The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-11-01
DANIEL WEBSTER
a PEN-AND-INK SKETCH.

Long before touched American ground,
the fame of the celebrated man whose
name graces the head Of this article had
been 10 me familiar sound. ] heard with
hearty laugh, what Sydney Smith said Of
him. and what only Sydney, the facetions
Canon OF ST. Paul's, could have said-"that
he was steam engine in hreeches." !
had read Carlyle's description Of his eyes,
and had been told by those who had en-
joyed opportunity Of seeing him, that his
personal appearance was remarkable; SO !
was of course, anxious 10 see Americas
most popular orator, nor did my wish re-
main long unqualified.
During portion Of the time when the
recent Presidential contest was progress
ing. happened TO be sojourner in the
city Of Brotherly Love, aud to my great
satisfaction, twas announced that DAM ell
Webster would speak at Wing mass meet
ing. On the morning Of the day appointed,
proceeded in good time secure place
where might both see and hear the distin-
guished man.
The place Of meeting was fixed in a field
mile or 80 from the city. A stage had
been erected at the foot Of a gentle slope,
and the front Of the grassy mound being
concave, perfect amphi'heatre was formed.
By dint Of much perseverance and little
imprudence, managed 10 get a front seat
on the stand, and having secured my posi-
ton, / sat quietly down to await the COM
mencement of the proceedings.
~ l,na MI n fhp
platform by procession, and soon after
three o'clock the head Of il appeared in
yiew-gradunllv il drew near; and amid
the crash Of musical instruments-the
cianpor OF trumpets- banging OF arms
and the booming Of cannon, severaI gentle
men asce ended The platform, they we're greet
ed with cheers.
One ofthe gentlemen was the candidate
for the office of Governor Of the State-he
Vas old and whi,e-he AIDED; in his hand he
held an assortment Of flowers, and fioret
garland encircled his port!y figure. He
nscended TO his place, and after him came
another gai'y decked gentleman, and a
last a shout burst forth. loud and long, as
IN individual mounted the staircase with n
firm. solid sort of tread, and stood on the
stage iull in view ofthe populace.
lie was man who would have seemed
above the moderate size, had il not been tor
his bulk; he was robue. without being stout
and Iarce-boned without clumsiness. As
he came forward on the platform he was
cordially greeted by the multitude; and
willis, the cheering was going on, and
after he had acknowledge it BY slightly
lifting his hat, no calmly folded his arms
over his capacious chest. and gave one OF
The most steady and extraordinary g'ances
on the assembly which ! ever witnessed.
Il would be impossible to describe that
fxed look. His eyebalIs were dark as
night, and the whites OF his organs Of wis.,
ion more resembled twilight in their hue,
than the pure tint which is caused BY the
rendezvous expansion Of the muscles cover
ing the ball. They were set in two cavern
Gus openings beneath u pair ofdark, thick
eyebrows which gradually rose from the
upper portion Of the nose until they nearly
reached the temples, when they somewhat
suddenly dropped, and terminated just be.
low the huge bumps which lay on the outer
md lower sides Of bis extraordinary fore