The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-07-27


fu autobiography. Compared with that, how dull
and unstuactve, stale, fiat and unpro6tsble, are
your so called biographies, with all their fusome pa
negyrlc, or unjust censure and spitefu maevolence
How has it happened that the histories of so many
OF the great men who have figured largely on the
stase of this world, are as apocryphal and as little
worthy or serieus regard the poetcal records oil
the fabulous heroes who live in the pages of the po-
cts of Greece and Rome Why, simply because
they did not write their own memoirs and fell into
the hands of enemies, equally dangerous wor-
shippers.
IL is matter OF rejoicing, however that al least one
distinguished man of our day, viii be handed down
to posterity in ms aspect, and prooer colors
The character and life OF Colonel Webb, will be ac.
curately known and understood, for he has himself
undertaken the task Of placing them before the
world In yesterdays Courier he publishes the first
number of this autobiography" He doesn't ex
acty follow the usual chronological order, bat
dashes at once into one of the most exciting ''pss-
sages" OF his life, But we don't find fault with this
We gratefully accept the "gifts the gods PROVIDE"
and will doubtless be favored in due time with the
chapters which naturayshould have preceded, in the
order OF time, those now published. This remark
able funny instructive exciting autobiogrsI hy has
DteH commenced IN tue form OF correspondence
with Llspenard Stewart, the present devisee OF the
Lispenard estate. The nispenards, and The Stew.
arts, includlng the "deputy lawyer" the lawyers,
aud multitude of relatives, heirs in expectancy,
tenants and hangers.on will read these passages
with intense interest The style is spirited, and the
whole performance is highly creditable TO the head
and heart of the amable and respectable author -
But without further preface, etus give the world
these
Passages from the z fe OF Col. We bib.
CHAPTER |.
Sholcing totat The author thinks of Gen. Sanford,
dHdloIGt he threatened TO do TO Lspenard te,cart
New YORK, June 80, lS4S.
To MT LIsPEsARD STEWART
am ormed by Mr. LIE Roy, that under the
advlsement OF Charles w. SaBdfOrd Esq you have
determined 10 apply TO have admitted TO probate,
the document purporilng 10 be the last will and
testament OF Robert Stewart, deceased, in which
the enre estate OF your deceased father, including
OF course, the inheritance of your mother from the
lispenard estate, devised 10 you for your sole use
and beneht. or the ssundneSs OF this advice emana-
:ing from The person who drafted the document re-
Tered To, you are The best Judge; but lnasmnch as
during the lifetime OF obert Stewart, you repeated.
ly stated TO different embers of the family that both
you aud your uncle Robert dlstrusted the abilities
and motives of MI. Sanford, land believed he always
endeayOred 10 keep the estate litigation, because
he got his living out OF II !; and inasmuch as you
repeatedly expressed your desire TO get rid of him.
and your inability TO do so because you in his
power should al least pause before you suffer
HIM TO induce you TO take step which cannot fail
10 be destructive to your character in this city At
all events, 1t you would not compel me Immediately
TO publish all the facts OF this family affair to the
world, you must at once prohibit his endeavorng to
make public opinion In favor of his and your will,
by stating, as he did at a parry last evening, to
members OF the Court OF Errors, that the estate
hoe d.,
where and, if repeated, | shall reply TO them
through the columns OF the Courier and Enquirer.
Colonel Webb ''defnes has position and talks about
honor.
My object in addressing you this letter now is to
put on record my views and understanding OF this
case, and the motives which prompt my intended
course oil action, IN order that the day the docu.
ment mlscailed the will OF Robert Stewart is offer
ed tor probate, may publish 1t to the world, and
stand acquitted in the estimation OF all honorable
men, OF being actuated by selfish conside rations or
being Influenced by any motives which will not
bear the closest scrutiny.
CHAPTER I'll.
The History Commeneed-s holcine ho,c -fier L.
Sts'o0rf Humbugged Col. Webb.
The real estate which your mother inherited from
her father Anthony Lispenard was estimated in
1907 TO be worth upwards of three hundred and
fifty thousand dollars; aud she subsequently, inheri-
ted the one third OF her brother Anthonys portion,
and the one half of her sister AGces one fourth OF
Anthony's share all anterior to 1907.
! married your sister Helen, the eldest of your
family, IN 1873 and shortly after my marriage, your
father informed me that there remained in my mo-
ther-ln-aw's possession, a very large unimproved
real estate, which he was prepared TO Improve II
she would convey II to him; but upon which he
would not spend one dollar while the title renamed
IN her. He SAID that he had always endeavored TO
get possession OF this property for the purpose OF
lmDruVlng II. but without that he hon
ed would new consent 10 my influence with
heT IN turtherdDce si hi views He solemnly as.
sured me that his only ObJrcl IN desiring possession
al this properly, was TO Improve IL tor the ben. M OF
the children he said that Mrs Stewart had In her
possession ms will, by which, when he dit d. size
became has sole heir. and that uIght make 10 her
The most solemn pledges his part, that In the
event of her dying FIRST, he would then M Ike will
dividing the whole of his estate equally among her
children.
CHATTER ".
ShoUih h0c Col. Wtbb negsciated" his olon IAN
faro) property Ota Of has potcer, and got The
0the hers into great enibarrdssmerts and difficult
ties
] Immediately commenced negotiation with
Mrs. stewart 90 this subject She at first peremp
'orly refused 10 part with her properly, as II was
~ she could calculate on tor herself and children.
] asked her II she had not ia her possession Mr..
Stewards will, making her his sole heir she an
sVvred lna she had, and show ed 1t TO me, remark
ing al the same tune that that was security,
1t might not be MS last will and she feared being
thrown ny his death npos uncle Roberts" bounty,
20 whom at that time her feelings were not very
favorable ] combaued all these ideas from time
to time. and dwelt continually upon the facts
first, tpat The will IN her possession undoubted
ly Mr. >tewir t's last will, gwen n good faith and
secondly, that was authorized 10 give her the most
solemu assurance, that in the event OF her dying
FIRST, he would make will leaving ms estate TO be
equally divided among her children, and freely ad-
mtted that the properly offered IN exchange was OF
comparatively no value but urged upon her that
she was materially injunng the future prospects OF
her children by refusing 10 place ordinary conf
dence IN the solemn assurances and natural -afec-
ton OF her husband
Atlensth. after many months of negotiation, and
when greatly depressed IN spirits she yielded 10 my
lmgortunies, and conveyed the property referred 10
10 Mr.. Stewart