“ The tragedy deepens as it proceeds—the duplicity, the greed, the unscrupulousness, the cruelty are all undisguisedly set forth, and with such effect as makes us ashamed of our boasted European civilization. The characters of the Mexicans, in essential points—their sensitiveness, their honor, their desire to sacrifice so much to be at peace—are honestly set forth. In spite of a cruel, debasing religion, they showed fine traits. ”

“ Yet, of equal importance with events is the institutionary development which they cause accompany. Equal study must be given to men, industries and institutions. "Cause and effect are more essential than mere occurrence; achievements of peace should take precedence of warlike conquest; the condition of the people is a more interesting and profitable subject of investigation than the acts of governors, the valor of generals, or the doctrines of priests. The historian must classify and digest, and teach as well as record ”

“ Almagro and Pizarro are old men, old friends, co-partners; yet instead of dividing their immense acquisition and devoting the brief remainder of their days to peaceful pursuits, so deadly become their hatred that each seemed unable to rest while the other lived. ”

“ Some of the sections of this work have, of course, already received separate treatment at the hands of that late able and conscientious American historian, Mr Prescott, whose "Conquest of Peru" and other works are more attractive than the vast majority of works of fiction. But the labor of Mr Bancroft is not by any means superfluous; it is rather necessary and supplementary, as showing the action of the Pacific States one upon another and what relation the development of one has borne to that of others. ”

“ It is impossible for us to do more in the space at our disposal here than to briefly and generally characterize a volume which, like its predecessors, is at once a monument of industry and of literary skill. ”

“ And this—"And all along through the century we nave seen explorers and conquerors, city-builders and miners, side by side with self-denying and exemplary friars, who, while replacing a cruel and debasing worship with a gentler faith, sought to ameliorate the condition of their charge, ever mysteriously fading into the immaterial before their pitying yes. Meanwhile able men appear at the head of ecclesiastical affairs, and the Church riser into power, gaining for the millions lost in the Old World millions in the New." ”

“ As for honor, integrity, and all those virtues which go to make a man, we must not expect them in princes or in politicians. The chief merit of these two volumes is the combination in them of exactitude and exhaustive knowledge with sympathy and humane comprehension. ”

“ Hernando Pizarro repeated exactly the earlier experiences in his contact with Atahualpa in Peru, and the animal passions mixed themselves up with the love of lucre as aforetime. We read, for example, "The people were now hiding the gold; the Spaniards desired the death of Atahualpa, with the liberty to devastate and pillage after the old manner. They determined that the Inca should die ”

“ The extensive nature of the plan may be gathered from the fact, that the territory covered embraces the whole of Central America and Mexico, and all Anglo-American domains west of the Rocky Mountains. The first volume deals with a period of only thirty years—viz., from 1501 to 1530. It opens with a very interesting view of European society, and more especially of Spanish civilization at about the close of the 15th century. ”

“ Neither Robertson nor Prescott escapes, and he speaks rather coldly of Sir Arthur Helps's histories as well-meant and thoughtful, but imaginative—theories of the man standing too much in place of research and exact knowledge. ”