Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-03-27

Where'er her foot hath trod
And toicy North, from tropical bowers
She scattcrs along in copious showers
The bountiiul gifts of God. &
#
RECOLLECTIONSO OF DANIEL WEBSTER.
In Miss Mittords charming volume, lust issued
by the Harpers, we find the following reminis-
cences OF Mr.. Webster's visit to ENGLAND
One of the greatest, if not the very greatest
living orators of America, beyond all manner of
doubt is Daniel Webster. That he is also cele
DRAFTED as lawyer and statesman, is matter of
course In that practical country, where even so
high gift as that of eoquence is brought to bear
on the fortunes of individuals and the prosperity
OF the Commonwealth idle plaster placed
for ornament, but solid column aiding to support
the building. A column indeed, stately and grace
full with its Corinthan capitals gives no bad idea
of Mr.. Webster; of his tall Muscular person, his
massive features, noble head and the general ex
preston of placid strength. by which he is distir:
gulshed. This is a mere fancful comparison; but
Sir Augustus Callcotts fine figure of Columbus
has been reckoned very like him, a resemblance
that must have been fortuitous; since the picture
was painted before the artist had ever seen the
celebrated orator.
When in England, some ten or twelve wears
ago. MIR. Webster's calm manner of speaking ex-
cltedmuch admiration and perhaps little surprise
as contrasted with the astounding and somewhat
rough rapldity OF progress which is the chief
characteristic of his native land. And yet that
calmness of manner was just what might be ex-
pected from countryman Of Washington, earnest,
thoughtful, weighty, wise. Novisitor to London
ever left behind him peasanter recollections, and
hope that the good impression was reciprocal
Everybody was delighted with his genialitv and
taste; and he could hardly fail to like the people
,gho so heartily liked him.
Among our cities and our scenery he admired
that most which was most worthy of admiration
pretering, in common with many of the most
gifted OF his countrymen, beautiful Oxford,
whose winding streets exhibits such condensa-
ton of picturesque architecture, mixed with wa
ter, trees and gardens with ancient costume, with
eager youth, with by-gone associations and rising
hope, certainly to any of our new Commercial
towns, and perhaps, as mere picture, to London
herself; and carrying home with him, as one of
the most precious and characteristic memorials of
the land of his forefathers, a large collection of
architectural engrayings, representing our mag
nificent gathc cathedrals, and such of our Norman
castles and Tudor manor houses, as have escaped
the barbarities of modern improvers. We are
returning ourselves to that style now; but twelve
years ago it was his good taste and now the fash
ion OF the day, that promoted the preference.
owe to his kindness, and to that of my admit
rabletriend, Mr.. Kenynon, who accompanied him,
the honor and pleasure of a visit from Mr.. Web
ster, and his amiable family in their transit from
Oxford to Windsor; my local position between
these two points of attraction has often procured
for me the qualification of seeing my American
friends when making that journey-but dnring
this visit little circumstance occurred so charac-
terstic, so graceful and gracious, that cannot
resist the temptation Of relating it.
Walking In my cottage garden, we talked nat
urally of the and pinks that surrounded us,
and of the different indigenous flowers of our
Island, and of the United States. had myself
the satisfaction of sending to my friend Mr.. The
odore Sedge wick, hamper containing roots and
muny English plants familiar to our poetry, the
common ivy-how could they want ivy who had
no time for ruins,-the primrose and the cowslp,
lmmortalised by Shakespeare and by Milton and
the sweet scented violets, both white and purple,
OF our hedgerows and our lanes; that known as
the violet in American Mr.. Bryant somewhere
speaks Off as the ''yeow violet') being suspect
the little wild pansy (uiola tricolor) renowned as
loye-ln-ldeness OF Shakspeare's famous compli-
ment to Queen Elizabeth. OF these we spoke,
and expressed an interest in two flowers known
to me only by the vivid description of Miss Mar
lneau; the scarlet lily of New York and of the
Canadian woods, and tlinged gentian of Niagara.
oDsel 7ed that our lustrlous guest made some
remarks to one of the ladies of his party but lit
Tie expected that after his return as seeds
Of these plants could be procured, | should re-
have packet of each signed and directed by his
klndnesses give. And how many such have come
to me from over the same wide ocean!
A LONG SwIM.--A merchant in Indiana offers
TO make bet of $4,000 that he will swim from
Cincinnati to Madison, in the Ohio river. in the
month of August next, without sleep and with
only fifteen minutes rest and refreshments every
six hours The Lafayette Courier says extensive
are making for the accomplishment
Of the feat, and from an acquaintance with the
gentleman, vouches that he will swim as proposed
or sink in the undertaking.
= DIAMONDS IN NORTH CARoLIFA.-The s.North
Carolina Whig," published at Charlotte, in the
North State, has the following, under date of
March II:
"a few days since we were shown by DR.. CT.
Hunter, of Lincoln county, what is supposed to be
q genuine diamond, weighing about half carat,
discovered in the nighborhood of tie Doctor,
while searching for gold in small stream. He
will sendit North to have the truth ofthe matter
tested, and then, if it is genuine, he will himself
give description and history oft, and search for
more OF the same kind"
General Scot and the1Compronise- teleeraphc de-.
placed in the hands of his friends at the CAPITAL letter in
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