The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-02
From The Boston Transcript. October 30.
The Obsequics OF Daniel Webstcr

circumstances of the most memorable and impress
sive character. The weather was as if Nature
herself were sympathizing with the august coca
sion. II was of those mild, tepid, beautiful
days that October sends a foretaste of the In
dian summer; when the ardor of the sun ia tenn
pered by svery haze, and the gorgeous autumnal
hues, which stain the dying foliage, presented
in all their glory, not too bright to dazzle, but
so tempered by the atmospheric medium as to
show forth each separate tint in distinct but soft
ened and harmonious combinations.
| The fields and ancient forests--the vicinity Of
tie ocean-the autumnal repose brooding upon
| the whole andscape-the assembling thousands
| the soemnity of the occasion-formed a continu-
Gus succession Of influences and associations,
which those who felt their power can never forget
| 1t needed the conservation of death to make us
| fully realize the greatness of the man whom we
have lost. By universal acclaim America will now
place Webster next to her Washington in her Pan
theon. Marshfeld will be second Mount Vernon
from this time forward
''Such graves as his are pilgrim shrines;
| Shrines to no code or creed confined"
1t il estimated that there must have been at least
ten thousand persons present at the funeral. This
is the most moderate calculation. Some fix the
number at fifteen thousand, and some at twenty
thousand. Many of the immense multitude bore
away from Marshfield some memorial of their
visit; one, of corn from Mr.. Webster's barn;
another, q withered leaf; another, q twig from
some favorite tree; another few acorns for plant
ing. Never but once in the history of our country
has the death of public man been profoundly
felt by the public at large Never but once has the
sense of departed greatness fallen powerfully
the public heart Never but once has the nation
been so sincerely mourner at the grave Of one of
| her sons.
We subjoin sketch of the proceedings at the
| funeral from our reporter:
The funeral of Daniel Webster took place at
| harshield yesterday from his late residence. II
was demonstration such as the eycs of New Eng
landers never before gazed upon, and will never
again witness. The gathering was immense, it
| being estimated that there were present between
| ten and fifteen thousand persons. The grounds
| and mansion OF the departed statesman
thrown .pen to the public. Every spot, every
cump of flowers, every shrub, tree, and lake were
The body remained encased in the library until
nine O'Clock, when it was removed to the beautiful
lawn in front Of the house and placed upon a bier.
The top of the metallic coffin was then Ia ken off,
and the body attred in a suit familiar to all who
| have seen Mr.. Webster-the Faneuil Hall
suit-the blue coat with bright buttons, white
pants. white vest, white neckerchief, with wide
| collar turned over. The features of Mr.. Webster
appeared natural, and exhibited a marked Sc
renity, seeming rather to be asleep in life than in
death.
|
beautiful. 1t is constructed to combine every
valuable quality for deposit in the earth, and the
preservation of remains from decomposition. 1t ia
similar in its outlines to the human form when
| placed in O horizontal or recumbent position. 1t
| consists of an upper and lower metallic shell.
which are joined together in horizontal line in
the centre, each part being of about equal depth.
These shells are more or less curvilinear, and are
made exceedingly thin, yet being sufficiently
| strong to resist any pressure to which they may
be subject while in use The shells have each
narrow flange, which, when placed together, are
bound by screws inserted through the hanges and
cemented ut the point Of junction with substance
which soon becomes as hard the metal itself.
The case ia enamelled inside and out, and is made
| thoroughly air tight.
| The upper shell is raised work and ornamented
in the casting with the appearance of folding dra.
perry thrown over the body. This ia covered with
rich black drapery, neatly gathered and beauti:
with chased silver ornaments, with flowers and
emblems of mortality neatly inwrought. 1t has
heavy oval glass over the face which is screwed
silver cover; on the breast of the upper shell is
smooth silver plate, upon which ia inscribed alone
| the name of DANIEL WEBSTER. 1t has three orna-
mental silver handles on each side. This elegant
piece of work was manufactured by Messrs. Huy.
| Ter & Putnam, of New York.
The remains we're decked in wreaths of oak
| leaves and ncorns, flowers embamatic of immor-
tally, bouquets ofwhite roses, cematis and myrtle.
The choicest of these presented by Miss Ellen
| Fletcher, niece Of the deceased.
| Lines were formed OF two and two and marched
each eide in view of the body. This continued until
the services commenced, when, the effort to wit
the corpse was great, it was with the great
| est difficulty that the coffin could be closed.
| About eleven o'clock delegations, representing
various city governments. and Wing and Demo-
cratic organizations and literary Institutions, ar.
| rived. General Franklin Pierce was present, I'M
der conduct of Peter Harvey and James E. Thayer,
| of Boston, and Dr. Putnam of Roxbury. Presi-
dent King, of the Columbia College; the venerable
| Judge Parker, and Judge Harris, of Albany; the
Hon. George Grswold, Of New York; Hon. Abbott
Lawrence, Hon. Rufus Choate, President Everett,
ernor Boutwell, and council, General Wilson, Pres
| ident of the Massachusetts Senate, and Speaker
Banks and Judge sprague, were among the distin.
guished persons present.
ed by Messrs. Edward Curtis, r. M. Blatchford,
Hiram Ketchum, Charles A. Stetson, George II.
Moore, John c. Greene, Hiram Fuller, Samuel
Jones, William NJ. Evarts, Augustus schell Chas.
King, David E. Wheeler, Samuel B. Ruggles.
General Pierce arrived about II O'Clock in a ba.
rooehe drawn by four gTey horses; He was short.
short interview of sympathy and coincidence
He next viewed the corpse on the lawn, and was
most powerfully affected tears filing his eyes,
and being unable to speak. Returning TO the man
raj other rooms deeply interested in every object
attaching to this cherished home of the great de-
parted
4
Charles P. Kirkland, VIM, M. Eyarts, David E.
Wheeler, Edgar s. Van Wrinkle, John M. Van.
colt, Charles A. Peabody, Augustus schell, G. Van
santvoord, John Sherwood, II. A. Weed, Charles
d. Mead.
The Democratic Republican General Committee
of New York were represented by Messrs. Angus
tus Schen, r. Y. Mullegan, R. j. Dillon, Joseph
Hilton, F. T. vulte, R. B. Connolly, John d. De-
con. Charles Frances, W. L. Wiley, G. c. Dean,
A. T. Hlyer, Dennis McCarty, w: c. Seaman.
Acommittee, Of which Daniel Phillips, ESQ.,, was
chairman, consisting of fifty citizens Of Marsh.
field, were appointed to meet Governor Boutwell,
and Council and escort them to the Webster man
sion. '''
At half past twelve the services were announced
to commence They were conducted throughout
by the parish clergyman, Rev: Ebcnezer Alden,
jr., young man of the Orthodox persuasion.
He occupied position in the front door. afording
an opportunity to persons inside and out tohear.
The services took place in the following order:
SELECTIONS FROM SCRIPTURE.
Man that is born of a woman 10 of few days and
full of trouble. He cometh forth like flower, and
is cut down; he fleeeth also az a shadow and con.
tinueth not. - ..-..
And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one |