Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-10-31
M Is G d l. l. A N Y.
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 to me familiar sound had
heard, with hearty laugh, what Sydney Smith
said OF him, and what only Sydney, the facetious
Canon OF st. Paul's could have said-''that he wa
steam engine in breeches." had read Carlyle's
description of his eyes and had been told by those
who had enjoyed ar opportunity Of seeing him, that
his personal appearance was remarkable so | was
of course, anxious to Americas most popular or
a,or, nor did my wish remain long unqualified
During a portion of the time when the recent
Presidential contest was progressing, | happened
to be sojourner in the city of Brotheriy Love. and
to my great satisfaction, it announced that Dan
le Webster would speak at Wing mass meeting
On The morning OF the day appointed proceeded
In good time 10 secure place where might both
see and hear the distinguished man.
The place of meeting was fixed in field mile
or so from the city. stage had been erected at
the loot OF gentle SLOPE and the front of the nras
sy mound being concave, perfect amphitheatre
was formed. BY dnt of much perseverance and
lltt'e impudence, managed TO get front seat on
the stand, and having secured my position, sat
quietly down TO await the commencement of the
proceedings.
The orator was TO be accompanied to the plat
form by procession, and soon after three O'Clock
the head OF 1t appeared in INTERNATIONALLY it drew
near; and amid the crash of musical Instruments
the clangor of trumpets-lhe banging of arms and
the booming OF cannon, several gentlemen assembled
the platform, and were greeted with cheers.
One of the gentlemen was the candidate for the
office of Governor Of the State-he was old and
white headed; in his hand he held an assortment of
flowers, and floral garland encrcled his porty
Inquire. He assembled to his place. and after him
came another gaily decked gentleman; and at last
shout burst forth, loud and long, as an individual
mounted the staircase with firm solid sort of
a tread, and stood the stage full in view of the
popuace.
He was man, who would have seemed above
the moderate size, had it not been for his bulk he
was robust without being stout, and large boned
without cumsinesS. As he came forward on the
platform, he was cordially greeted by the multi
tude; and whilst the cheering was going on. and
after he had acknowledged it by slightly lifting his
hat, he calmly folded his arms over his capacious
chest, and gave one of the most steady and extra
ordinary gances on the assembly which ever wit
messed.
1t would be impossible 10 describe that fixed look.
Ills eye-oalis were dark as night, and the whites
OF his organs OF vision more resembled TWILIGHT in
their hue, than the pure tint which is caused by the
tendonous expansion of the muscles COVERING the
ball. They were set in two cavernous OPENINGS
beneath pair of dark, thick eye brows which
gradually rose from the upper portion of the nose
until they neatly reached the temples, when thew
somewhat suddenly dropped, and terminated lust
OeioN Ihe HuSe OuulpS Wnlcn lay the outer
and lower sides of his extraordinary forehead inst
as if Nature, in manufacturing him, had made Two
recePtacles there for spare brans on the same prn
ciple that animals furnished with bags. 10 con
tain an additional stock TO deposit matter for their
sustenance during the hard season.
Butt am speaking Of the look. do not believe
that the searching, yet mOveless, eye of the inGi
vdual am describing, failed to notice sinole per
son within its range of vision. lie seemed 10 alb
sorb the scene. And having satisfied himself. he
pulled his hat over his eyes, which left them in
deep shade, glowing like dull Goals in black fur
mace before the stream of air was applied
The complexion of the gentleman was dark
very dark, and swarthy his forehead was piled I'D.
and in fact it bulged out if the brains had been
crammed into it after the packing had so swollen
IT as to stretch its barrier Of bono. The frontal su
ture must have been well Knit or it would To dead
certainty have gone part of the high forehead was
bare; his hair, which had once been black. hut
which was now of browIish gray, being careless
" combed, or rather pusded back. The nose was
large, and at the end rather knobbed and the mouth
with lis thin, compressed lips indicated excessive
flrmnessj then grayish whskeTs stretched the side
OF his face, which taken as the whole. possessed q
gloomy grandeur, and made me to say TO myself as
gazed-that is Daniel Webster or the devil
considered it no insult TO Mr.. Webster--fo, no il
was-to put him in the same category with the
spirit Of evil, inasmuch as only refer TO looks, and