Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-11-29
PERSONAL MEMORIALS OF DANIEL WEBSTER.

i
its author by Messrs. Gideon r Co., Of this city.
The preparation of it has evidently been labor Of
love, on the part of some purely literary friend
since il is chiefly composed of those facts in Mr..
WEBsTER's history calculated to illustrate his per-
sonal character, the worth of which none but his
more intimate acquaintance have had opportunities
to understand, and we verify believe that the word
politics does not appear on single page of the
whole work. The very great interest which the
Public have long taken in Mr.. WEBSTER as an ora
tor and statesman will undoubtedly cause this
pamphlet TO be extensively circulated. As taste
of its quality, we subjoin few extracts from it.
The first time that Mr. WKBsTERs eyes fell upon the Con-
suon of the United States of which he universally
acknowledged to be the Chief Erpo0nder and Defender, ],
printed upon cotton pocket handkerchief according
fashion Of the time, which be CHANGED stumble upon
country s.or and for which be paid of his pocket
all the money be hadwenyfve cents and the evening Of
the day which he thus obtained copy wholly de-
voted to its close and attentive perusa while seated before
blazing FIRE, and by the side Of his father and mother What
dreamer that night in the widest flights Of his magma
ton, could have the result Of that incident marked
out the future career Of that New Hampshire boy!
When Mr. WEBSTER about years old his father
kept house Of public entertainment, where the teamsers
who travelled the road, the habit of obtaining
.-d feeding their horses and said that the ncp
ent orator and statesman frequently entertained bis hers
guests by reading aloud Of the Psalms Of David to the
infinite delight of his rustic listeners. Indeed was Gus
tomary fer the eamsters remark, they pulled up their
horses before the Webster house, Come let's go in and
hear psalm from Dan Webster" Even at that time his
voice was deep, rich, and musical.
few days after Mr.. WEBSTER had entered Exeter acade
my he returned his boarding house one evening in very
responding mood and told his friends there that the city boys
in the academy constantly laughing him because be
at the foot of his class and had from the back
woods His friends endeavoed to cheer him, by explaining
the regulations Of the school, and telling him that the boys
would get tired Of their unhardsome conduct and that
he ought TO show himself above their foolshness Mr..
Nicholas ENERGY, who then an assistant in the
academy was also made acquainted with young WEBsrEns
troubles and he had the management of the second
lower class he treated his responding pupil with marked
Kindness and particularly urged him to think Of nothing but
his books and that all would yet out bright This advice
was needed, and at the end of the first quarter Mr. ENERGY
mustered his class in line and formally took the Of
young Webster, and marched him from the foot to the
reme head Of the class, excamng, in the whe that
this was his proper position. Such had for many
days been anticipated but when actually accomplished the
mainder Of the class surprised and chagrined.
This triumph greatly encouraged the boy Daniel and he
renewed his efforts with his books He did not doubt but
that there many boys in the class HIMSELF if
not smarter and he looked with anxiety the SUM
ming up of the second quarter The day arrived the class
mustered, and Mr. ENERGY stood before it, when the
breathless silence broken by these words DANIEL
WEBSTER, gather your books and take down your
The boy obeyed and thinking that be about be
PEELED from school, sorey troubled about the the
calamity The teacher saw this, but dspeled the u-
sion, for he continued "Now, sir you will please report
yourself to the teacher Of the class and you young
temen, will take asconate leave Of your cassmate for
you ,ciN him again" That teacher is still living
is Of distinction, and has been warm friend Of
bis fortunate pupil.
In his fifteenth year he was privileged to spend some
months with of the prominent clergymen the day,
the Rev. Samuel Woods who lived at Boscawen, and pre-
pared boys for college at dollar week, for tuition and
board. During his stay with DR.. Woods he apparently
very ncgectul of his academic duties but failed per-
form all bis Intellectual tasks with great credit. On oe oc
cason the reverend tutor thought proper give his Ghols
Daniel scoldng for spending much Of bis time upn the
hills and along the streams, hunting and fishing but still
pmened him for his smartness The task assigned 10 him
for his next recitation hundred lines of Virgil and
he knew that his master had engagement the ow
ing morning, idea occurred him, and he spent heenre
night porting his books. The recitation hour finally ar
and received the tutors appreciation. But have few
lines that recite,' .ad the boy Daniel "We
let have them" replied the doctor and forthwith be boy
reeed off another hundred Ines every remarkable" said
the doctor, "you indeed smart boy" "ButI have
another said the scholar and FIVE hundred Of hem fyou
please The doctor of astonished but he be-
thought him Of his engagement, he begged be excused,
and added You may have the whole day, DAM for pigeon
shooting"
Mr. WEBSTER went through college in manner that wal
higy creds5e to himself and gratifying bis friends
graduated in 1901, and though universally believed
that he ought have received and would receive the Va
dictoy, that honor not conferred upon him, but upo
whose name has since passed into forgeuhess Thei
judging faculty Of the college, however, bestowed upon h
diploma but instead Of pleasing this common place COP
pment only disguised him, and the conclusion Of the
mencement exercises the disappointed youth asked number
Of his classmates to mpany him the green behndhe
college, where, in their presence, he deliberately tore us
honorary document, and threw i. to the winds, excaimtg
"My industry may make me great man, but this mseAbe
parchment cannot = and Immediately mounting bis Brse
departed for home. "a Il
The place where Mr.. WEBSTER spent the Of bis time
schoomaster Fyeburg, in the State of Name HS
had been invited ihher by friend Of bis father who
acquainted with the circumstances siy His school
quito large, and his salary three hundred and fifty dollars
which he added considerable by devotng bis even