solving obscure problems,—­what need was there of his consulting the standard authorities at all?  But we were somewhat cheered, when, a little farther on, we found him stating, that the writer who enters into these discussions must “con musty folios innumerable”; that “it will not do to denounce in general terms the venerable precedents [?] so constantly quoted by our annalists,” but that “their defects and their errors must be shown in detail.”  For it does appear to us, that, if a great historical question is to be opened,—­if a series of extraordinary events, hitherto believed by the world to have really happened, are to be denounced as fabulous,—­if numerous writers, whose statements and relations have been regarded in the main as worthy of credit, are now to be rejected as liars and impostors,—­it is indispensable that the works containing these relations should be carefully examined, that the statements should be compared and subjected to the severest scrutiny, and that the refutation should proceed, step by step, inch by inch, over the whole field of debate.  Has Mr. Wilson taken this course?  Has he met with clear and resolute argument the accounts which he denounces as “fabrications”?  Has he diligently and carefully examined the “standard Spanish authorities”?  Has he “conned musty folios innumerable”?  Has he read all the works in question? Has he ever seen them?

We may divide these works into three classes,—­not with reference to their different degrees of merit and importance, but as regards their accessibility and the relative ease with which they may be consulted.  The first class comprises two or three works which have been translated into English; and these translations may be procured with facility and read by any one who has some acquaintance with the English language, though not acquainted with any other.  In the second class we may place a considerable number of works which have been published indeed, but only in the original Spanish, or, in a few instances, in French or Italian translations.  Some of them are rare, and difficult to meet with; others may be found in several of our best libraries.  The third class embraces relations and documents which have never been translated, which have never been published, of which the originals repose in the Spanish archives at Simancas or the Escorial, or in private collections, jealously guarded, in Mexico or Madrid, and of which the only copies known to exist in this country are in the collection formed, with so much trouble and at so great cost, by Mr. Prescott.  Now the writings which come under our first category Mr. Wilson has both seen and read,—­to what purpose and with what profit we shall hereafter show.  The publications comprised in the second class we feel very confident he has never read.  The manuscripts, which come under the last head, we are morally certain he has never seen.  That he has not seen them is capable of the strongest proof, short of absolute