The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-09 00:00:00

OCCASIONAL SKETCHES-HERE
AND THERE.

No. 11.
MAA SS MEETING, AND DANIEL WEBSTER.
The recent speech of Mr. Daniel Webster on the subject of
Oregon
having again placed hint prominently before the
British public, a slight sketch of him may not be uninterest-
-I°g..ag the In the month of August, 1844, 1 had the pleasure of
"an
aile, celebrated American orator on American ground,
will the occasion and the scene were of a novel character,
endeavour to describe both.
~ a. the time to which I have referred the Presidential elec-
en w .
their as going on, and Mr. Clay's friends were sanguine in
the chair
that " HAnity of Tin; NY Fsr 9' would fill
t,rin
.y sure,
air at Washington. Tu make, however, assurance
tioubl Mi. Webster was engaged to visit some of the
cipal cities of the Union, for the purpose of delivering
higaorations ; and it was bast I was residing at Phila-
delphi he visited tbat place.
the Soon as it became known that Mr. Webster would visit
v e city of Brotherly Love, many and vast were the prepara-
t)ns which were made to give him a hearty reception, for
Flagseric are justly proud of their greatest
banners.oator.
were unfurled in every direction—new were
tr,-;..L'ted, transparencies almost covered the fronts of some of
ahouses and ash poles, as if by magic, sprung out of the
r°lled in front of every Whig public-house. " Protec-
to American Industry;" in letters a yard long,
Fok, the eye at every turn, and caricatures of Mr.
of a„ la the character of an auctioneer, disposing
and 4,T lea of foreign .manufacture, to the great grief
Pronal'usinaY of American artisans, whilst Mr. Clay
th, mechanics,
"'''Y waved the " stars and stripes" over a batch
indicating that a tariff would protect
were rife. Coons" in very victorious attitudes over
dry,coils," or "roosters," as our transatlantic friends rim-
stl
a them were pentifully displayed, and every
porrr r.s window was filled from top to bottom with little
aits of Mr. Clay on slips of ribbon, with which gentle-
e"iiejaef decorated their coat-lappels. Even pocket-handker-
*l44 became political, and exhibited Mr. Clay's portrait,
rival'
-kY the by, formed a pleasing contrast to that of his
pre‘: air Polk, inasmuch as the latter was universally re-
griin'ed as a fierce, almost ferocious, and absolutely a very
atel gentleman, whilst Mr. Clay figured as a smiling senator,
Tir`e very pink of politeness and future presidents.
strei e'larket-street of Philadelphia is an immensely long, very
1,1 gut thoroughfare, and lined on either side by the stores of
Clear,,ehaats who were, almost to a man, the supporters of Mr.
oeciiiand the tariff which their candidate advocated. On this
ratin °lti_ they did not neglect to show their zeal by deco-
really their houses from the summits to the basements ; and
bleb lailPrettier sight could scarcely be imagined than that
large n arket-street presented on the day of the meeting. A
or edi ;usher of these stores belonged to dry-goods merchants,
gent, oiesal_
e e linendrapers, as we should call them ; and these
and aalen had selected pieces of goods of the most brilliant
their-",fty colours, with which they festooned the fronts of
nie-h"c'uses, or wreathed them around triumphal arches,
Wseen ",sPanned the broad street. Not a chimney was to be
Lthout a bright flag surmounting it, and not a window
gay had not a bright face peeping out of it. And over all this
taieene was an American blue, cloudless sky, and a clear trans-
krin pure atmosphere, which, like varnish on a picture,
chimaght vividly out all the colours; and as from the countless
ileys issued no smoke to cast its pall over the city, it
of 11
streets,
be supposed that Market-street was the brightest
a for that day at least; and as every now and then
Colt's would boom from a house-top, or a six-barrelled
Nvins4revq„,•ng pistol would show its smoking muzzle from
°W, it would have been no easy matter to have found
noisierTh one,
she„,e Mass Meeting was appointed to be held in a field
e‘ a mile distant from the city, and, anxious to secure a
R°od pl
tlath ace, in which I might see and hear all, I repaired
out er, instead of waiting in Market-street to witness from
es,o,°l the windows the procession which was to
for "' A.lr- Webster. The spot was a very suitable one
epvthe
Purpose. In front of a sloping piece of ground,
ered with the greenest and softest grass, on which row
viabe°ae rose thousands of people might sit, each having a full
slew ;'f the speaker, was erected a large platform roofed with
ef til,eas. in order to shelter the speakers from the fierce rays
the sun, which was almost raining down heat. In front of
resembling or stand, was a little projecting place, somewhat
deatfh a pulpit, for the orator ; on either side of it were
end r the reporters, and behind it, the chairman's seat,
benches for the prominent personages who were to be
ee:csel ct- Anxious to obtain a seat on the platform, I pro-
aseted to the staircase leading to it, when I was prevented
alit "lag by a gentleman with a roll of paper tied with
ha e ribbon, to represent a marshal's baton, in his
Wed, who politely informed me that the platform
the reserved for the members of Mr. Clay's committee and
htit reporters of the public press. I said I wished to go up ;
Wheel
tile gentleman was firmly courteous, and I was about to
e eel round to the front of the stand when I encountered one
or ti,„
by the 7 committee of arrangements, whom I knew to be so
r"ribbon in his button-hole, and to him I applied for
tmission to occupy the desired seat on the stand, informing
tallied to E°
eo'fau that I was a stranger, and wished much to enjoy a fa-
rable pnpgoiratnulnity of hearing Mr. Webster before I re-
tl:e•Oh you are from England, are you?" observed the gen-
tc,-411. " Well, Sir, I shall be happy to do all in my power
v-hget you up." And then he sent to another gentleman, by
aiiL,ml was passed to a third, who very courteously eon-
te me to one of the very best seats, and seemed anxious
Make
Was me comfortable, it appeared to me, just because I
gevan Englishman. I declare I never met with more
..ieeeee
„ eni treatment anywhere, and I very much question
be:‘ a political meeting in my own country, I should have
that similarly well treated. And I would observe here,
f r this was not a-solitary instance of American courtesy,
tt_ wherever I went I received the most polite attention and
e Nit readiestre service. In one instance, indeed, I thought
the ess was pushed over the verge of patriotism ; for, on
4th °ccasion of my visiting a town
theirs Massachusetts, on a
ii,JfJuly celebration, just before Declaration of Inde-
oe t'sence" was read, in which occur some very strong remarks
*Cue conduct of King George the Third, the gentleman
srii),,.Was to read it, and who happened to sit next to me,
froeine--
s..y hoped " that I should not feel offended at what was
IN to be said about the King."
atAbout three o'clock in the afternoon the booming of cannon,
. blasting of trumpets, and the deep roll of drums, mingled
eialetervals with the flourishing of fifes, the reedy sounds of
taeri°Tlets, and the growlings of bassoons, proclaimed that
tit Procession was approaching; and not long afterwards
seaoeverY busy-looking gentlemen, in cocked hats, with blue
A and having paper batons in their hands, gallopped
Vett,-;,1 up to the stand, round and round which they cur-
hi,rt and cantered, giving orders, and then they gallopped
eii;%aaain to meet the coming procession, the head of which
bomTh° be seen entering the field, whilst the tune of " Yankee
fat le was played with tremendous energy by the band.
the was a two-mile long procession, almost as lengthy as
417a-serpent which, according to veracious chroniclers, is to
:ohrftl every ear off Nahant. On, and on, and on it came,
'ing round the field, the cheers of the vast multitude
Ofdt aew and then proclaiming that some popular personage
h,ueen recognised by the mob. Like a monstrous snake
eh4ll,v brilliant colours, it was seen winding its sinuous course
lig„,Va the dense crowd, a part of it now flashing in the bril-
sc;`,.‘ sunshine, and other portions of soberer hues being
see,,celY distinguishable from the dense crowds by which it
DI,- Surrounded and hemmed in. About thirty bands,
mequi-distant from each other, sent forth in turns their
ate, and what with this, the firing, the huzzas, the enthu-
tceZ of the men, and the excitement, heightened beauty of
Ilieed".°lpacb, a more inspiriting sight could not be well ima-
reelh. e Most distinguished members of the procession were
Plate by the committee, who stood at the head of the
eet,--°rra stairs, and directed them to their allotted seats. Of
fei."„rse I Cannot even alude to a twentieth part of these
bere-uri,ed individual• wholes re either judge e, senators, memo
Congress, or of the State Legislature, or well known
era big orators. I, however, had my particular attention
gen to one, who, from the cheers with which he was
IL 73 I judged must be some one of consequence.
lieb-se„ a white horse, very richly caparisoned, and on his
gicwng from it and ascending the platform- stairs, very
eau: deference and respect was shown him. He was some •
fiearil,,advaneed in years, for his hair was snow-white, and he
Pah...' somewhat feeble. His face was florid, and he had a
bright, keen, grey eyes, which now seemed lighted
atto:s. iishttibe pleasurable excitement. He was short of stature,
• fort and punchy in frame, and looked more like a corn-
English gentleman-farmer than an American. In
of "I'M he held a beautiful bouquet; several wreathes
eeet4.l°Wers hung on his arm, and a brilliant floral
telt, Was thrown carelessly around his portly person. These
lath Its of admiration had been bestowed upon him by fair
knes during his progress to the place of meeting; and to ex-
alo,wltY, it may be as well to state that he was the popular
'446 candidate for the governorship of the state of Pennsyl-
olet:, Which high and honourable post, however, he failed to
fritielN,a more fortunate gentleman, who. professed democratic.
ilee; IPLes, and rejoiced in the euphonious name of Shunk,
• e;,„ltg beaten General Markle by many hundred votes.
the That's him ; y-onder's Black Dan ; here he comes !" And
foB"uting, which before was loud enough, is increased ten-
for aS
,the man of the day is recognised. " Three cheers
atate-'',„ Massachusetts !" " Three good-'uns for the old Bay
and " Three cheers for Dan Webster !" are proposed
setae with hearty good-will, as the observed of all ob-
*tee4's Mounts the staircase with slow and almost solemn
ritt;p,,,,lnoking right a-head, and seeming to pay no more
teeerjoa to the noise than if he was deaf as a post. On
;441--.9g the floor of the stand lie half turns round,
hied sughtiy bends his body, and then retiring be-
airemit,be foremost row of gentlemen, coolly divests
of his huge worsted comforter, shakes hands
ale ec)be or two friends, and then pulling down his over
• eat I,.l.°lva' he seats himself on a bench, and folding his arms
broad chest, quietly surveys the vast audience, which
real r°ve above row, to their natural amphitheatre, until first
areitires, then forms become indistinct, and, at length, far up
boenaawan a dense many .coloured mass above is to be seen,
atoeXeed by a line of flags,which flutter gaily, against a back-
Say—' of sky which, it is no exaggeration of description to
bas "richly, deeply, beautifully blue."
lotege Proceedings commenced by a very good, but a very
Wlv4,', Prayer, by a clergyman ; then followed speeches which
ere listened to with manifest impatience, and at length it
3, stated that Mr. Webster would move the next resolution.
h„.11,e cheering which followed this announcement was, as
114-ttaeatrical people say, " immense." Men flourished their
tin s' women waved their handkerchiefs, and the voices of
Nvej3:, thousand people hailed the orator's name with a noisy
self,"lne- After a few minutes he rose, slowly divested him-
%illy his brown over coat, and then waiting until silence
ab; be obtained he stood uncovered, with folded arms,
li-„,41g With those marvellous eyes of his upon the mass of
flow-"ati beings whom he was about to address. He had no
k.ntie.r,
oz, decorate his person— no ornaments, indeed,. of any
With I should as soon expected to have seen a giant adorned
be„" coral and bells, as to have seen Daniel Webster with a
?let in his button-hole.
he; he ,was a man rather above than beneath the ordinary
eepßa7e2 very strongly, even powerfully built, having a broad,
clerii'°aa chest and limbs, of sturdy and yet by no means
rieetsY formation. But his head was what. attracted
,and
laii.ted attention—and such a head as Daniel Webster s,
4teen,flaarly large,
c belie
was never before placed on mortal shoulders. It p
and so prominent about the temples, that it
ikeeeli,s if an immense quantity of brain. had been packed
had "e cranium whilst it was soft in those regions, and
aed eatfeed it to bulge out. The forehead is massive
rtiourPle, and protrudes somewhat in front. It is sur-
etreae ed by carelessly arranged darkish brown hair, slightly
• fronied with grey. His eyebrows are very large, and ascend
t thwithin outwards. His nose Is short, somewhat nabbed
vani,„! .e,ml, and looks as though it were grafted on his face,
eerith— Luau grew there ; and his mouth is thin-lipped and
ittid Irie,issed, Slight whiskers appear on either cheekbone,
aseor:,-; ekmnalealon, dark and swarthy, has earned for him
burt his countrvmen the soubriquet of " Black Dan."
are Ja. the most remarkable features in Mr. Webster's face
Yes. Carlyle (I believe) said they wee like blast
arirces blown oul, when in repose. They arenarge, dark,
are deeply-situatedf in cavernous openings, the roofs of which
hrowermeed the upper portions of the huge orbits, the shaggy
end shadowed
forming a species of pent. house lids to them.. Dark
are oh!adowed as they are before he commences speaking, they
RetS of attraction ; but when the blaze of. his own elo-
or, kindles them, they glow like living coals, and are dia-
de,,,4ll3' beautiful. Ile commences his speech in a low,
pada Yet perfectly distinct tone, and silence instantly per-
irm_es the vast multitude. As he proceeds, the volume of his
"4:e increases, nail, like a majestic stream, it flows onward