Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-10-15
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The Estate Of Daniel Wsbster.-We some

ume ago mad occasion to comment upon the
frivolous conduct Of the New York Esening
Post in parading the name of boy named
Daniel Webster az connected with the /" Kin
ney Expedition" Since that time We have
obtained few facts respecting tho estate of
the late Daniel Webster, grandfather Of the
boy just namedD which, we confess, have sur
prised US exceedingly. For publishing them,
as we now do, we have two reasons FIRST, the
fame Of Daniel Webster is dear to his coun-
trymen, and ought not to be trifed with; and
secondly, the citizens Of Washington are in.
terested in his estate to the amount of about
S25, 900. The facts alluded to are as follows
Mr.. Webster has now been in his grave very
near three years, and his executors have not
yet thought proper to settle his estate More
than year ago, and before they had the
power to plead the act of Limitation which
they now have, they infor ned those persons
who had claims against the estate that tie
debts of Mr.. Webster amounted to SI4O, 600,
but that his property was valued at only
$4,000. More than year ago they solemnly
promised, that in very few days they would
make sdividcnd of the property in their keep
ing-which they have not yet done.
When they proclaimed that they had sold
Mansfield for the benefit of Mr. Webster's
creditors, they had done no such thing; but
had only sold variety of lots Of land lying
on the outskirts of Marshfcld, leaving the
homestead and some three hundred acres
of lanA ohoI o,l -, H.
sion of member of his family
1t is alleged that Marshfield cannot he
sold for the benefit of Mr. Webster's creditors,
because his widow had lien upon it for money
loaned to her husband it is believed, how
ever, that this allegation is wholly set aside
even by the artH Of the departed statesman.
But allowing this to be true, the debt alluded
to never amounted to more than So, 900, while
the unscld property would probably bring
$50. 600.
The library at Marshfcld contains some six
thousand volumes, and Mr.. Choatc once gave
the opinion that it was worth $4,000 and
yet this property, instead of being applied to
the payment Of his debts, remains in the pos
session of his son.
A few weeks after Mr.. Webster's death, il
was currently reported in Boston and else
where that his friends had raised the sum of
500 600, which was to go towards paying his
debts, and carrying cut the leading item f i
will; and yet this fund has not been recognized
by his executors.
Several of the persons who have claims
against the Webster estate, as VIC happen 10
know, have already suffered great incoI.vc-
nience from the strange conduct Of the execU-
tors, but are likely to be sorely distressed.
in consequence of their friendship for NJ.
Webster.
One Of those now waiting for Justice in Il
matter Of $1,000, once made MI Webster a
present of $1,000. Another, strange to say,
was for long time tie clerk OR secretary of
the departed statesman, The promises which
have been made can be counted by the hui.
dred. and yet not enc Of them has ever been
kept. They first promised the creditors forty,
taen thirty, and now ttcenfy per cent. on the
amount of their claims, which latter amount s
as far off as the FIST
In political poirt II view it docs mt be.
come Us to discuss any Of the private affairs Of
the greatest statesman Of Massachusetts,, espc-
claiiy 1t this time when the Wings Of the
North are using his name as q marshaling
watchWork; but rs americans who would
preserve inspected tEe fair fame Of distin.
guished countryman, VIC cannot but hope that
the settlement Of the Webster estate will fig
ure in history on bright rather than on q
darkened page.