The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-08
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Gazette.
DANIEL WEBSTER-MARsH

DANIEL WEBSTER-MARsHFI
REVERE HousE, Boston, July "a, ls49
There is portion of the Commonwealth of Mas
sachusetts, which juts out into the ocean, not UNI
like boot in shape, as delineaied on maps This
portion of the "Old Bay Staten has enduring his
torical assocatons-a celebrity broadcast as the
universality of the Yankee nation for it was upon
this spot Of earth that the Puranical seed was first
sown, and, although dry and sandy SOIL il took
root, and produced and is producing an abundant
harvest Of hardy, energetic, enterprising Yankees
Here are Barnstabe, Plymouth, Duxbury, Marsh
field, Cape Cod, and Plymouth Rock-paces and
localities notable in American history, as the first
landing place of our Puritan progenitors, and the
dwellng-places of those heroic men and women
who planted, nurtured, and defended the American
Liberty tree"
Within the limits Of this "'frst settlement
and within few miles Of plymouth Rock" in
the midst of this peculiar people, are the FARM
AND HoME OF DANIEL WEBSTER.
As there is no American citizen now living who
has contributed more largely to the imperishable
glory and distinction Of our country-no one whose
intellectual superiority Is so universally acknow-
lodged al home and abroad-whose name and fame
are destined to be pre-eminent and enduring, so
long as and wherever constitutional liberty exists
whose forensic, senatorial, and popular speeches
and orations will be read and admired as long as
and wherever the English language is read and
spoken--l have supposed brief description of the
HONE OF DANIEL WEBSTER would be acceptable
to your readers particularly, and to the public gen.
orally.
The farm" and dweling-place of Mr.. Webster
is situated in the southeast part Of the town Of
Marshfeld, bounded on the east by the ocean, and
contains over fifteen hundred of land. A
goodly portion Of this fifteen hundred Slight
poor land " naturally, but made productive by fire.
auent and expensive manurIng; another goodly
portion is marsh land, /" producing excellent grass;
another portion is woodland, native and planted ;
ard still another portion is very Sine land having
rich soil, and producing abundanuy. is choIe
this farm in location variety Of soil and surface,
beauty Of landscape, its superior condition in ag-
rcultural improvements, buildings, fences, and gene
raj husbandry-iis splendid prospects 60 DER sea
and landr--its daily invigorating and rejuvenating
ocean breezes-its cod-fshing brook trouting, and
game hunung--ts tortuous, undulatng foot and
bride paths, and extended gravel carriage-roads-
its quiet retirement from the worlds :" noise and
confusion,' and yet within two hours access of
the great eastern mart Of trade and commerce;-all
dis. with many other attractive beauties and ad-
yantages of improvement and location, render the
farm and home Of Daniel Webster, as whole, the
most desirable, delightful, and valuable estate and
residence IN the country
The first purchase OF Mr.. Webster, made some
twelve or fifteen years ago, consisted of only two
hundred acres, including his present mansion
house-since greatly enlarged and improved Sub
sequently, and from year TO year, he added to his
acres by purchasing the adjoining farms, until his
estate now exceeds fifteen hundred acr,s, including
the lands and venerable residence of Governor
WNsLow, OF colonial notoriety. The extensive
marshes or " salt meadows with their beautiful
islands of shrubbery, resemble most strlkingy IN
appearance and beauty the rolling prairies of the
West with their islands Of timber Upon the farm
also is prominent elevation, from which an exten-
sIve view had Of the ocean, and the surrounding
country, including Plymouth, Duxbury, Marsh
field &c On this elevation MIR. Webster has
erected liberty pole" from the top Of which the
stripes and stars can be seen, proudly waving,
from great distance at sea, and from several miles
inland
The mansion house, is a large, comfortable, and
imposing wooden structure-sl,uated on an eleva-
ron regards the lands towards the sea, but IN a
lovely semi-circular valley regards the lands to-
wards the west A circular avenue, lined with
well trimmed hedges and ornamental trees, leads to
the house; in front is an extensive lawn, adorned
with hower-beds, clusters Of evergreens, shrubs,
and forest trees. In close proximity are two beau
uful lakes or ponds" only few rods apart, the
one fresh and the other salt wafer, where may be
seen useful and ornamental water-fowls Of all sorts
and sizes The garden, consisting OF several acres,
is highly and taslefuly cultivated, producing every
variety offruits and vegetables in abundance.
The carriage houses, stables, barns, and sheds
appertaning TO the mansion house, are substan-
tally built and finished off" w'h more convent
ences and appropriateness than any buildings OF
the kind have before seen. The "chickery" is
very large, filled with every variety Of domestic
fowls having Elegant apartments" suited to their
habits and the climate.
Attached TO the mansion house, and communI-
eating with it, is the library Of singular architectu-
raj beauty, filed with ststuary, paintings, and one
Of the most extensive collections Of valuable books
that be found in any private library in the
- Il. -. =. ~. A
cealed amidst locust, catslpa, chestnut, and will
low trees and Towering shrubs--here his splendid
Law Library, Congressional Documents, &c. are
deposited and systematically arranged. In speak
ing Of his library, MIR. Webster remarked 81 only
wonder how | found money to purchase 80 many
books He has a large number Of octave volumes
OF English Reports, that cost twelve dollars a vol
ume The general character Of his library is
History Classical books, Standard books in poetry
and prose, Miscellaneous Literature, Treatses or
Public Law collections OF Treaties, American
History, Law, and Politics. noticed all the vol
umes Of Parliamentary Debates, copy Of the Eng
lish Statutes at large, volumes Of the English An
nua Register from its commencement in 1853
all the English Political writers Of distinction
Encyclopedias, Dictionaries in all languages, DC.
&c.
The mansion house. which have said was
large and imposing structure, painted white with
piazza quite around it, and is finished and fur
nlsneu iohtrluul tubsldnlldllY, COUDlnlfg ETfh
comfort and elegance.
Another prominent object which belongs to III,
mansion house, or rather villa" have omitted
10 mention--it is venerable and majestic elm
about eighty years old, standing so near the bous,
that some OF ts branches rest upon the roof In
shape is perfectly symmetrical, and It's huge out
stretching branches (the extremues reaching IN,
ground) form beautiful circular erbor The ma
iestc proportions Of this elm, and the beauty am
spaciousness Of the srbor formed by the oyerhang
ing branches, may be appreciated by stating ths
the diameter Of this arbor IL exactly ninety fee
Such are some Of the prominent objects and thing
of interest in and Immediately contiguous to, II
mansion house.
I will mention few things noticeable elsewhe
on the farm. | saw eight cepacious barns hlled
repletion with the hay and grain already harvester
short distance from the mansion house are, u
farm house for the workmen, ard the barns, shed
stables, &c, for the stock. There are stables e