When Polybius was collecting material for his great history, he widely traversed Spain, Gaul and other provinces, that he might observe with his own eye the scenes of those transactions which he was to record in his pages. The vivid knowledge of localities, drawn from actual inspection, must, of course, enable him who describes them to impart a more graphic picture, not only of them, but also of the events connected with them, for on the ground there is an ideal presence of the drama, and upon a very obvious principle of mnemonics, every thing connected with it is the more fixed in the memory.

Polybius also had obtained a knowledge of public affairs, by serving in political stations and had been, besides being actively engaged in administrative offices, employed on an embassy to Rome.

The influence of localities upon the spirit of an historian, is illustrated by the fact that amongst the ruins of Rome, Gibbon conceived the idea of his great work; and that Mr. Bancroft's name is well and properly associated with these illustrious writers, is proved by the actual union of them in that beautiful letter of Mr. Everett to the Historical Society of New York, upon its fiftieth anniversary. He says that Mr. Bancroft is entitled to rank with Tacitus and Livy, and with Hume, Gibbon, and Robertson, and from the decision of this high literary judicature, there can be no appeal until remote posterity sits in judgment.

The presence of Mr. Bancroft therefore at the recent celebration, was a signifi

VOL. XXII-11

cant incident as well as a beautiful episode in the transactions of the day. The manner in which he was received by the Southern assemblage, and the graceful and impressive presentation of himself to the enthusiastic demand of the multitude, is finely set forth in the account of the day's proceedings in the beautiful pamphlet, (p. 33,) issued by Mr. Melton, the most active and effective promoter of the celebration, who from the first idea of it to its consummation by this publication of a full and complete recital of it in a neat brochure of more than a hundred pages, exhibits the energy, intelligence and enthusiasm with which he entered into the affair.

Mr. Bancroft's eminent position, as the historian of the Revolution, of course demanded for him a very special invitation amongst the distinguished personages who were asked to attend. In compliance with this invitation and in obedience to his own impulses to be present at the celebration of a striking historical event in the South, upon the scene of action, he repaired from his residence in New York, to King's Mountain, in South Carolina, making a journey of a thousand miles. The labor of this patriotic and literary pilgrimage was, doubtless, compensated in a great degree not only by the gratification of the main purpose, but also by the interest and beauty of the route which led to the scene, and farther by the opportunity it afforded him of manifesting the sympathies of a Northern gentleman and scholar, with the historic memories of the South. "For

the North," says Mr. Bancroft in his most elegant and felicitous address, "to take an interest in your celebration, is but an act of reciprocity. Every where, in my long pilgrimage to be present with you on this occasion, I have found evidence of the affection with which the South cherishes the memory of every public action in behalf of liberty without regard to place. Beautiful Virginia! land of mountains and lowlands, rich in its soil, abounding in healing springs, and the store-house of all kinds of mineral wealth, builds a Lexington in the very heart of her magnificent valley. North Carolina repeats the name in one of the loveliest regions in the world, and South Carolina designates by it a great central district of her State."

“There is a still stronger reason,” he continues, "why the North should give you its sympathy on this occasion. She sent you no aid in the hour of your greatest need. It is a blessed thing to give even a cup of cold water in a right spirit. It was not then possible even to give that. All honor must be awarded to the South, since she was left to herself alone in the hour of her utmost distress." mance of the American Revolution has its scenes for the most part in the South, and the battle of King's Mountain, of which we celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary to-day, was the most romantic of all."

"The ro

Mr. Bancroft traversed that most lovely Valley-of-Virginia, visited the Natural Bridge, penetrated the Tunnels of Roanoke, transcended the Blue Ridge and Alleghany, passed over the summit level of Mount Airy, the highest point on the great rail-road from tide water to Memphis, into those most picturesque meadows, straths and valleys on the head waters of Holston. from the gushing fountains of which he descended along the South Fork whence issued the King's Mountain Men, passed by the Royal Oak, the residence of Col. Arthur Campbell, and by the log cabin where lived the leader of the expedition, Col. William Campbell,-the house being yet piously preserved by the care of his descendants. Thence he passed down to Beaver Creek, the patrimonial

possessions of the Shelbys and Leoiers. Through all this lovely transit-through South-West Virginia and East Tennessee, in sight of the Iron Mountains on one side, and of the distant Clinch on the other, his eye was enriched by the exquisite landscape, and his heart warmed by meet ing with the descendants, in the second and third generation, from the Colonels; thus he passed over the Paint-Mountain and descended upon the exquisite-the unsurpassed and unsurpassable banks of French Broad. Throughout this enchanting journey, during the early days of a rich autumn, we understand that Mr. Bancroft had the advantage of an attending saddle horse, upon which, being an expert rider, he could make frequent excursions to striking points of view. The stagecoach passing him at a somewhat more rapid pace than his own, gave the intelligence that Mr. Bancroft was on the road, so that at each village crowds had assembled to see the historian. Each newspaper, too, had announced that he was on his way to King's Mountain. Those who thus approached him with an ill-disguised curiosity and manifest exultation, would say: rian.

You, sir, are the Histo

Yon are going to King's Mountain, my grandfather fout at that battle,” for this old English word yet lingers in those retired valleys. That it was an old English word, is shown by a quotation of Mr. Preston, in his speech on the occasion of the celebration. Mr. Bancroft paused to look with admiration upon the clear gentle current of Wautauga, as it rippled on to mingle its limpid waters with the not distant French Broad. Upon the banks of the Wautauga, many Whigs of South Carolina had found refuge from the British and Tories, interposing vast mountains between them and their enemies, and here, too, had been the rendezvous of those men who assembled for the daring excursion through those enormous mountains, in search of an enemy upon Southern waters.

Mr. Bancroft also paused upon the still more tranquil banks of the still more pellucid Nollichuckee. Spending a night at old Mr. Colter's, at the foot of Paint

Mount, Mr. Bancroft was so eager to

behold the far famed French Broad, at the opposite foot of the mountain that the wearied horses being unable to proceed, at a late hour in the evening, he set out on foot, passed over to the banks of the French Broad, went down to the 'Chimneys" and returned by supper to his inn, filled with admiration at the magnificent scenery he had surveyed.

The course of his journey had from point to point been chronicled by the local newspapers, showing the interest which their readers took in his progress. At Abingdon, Virginia, the editor of the 'Virginian' duly mentioned the arrival of the distinguished traveller who, pausing over Sunday, attended a camp-meeting in the neighborhood. Then the Asheville paper records his arrival at that place, and notices the traveller's energetic excursion thence to the summit of Black Mountain, the highest point on the Atlantic declivity-the spot most visited by excursionists in that region. These notices of the press and the general interest manifested all along the road in the progress of Mr. Bancroft, indicate the diffused knowledge of his name and the very wide sympathy characteristic of our people with literary reputation. In truth the admiration for literary eminence is not less ardent than that for political or military success. The author of a successful book is looked upon with a more tender and curious regard, and excites the imagination with more wonderment than a hero or a statesman.

A man will announce with more selfcomplacency that he has seen Washington Irving, or Mr. Bancroft, than that he has seen General Scott, or Mr. Clay. These scattered gleanings concerning Mr. Bancroft's route, are derived mainly from the notices above indicated, and from scraps of conversation with those who happened to meet him on the way, until he is more authentically taken up and recorded by Mr. Melton, in his book of the celebration.

presented our friend A. J. Wallace, Esq., one of the worthy representatives of our district, who from frequent intercourse with the actors in the drama, had acquired a thorough and accurate knowledge of every point of the battle ground, and who kindly consented to place in contribution to the pleasure of our guest, his ample fund of Revolutionary lore. Following his lead, Mr. Bancroft, accompanied by Rev. Dr. Wightman and Rev. Mr. Martin, of Spartanburg, employed the hour in roaming over the mountain. An hour of value it was to us-now gathering up the treasures of legendary story, as our guide poured them forth, and then regarding with an ill disguised admiration the fine, sparkling, speaking eye of the listener, as he took in almost at a glance, all the points and features of the battle-ground, and gave a willing ear to the rehearsal of the rude but truthful story, as it came second handed from the heroes in the strife. A beautiful, cheering scene was that-the great historian upon the height of King's Mountain-a -a scene worthy of a better pen than ours! Standing on the spot where the surrender took place, near the rock which pillowed the head of the dying Ferguson, and hard by the spreading

branches of the venerable tree from which the baker's dozen of traitor tories were hung, he read from the despatches of the commanding officer, an official account of the battle, and placing Campbell and Shelby on the North; Sevier on the West, and Williams and Cleaveland on the East side of the mountain, eloquently and enthusiastically fought the battle over! The hope then was full. The great historian had done homage to the sacred spot, and its sacred memory and history would do right.”—“ King's Mountain,” pp. 27-28.

Mr. Bancroft, being thus introduced to the Mountain, where he surveyed the scenes until the flashing camp-fires of the assembling multitude began to gleam in the twilight, was consigned to the hospitality of a grandson of Maj. Hambright, an officer in the battle, and in the log cabin of this most excellent host he spent the night, with many other visitors who, not being provided with tents or camp equipage, were fain to seek shelter under a pro