The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-04-27
Daniel Webster his seventy-Secord Anniver-
sarv

| A number of the personal friends Of Mr.
WEBSTER, il seems, on the 18th of January
! last assembled to commemorate his services
and to dwell on the patriotic events Of his
life. They had dinner, and made many
most interesting speeches. Among the
letter-wrters was Bishop WAIsRIGHT, who,
in the course of his letter, said:
Whatever impressions Mr.. Webster may have left
upon others, who met him only the arena OF public
life, in the unrestrained freedom Of social gather
ngs was rarely, ii ever, in his company without be-
ing IMPRESSED with his deep reverence for the great
truths Of religion. During the few years in which
sided in Boston, rector OF the Trinity Church, Mrs
Webster my parshoner, and was very frequently
accompanied by her husband 10 church, where he was
apparently ievoat worshpper and an attentive hear
er of the preached word. when we met as was
portunty for conversation he would frequently refer
the subject of the discourse on the previous sunday,
and without conviction that my views had been
enlarged and that ghi had been thrown upon the
point aIder discussion. Several times he suggested
subjects which he wished 10 hear treated from the pull
pitt and have taken advantage OF the suggestion On
one occasion, remember we'll, he said 10 me, with
more than common earnestness, ''There is text
ase .oo ol,sn s y near u = ha IS hat Mr.
Webster" Turning TO me, for We were seated at
table, with his eye kindlng under MS overhangMg
brow, and speaking slowly in his deep and treuulous
tone, he said: .'There is one lawgiyer-" repiicd,
iii is noble subject and must write upon for next
Sunday ..You cannot" ..Whys il is but Wednes-
day, and shall have ample time y '.fou cannot
That will cost you the best iortnehts
ever undertook
| thought, nevertheless ,ould accomplish the de-
sign, aud upon returning home TO my study, under
took it-dwelling upon il and making notes. Bnt the
more meditated the larger grew the sui5eei- ana
put myself faithfully to the task for the remainder OF
the weck-Saturday came, and the mighty idea had
then stretched beyond my narrow grasp, and | gave
the subject for the time, saying 10 Hooker
has that bow and Webster could, were he to Try
but cannot.
count which convinced that great We're his intel
lectual powers, when the subject OF religion was
presented TO him he was ever ready 10 respond TO
II. and was humble, teachaoie, ana towing as ii'ae
child.
Soon after returned from Egypt and the Holy Land,
hearing tha, Mr.. Webster was in town. called upon
him ut the Astor, as i was always accustomed TO do
His reception of me most cordial ana
He asked many questions to my eastern travels, ana
us go away he took me by the hand and saia
II want you To do one thing for me- fou nave beeh
over Palestine. wish To get the best map can COM
mand, and have YOU sit down with me one hour-bnt
one hour. wish TO go with you from place TO place
Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jerusalem, the Sea of Galee,
Jordan. Bethany. the Mount OF Olives ana tell me- as
point how looks hills, the trees, the rocks, the
land, the water. can never go there, but wouid
look, nearly can, upon every spot santthed os
presence of blessed Lord while he taoeracied
in the flesh"
His e,es He'd with tears, and he earnestly. pressed
my hand. Mullitudes of emotions swelied my heart.
I returned the pressure and in silence departed
that this opportunity never presented itself,
ana now lament that had not more perseverngly
sought for il. The questions OF such n man upon
such subject would have been sources OF new
thought and the kindlins OF deep and abiding sent-
mont.
Whether or not this helped TO suggest 10
me the title of book which ] aftetWard pnDlisheti,
..The Pathways and Abiding Places OF our Blessed
Lord. - cannot say; hut am sure u nlrecteo my
attention the attempt TO give some little Goyeli!
to the manner of presenting pilgrimage TO ground so
frequently travelled as the holy Land