphia, 1848).
PRESTON. Charles Finney. missionary, b. in Antwerp. N. Y., 26 July, 1829; d. in Hong Kong, china. 17 July, 1877. lie was graduated at Union
