The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-10-26
A BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE of
DANIEL WEBSTER.

DANIEL. WEBSTER.
There is no department OF literature so ell
PERTAINING, and at the same time so instructive
rs biography. Nothing so stimulates the ene'
p;es of youth as TO read of the trials and oil
fcultes which extraordinary men have passed
through, and the manner in which they nave
surmounted them. Few men, who have Inquired
in the world, had more TO contend win IN early
life than the subject of this brief memoir, and
none have come out more triumphant from the
ordeal.
RTbe first ancestor of Daniel Webster, on the
fathers side, of whom any thing is known, set
tied in the town of Hampton, New Hampshire,
about the year 1886. The family came origi-
nally from Scotland, though it is generally be-
lieved that they had resided some time in Eng
land before emigrating to America, and for
many generations their light compexlons' and
sandy hair, distinctly betrayed their origin. he
uncles of Daniel Webster. all bore the traces OF
their origin, and resembled their father in tea-
lures. hair and complexion. But Ebenezer
Webster, his father, resembled the family OF
his mother, whose maiden name was Bachel-
End skin as brown as that OF Il gypsy. How
fully all these distinctive traits were impaired
10 his celebrated son, all who have seen him
must very we'll remember.
In early life Ebenezer Webster, during the
old French war;" enlisted as Common sol
der in the provincial troops, under the COM
mand of Sir Geoffry Amhers., and accompa'
MED that general in his invasion Of Canada
Before the close of the war, he had risen from
the ranks to the position Of a captain, decid-
ed proof that his conduct had, in every respect,
been such as became gallant soldier, and an
homo rable man.
At the conclusion of the war Ebenezer
Webster moved his habitation to the ex-
IRENE Northern part ofthe town of Salisbury, at
the head of the Merrimac river. "The smoke"
said bis son afterwards, " of his log cabin
cended nearer the North star than that any Of
of his majesty's New England subjects" Soon
after his settlement at Salisbury, Ebenezers
first wife being dead, he married Abigail East
man. lady Of Welsh extraction, and she was
the mother of Daniel and Ezekiel Webster
She is represented to have been woman of
very uncommon Intellectual powers, and to
have discovered, very early, the extraordinary
genius of her eldest born, and the interior, but
still great, talents of his brother Ezekiel. Be
ing naturally proud of such boys, she bent the
whole force of her strong understanding to the
task of preparing them, as far as she was able,
for the stations which she foresaw they were
one day destined to fill. And here we may re-
mark that the observation with regard to a
mans being more indebted to his mother than
to any one else for bis success in life, though
trite, is in the majority Of cases true.
When Ebenezer Webster married the second
time, he built frame house, dug we'll of
ter the manner Of the patrachs, and planted
an elm over it. The house is gone. but the
we'll and the elm still remain. In this house
Daniel Webster was born, on the 18Th day Of
January, 1882, and his brother Ezekiel few
years after. The wild country in which the
family resided, offered but few inducements to
the schoolmaster, and the first instruction Of
the future statesman was undertakenby M
gratory teacher, who initiated him into all he
knew, that is, reading, writing and arithmetic.
lie had no sooner learned to read. than he ma
infested that passion for books which is almost
sure to beset the boy ofgenius, when the door is
first opened to his curiosity. Books were al
first very scarce in this wild country, but by
the exertions of Ebenezer Webster. and some
OF the neighbors, small circulating library
was soon opened. The young student devour-
ed its contents with the utmost eagerness. He
manifested, at this time, great prediction for
poetlcal works. and committed to memory
vast deal ofpoetry, which he afterwards, as &C.
casion offered, pressed into his service with
skill and judgment rarely manifested by Anne.
Tlcan orators in general. At the age of four
teen he was sent 10 Exeter. where he entered
Philips Academy, of which DR.. Benjamin Alb
bott was President. He there learned the ru-
diments of English grammar, and made copsi
dersble progress in the learned languages. 1t
Is singular that, while at this school. he felt
ana manifested the greatest repugnance TO de-
ciahation OF every description, nor could all
Inc entreatles OF Mr.. Buckminster, the assis.
tant tutor, who entertained very exalted opi
mon OF his abilities, induce him to engage in
~. For the benefit of those young LAWYERS
VINO are unable to stand the shock of a frs,
failure and have not the nerve to persevere, we
mere record the experience of Daniel Webs,er
III MS own words. 81 believe made tolersbI.
progress In most branches which attended To
"hi'e IN THIS school; but there was one thing
could not do. Icould not make q declan,a
no"' 4 could not speak before the xehoo,,-
nc KIND and excellent Buckmins,e, .o,nb,
= especially to persuade me to perform H.. o.
.e'ss o' defamation like other boys, but
y c0u'o not DO 1t. Many piece did | COMM
. 10 memory and reeite and rehearse in nv ow,
room. over and over again yet when the d.,
came, when the school collected to h, or de-
CARNATIONS, when my name was called nm,
all eyes were turned to my seat, could no