The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1851-04-11
From The National Iatslligsacer.
Master and PupiI.

Colonel JAMES TAPPAN, a venerable citizen
Of Gloucester, Massachusetts, now 81 years OF
age, recently addressed letter to the Hon. DAs.,
TEL WEBSTER, reminding him that more than
sixty years ago he (Mr. w was one Of bis pu.
pills, when be taught school at hNew Salisbury
The Gloucester News publishes Mr. WEBsTERsI
prompt answer to his old friend and early teacl-s
er, and remarks: awe doubt ifany letter which
mir. Webster has written to public bodies. or
'any OF the thousand great and noble acts of his +
'lle, reflect more credit upon him than this kind,
"letter and generous gift to his aged and
unfortunate old schoomaster" Ii is n~
deed beautiful letter, alike hunnrabe to thes
head and heart of the writer, and, as the editor
of the News remarks, "at time when envy
land malice are dealing blows from all quarters
''at Americas greatest statesman, when his pub.
''lic course is decried and execraed BY political
opponents and tn, basest charges are brought
against his moral character" it sheds upon his
name and character fresh glory, that, long az
ter bis petty traducers shall be dead and forgot
ten, will remain undimmed in The hearts Of his
countrymen.
Here is the letter of Mr., WEBSTER and its.
ratHe and interest are enhanced by the fact that
no ausion is made 10 il to an enclosed fifty dol.
lar bank note: r
WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 26, 1851. IS
MASTER 'TAPPAN: thank you for your letter,
and am rejoiced to hear that you are YET among
the living. remember you perfectly well as a
teacher In my infant years. lsuppose my moth-4
er must have taught me TO read very early. as
have never been able to recoect the time when
could moi read the Bible. Think Master Chase
was my earliest schoolmaster, probably when I
was three or four years old. Then came Masll
ter Tappan. You boarded al our house, and
sometimes think in the family of Dir. Benja-
min Samborn. our neighbor, the lame man.
Most Of those whom you knew in New Sails
bury have gone to their graves. Mr.. John
Sanborn, the son OF Benjamin. is yet living, and
is about your age. Mr.. John Colby. who mar
ried my eldest sister, Susannah is also living.
On the "North Road is Mr.. Benjamin Hunton.
and on the "SoutI Road" is Mr Benjamin Pet
tingail. think Of none else among the living
whom you wnald probably remember, es5
You have. indeed lived a chequered life. L.
hope you have been able to bear prosperity with
meekness, and adversely with patience. These
things are all ordered for US, far better than we
could order them for ourselves. We may pray
for our daily bread; may pray for the {, rgiye.
ness of sins; we may pray to be kept from temp
tation and that the kingdom of God may come
in US, and in men, and his will every where be
DONE Beyond this we hardly know for what
good to snpplicate the Divine mercy. Our
Heavenly Father knoweth what we have need
OF better than we know ourselves, and we are
sure that his eye and his loving kindness are
upon us and around US every moment. s
thank you again my good old Master, for
your kind letter, which has awakened many
sleeping recoilections and with all good wishes
| remain your friend and pupil, sesease sa
MIR. JAMES TAPPAN. DANIEL WEBSTER.