should precede him in a pathway so obscure, that he postponed the composition of a portion of his work until the publication of the first two volumes of the “History of Philip the Second,” then in preparation, should supply him with the requisite light.  His indebtedness to Mr. Prescott was frankly and fully acknowledged both in public and in private.  In letters which now lie before us, he says, “I am working hard on ‘Philip the Second,’ and blessing at the same time the learned pioneer who has traced for me so easy a road through this confused and difficult period of history.”  “It is a piece of good-fortune which I cannot too highly appreciate, that your studies should have been directed to the most difficult portion of Spanish history, from which you have thus removed for me all the thorns.  The conscientiousness and the thoroughness of your researches, the perfect trustworthiness of your conclusions, and the lofty calmness of your judgments, are the precious supports on which I lean; and I have now, for the reign of Philip the Second, a guide whom I shall be ever proud and happy to follow, as I have before followed him through the reigns of the Catholic Kings and the Conquests of Mexico and Peru.”  That these expressions are no exaggeration of the facts of the case might be easily established by a comparison of the “Histoire d’Espagne” with the writings of the American historian.  The passages in the former work cited by Mr. Wilson would form a portion of the proof; and thus, in following M. St. Hilaire, he has in fact been indirectly and ignorantly availing himself of labors which he affects to speak of with contempt.

But directly and knowingly, as we shall hereafter show, he has availed himself of Mr. Prescott’s labors to an extent which demanded the most ample “acknowledgment.”  No such acknowledgment is made.  But we beg to ask Mr. Wilson whether there were not other reasons why he should have spoken of this eminent writer, if not with deference, at least with respect.  He himself informs us that “the most kindly relations” existed between them.  If we are not misinformed, Mr. Wilson opened the correspondence by modestly requesting the loan of Mr. Prescott’s collection of works relating to Mexican history, for the purpose of enabling him to write a refutation of the latter’s History of the Conquest.  That the replies which he received were courteous and kindly, we need hardly say.  He was informed, that, although the constant use made of the collection by its possessor for the correction of his own work must prevent a full compliance with this request, yet any particular books which he might designate should be sent to him, and, if he were disposed to make a visit to Boston, the fullest opportunities should be granted him for the prosecution of his researches.  This invitation Mr. Wilson did not think fit to accept.  Books which were got in readiness for transmission to him he failed to send for.  He had, in the mean time, discovered that “the American stand-point”