The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-10-26

1
was alone in the Office, man came in and
asked for Mr.. Gore. Mr.. Gore was out, and
he sat down TO wait for him. He was dressed
in plain grey clothes. l went on with my
book, till he asked me what was reading, and
coming along up to the table, took the book
and looked at it. 'Roccus,' said he, de mari
bus ct nando.' We'll, | read that book, too
when was boy : and proceeded to talk, moi
only about ships and freights, but insurance,
prize and other matters Of maritime law in q
manner 'to put me up to all knew and a
good deal more. The grey-cooted stranger
turned out to be MIR. Rufus King"
In March, 1906, Mr.. Webster was admitted
to practice in the Suffolk Court of Common
Pleas, his master, Mr.. Gore, as was usual in
those days, introducing him, with speech, in
which he predicted his future professional
success. About this time, an event happened,
which was near losing to the world the exam
pie Of Webster's genius and success. His ia,
Their was enc of the Judges of the Court OF
Common Pleas for the county of Hilsborough,
and the Clerk of The Court resigning in Janua
- 1cVOf " do CAuCIllcIy uccHOus HIS SOU W
succeed him, the place being worth $500 per
annum. Mr.. Webster, it is said, was eager to
accept it, but Mr.. Gore opposed it so vehement
ly, that he at length resolved to decline it,
This gave his father great offence, but his own
efforts, backed by the representations of Mr..
Gore, at last succeeded in pacfying him. The
good old man died in 1906, having lived to hear
his sons first argument, and TO satisfy himself
that the path TO distinction in his profession lay
open before him.
In 1907, MIR. Webster, reIinquishins his
practice in Boscawen to his brother Ezekiel
removed 10 Portsmouth, where he resided nine
years. In 1903, be married Grace Fletcher, by
whom he had four children, of whom Mr..
Fletcher Webster is the sole survivor In
Portsmouth, both At the bar and in society he
was thrown among men who kept bis faculties
in their highest state of excellence. by dint of
the exercise to which they subjected them
This will not be doubted when it s known that
his adversaries at the bar, and his associates
III private life, were such men as jeremiah
Mason, Samuel Dexter and Joseph Story. OF
the two first he has publicly EXPIRE ssed his
opinion. Of Mr.. Mason, in particular, he said
''il there be mind gilmore native resources. if
there be vision that sees quicker or sees deep
er into whatever is intricate, or whatever is
profound, i must confess | have not known il IT,,
During the whole time of his practice in New
Hampshire, it has been said that ne did not ap-
pear on ten occasions as junior counsel. Yet
his practice never more than supported him,
though it was very large, for the fees were
small. But at the age of thirty, his reputation
had become so firmly established, that he was
elected to Congress, as Federalist and took
his seat in November, 1912.
We have hitherto dwelt principally upon the
private life Mr.. Webster, because we wished
TO hold up his perseverance under all difficult
ties, as a slimulant to our youth. We have
carried him into Congress, and shall, in our
next, touch upon matters connected with his
history, which are so well known TO all the
world, that they may be passed over lightly
1t is proper to say, that for the greater part of
the information, contained in this sketch, we
have been indebted to the biography of Mr..
Webster, by Charles w. March.