Washington telegraph., 1854-04-05
Daniel Webster.


ed to dine with party of his friends in
New York. where speeches were made, and
letters received from gentlemen, who could
not accept an invitation to be present. were
read. George Griswold presided at the
table, with Hiram Ketchem as his ris-a- us.
An accurate stenographer was present, and
out of the materials OF the evening, vol
ume was made, which is just about to see
light. A letter. elected by the occasion.
from the present provisional Bishop (Wain-
wrIghD Of New York. will be read BIZ all
the admirers Of Mr. Webster with great in
terest. The following is an extract fron
it,
Whatever impressions SIR Webster NAV
have left upon others. who met him only on
the arena of public life, or in the unrestrain.
ed freedom OF social gatherings. was rare
ly, if ever, in his company without being
impressed with his deep reverence for the
great truths of religion. During the few
years which | resided in Boston, as rector
of Trinity Church. Mrs. Webster was my
parishioner. and was very frequently accom-
panied BY her husband to church, where he
was devout woIshiper and an attentive
hearer Of the preached word When we
met, as was often the case during the week,
and there was an opportunity for conversa-
ton, he would frequently refer to the sub
ject OF the discourse on the previous Sun
day. and never without nav conviction that
ms views enlarged and that new light had
been thrown upon the point under discns-
sion. Several times he suggested subjects
which he wished to hear treated from lhe
pulpit, and | have taken advantage OF the
suggestion. On one occasion. remember
well, he said 10 me. with more than CON-
mon earnes;uess. There is one text l have
often thought Of as opening grand subject,
and should ike TO hear il treated What
is that, Mr. Webster ?" Turning to me.
fer we were both seated at table, his eve
kindling over his overhanging brow. he said
in his deep and tremulous tone, There is
one laEgiver.' | replied. 1T is q noble
subject, and | viii write upon it for next
Sunday" ou cannot Why, it is
hut Wednesday, and l shall have ample
time" You cannot. That sermon will
cost you the best iortnights labor you ever
took. l thought. nevertheless, / coald ac-
eomplish the design. and upon returning
home to sIy s.udy undertook it-dweiling
upon it and making notes. But the more
| meditated tile larger grew the subject, and
| put myself faithfully to the task for the
remainder of the week. Saturday came.
and the mighty idea then stretched beyond
my narrow grasp, and | gave the subject up
for tile time. saying TO myself-Hooker has
bent that bow. and Webster could, were he
to try, but | cannot.
l must mention one more fact cut OF many
I could recount, which convinced me fha.
great as were his intellectual powers, when
the subject Of religion was presented to
him, he was ever ready to respond to II. and
was humble, teachab,c and loving as little
child a
Soon after l returned from Egypt and
the Holy Land. hearing that Mr. Webster
was in town, | called upon him at the Astor,
as | was always accustomed to DO. His re-
cePfion Of me vas most cordial and afHec-
tionate- He asked me many questions as
10 my Eastern travels and as | rose to 20
away. he took me BY the hand and said =
Il want yoil 20 DO one thing for me- You
have been oyer Palestine l wish to get
4
set down with Inc one hour-but one hour.
| wish to 60 with you from place to place
Bethlehem, Nazareth. Jerusalem. the Sea
Of Gallilee, Jordan. Bethany. the Mount of
Olives. and tell me. as point. how it looks
the hills, the trees. the rocks, the land, the
water. / ean never 60 there. but l would
look az nearly as / can, upon every SPOT
sanctifed BY the presence Of our blessed
Lord while he tabernacled in the hcsh''-
His eyes Sled with tears, and he earnestly
pressed my hand. Multitudes of emotions
swelled NY heart. returned :he pressure
and in silence departed. l have ever re-
GREETED that this opportunity never present
ed itself, and now lament that | had not
more perseveriDgly sought forit The ques-
tons Of such man upon such subject
would have been sources Of new thought
and the kindiing Of deep and abiding sent
;ncut.