The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-02-01
Lispenard Stewards Heply 10 Watson
W.bb-singular Developments In Lega-
md News

We publish in this days paper the very calm,
temperate, and conclusive reply of Lspenard Stew
art Esq to Tie statements promulgated recently in
the Courier 6. Eaquirey, by James Watson Webb
ExColonel in the New York Militia, in relation
TO the Stewart will case and his connection there
with We have also In our possession a copy of
the brochure which contains all the evidence aft.
davs, statements. and Mr.. Wcbb's own letters,
establishing the Truth OF MIR. Stewards reply-paIt
of which may publish if called for hereafter by
any exigency.
This reply contains some very curious develop
ments in morals, newspapers, money, legacies,
editors, blood horses, conservatories, dogs, and
politicians
FIRST 1t appears at once, that this MIR. Watson
Webb had been loaned $4,000 out of the Stewart
estate, to enable him to establish the Courier e.
| Enquirer, and that over $50 900 was never paid
back at all-S14000 $4,000 being sunk
entirely, and lost to the Stewart estate, and the
rest settled by Master Watson's taking the
benefit OF the act. 1t further appears that the
whole Stewart estate is only valued at about
$S200.0OO, and therefore, that James Watson
Webb, in getting thar $500 got his whole share
to which he would have been entitled under any
legacy
This is certainly very plain and simple state
ment-and seems TO be conclusivey established
Why, then, should he want to get the property of
others?
| Another tact strikes US. tt seems that it required
an expenditure of $50, 900 to establish the Courier
and Engmirer-or that this immense sum of mo-
ney was absolutely sunk, positively annlhllaed, be-
| fore that paper began TO pay any income over It's
expenses, besides the hard labor of several years.
This may give those persons ambitious of conduc-
ting newspapers some idea of the difficulty of es-
tabshins newspapers II is true we established the
Herald which is now far more widely circulated
and more profitable than the Courier, on something
| less than $500, but we combined with that small
capital. energy, industry, economy. morals homes
~, integrity, temperance, early rising-al OF which
united in forming compound Of genius, that me-
yer will be estimated till long after we are dead and
gone.
In 1882 after its revolution in politics, the Cou-
ricr and Enquirer began to pay, and IN short
time 1t became the eaulng journal OF the old class
of journals and yielded about S2O,OOO clear
profit per annum for several years. During those
prosperous years, before 1887, Webb could have
paid all his debts to the Stewart estate, and
lived elegantly besides; but he ambitious,
vain, credulous, and carried too much sail for his
ballast He launched out into all kinds Of splen-
did livng-with house in town-country house
stables and bloodhorses-dogs- old wines-con-
servatories-eXotc pants-elegant dinners-and
what not. The viruous and pious financiers of
Wall street got around him-duped and deceived
him-engageA him in all sorts of stock transactions
all of which gradually led him astray until he
broke down entirely, and had to take the benefit of
the act for debts equal to Ss2OO,OOO.
These trials, losses, and blasting of hopes, ought
to have laugh. him modesty, industry and econo-
my-but we fear they won't.
His recent course towards his father-in-law's
amable and respectable family, is anything blu
just, brotherly, or even gentlemanly. Since he got
clear OF his debts, he has, it is said reganed the
proprletorshp OF his paper, by loan of large
sum ofmoney from the friends of Mr.. Webster, in
order to secure him in the succession after MIR.
| Clay; bur he begins again, under his renovated
state, to cut as great dash in his style OF living
and high pretensions as he did in ls33-'l-'5-and
6-and it he does not take care, he may come out
as unfortunate in the next as he did in the last re-
vulsion
We always liked Webb devlish sight better
| than we could tina; deceitful old Jew, Noah. Webb
has several redeeming ENTHUSIASTICALLY and fit
| July we acknowledgement still, time and study
nigh, fix them in his conduct. His vehement de-
sire to get Il portion of the Stewart estate now,
arises from his ambition to set up be great man
in Union Square-to be leader among the wings
IA very Hercules among the dirty politicians of the
lay. But his ambition should not make him for
get his obligations, and duty, md affection towards
the amiable family of his deceased falher-in-law.
His paper, the Courier and Enquirer is not what it
was Its hey-day is past. Its decline, and the decline
Of all large papers, has begun. 1t cannot live in the
face of the never-tiring competition
of the Hrald, Tribune, and papers of our class.
But Webb, by economy and prudence, and modes
ty and JUSTICE can delay the final extinction of his
iper, and make very handsome fortune out Of
it before inevitable fate overtakes it, In our last
voyage to Europe, his eldest son, youth Of
teen, was fellow passenger in the same ship with
us, and more amiable, intelligent, gentemany
youth, we never remember to have seen. For the
sake of his amable family-of his fine children
of his own reputation-of the peace of his connec-
tons, we would advise Webb to reflect seriously
whether he has not already sowed an abundance of
wild oats-whether it is not time to come to his
second, sober senses-and whether. if he needs
must quarrel, why he should not confne his quar-
rels to Greeley and Fourierism-to Bishop Onder-
donk and Puseyism-and to Van Buren, and loco
focoism. Do, Webb, do.
MORE OF WEBE's Constructive are
presented in yesterdays Courier with remarka-
bly, amusing specimen of Colonel Webb's consis-
tency-that consistency Of which he ISIS fond of
talking, and which was very sgnally displayed in
his treatment Of the United States Bank. The
leading article of the Courier Of yesterday is a ra-
Their exposure of the illegay of the conduct
of the american Letter Mail Company" This
company is denounced in no measured terms, as
guilty of gross violation Of the law, and the exclu
sive right of this Government to the monopoly of
conveying letters, is indicated with considerable
vehemence This is all very well, but in the very
next column we find paragraph intended to help
along one Mr.. Hale, who has his "Post Office in
LII. Il. n.