Book Description

Manuscript letter describing the frustrations Royce is encountering in writing a book about California history. Royce draws a contrast between writing history and writing philosophy. He also comments on a recent lecture given by president Andrew Dickson White at a convention of the American Historical Association, evidently including material from White's book, The history of the warfare of science with theology in Christendom. Royce also comments on lectures given on the same occasion by Professors Herbert Tuttle and Goldwin Smith, and lectures by (unidentified) women on the importance of educating women in the subject of history. He goes on to comment on the usefulness of contemporary letters to Eastern newspapers as a source of valuable historical information on California squatters.