Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-12-01
tcorrssnondeuce of the Ny. Post.1

tn MiSS Fleten6r..BlS
MARsHF1ELD, Mass, November, 1865.
While staying at the home OF the late Dame
Webster, / do not know that can afford matter OF
more interest to your readers than by
some details in regard to the contents OF Mr. Fletcn
er Webster's forthcoming collection of his father
correspondence which will be published in the CO,
ming winter by Messrs Little, Brown " Co., o,
Boston, This collection, which will be comprised
in two roval octave volumes of 600 pages each uni
form with Everett's edition of W ebsters w ofKs,
will include only such letters bear upon the So
cial and domestic life of the great statesman, and
venture to say will place him IN a TAR more h'er-
estne light than the great body of even his admit
rers have been accustomed to regard him. Indeed,
it will from the intrinsic interest OF its contents DC
eagerly sought for by those miscellaneous readers
to whom the political career OF MIR. Webster Is a
matter of comparative Indifference
Among the correspondents whose letters Will be
found in these volumes are the two Adamses, MadI-
son, Monroe, Chef-Justice Marshall, ChancelLor
Kent Benton, Clay, Everett, Story, Jeremiah Ma
SON Lord Spencer and Lord Ashburton. In add-
ton to Mr. Wcbsters letters to these and other dis
tinguished men, there are those which he wrote 10
his relationships brother, children employees, &c
some of them Chose to Ezekiel Webster) extend
ing as far back as 1897, when he was but htteen
years of age. In regard to Clays letters OF when
there quite number, could not help remark
ing the absence of that social freedom which might
have been expected in like him. From the
beginning to the end of his life they show him TO be
totally wrapt up in the small political intrigues of
the day; cogitating how carry that this State
how to circumvent elect this or that candidate
They are quite voluminous, but, as specimens OF
friendly eJistles which they were designed appa-
rently to be, almost of no value The Ashonrton
correspondence mostly written while conducting the
treaty Neutrality-suspicious. what not always the case
how much first rate private understanding be-
tween the parties may conduce to the despatch or
business. Not few of the boundary difficulties
must have been removed over the nuts and wine by
the distinguished participants in that transaction
They evidently felt the highest confidence III each
others straight forwardntsS and honor.
The challenge reccivedb by Mr.. Webster from John
Randolph while they were both members OF the
National House of Representatives takes up por-
ton of the correspondence. In this affair, General
Wool of New York, acted as the friend and adviser
of Mr.. Webster and Senator Benton, of the chal-
longing party. The singular deception OF Monroe
Edwards, practced upon Lord Spencer, is also told
at length. 1t may be remembered that in 1878,
while this notorious individual was in England, he
presented to Lord Spencer forged letter OF intro
ducton from Mr.. Webster, and took advantage of
the cvilities extended to him on that account, to
borrow of that nObteman the sum of three hundred
pounds having been foiled, he pretended in some
negotiations he had lately undertaken. Shortly at
ter, Lord Spencer hearing something which led him
to suspect the true character of Edwards,
Mr.. Webster stating the circumstance and his suS-
picons, but declaring that he nevertheless glad
of the opportunity of thus showing his regard for
Mr.. Webster and those who bore his recommenda
ton To this Mr.. Webster returned an answer, de-
nying an acquaintance with Edwards aud exposing
him as a bad character; but in the meantime, the
adroit orger had managed to pay up, and before re-
ceving the answer, Lord Spencer wrote another let
ter announcing that Edwards had acted like an hon
orable man, and apologizing for ever having har-
bored suspicion against Mr.. Websters friend
very pleasant part of the correspondence are
the letters of AIR. Webster, written while law stu
dent, to his brother Ezekiel, who struggling to
pay for his education by keeping school in Boston
All the spare cash which Daniel could byteaching
or copying deeds had been devoted to his brothers
college expenses, but his income too narrow to
meet them fully. Several of the letters relate to the
subject of devising for raising money to de- /
fray debt of fifty dollars, which Ezekiel had in ;
Cured in the purchase of books in Boston. This ,
caused the two brothers great pcrpleXity. In +
Of his epstlvs, Daniel, after trying to cheer Zekv'
by an enumeration of the possibilities which yet /
NAMED for raising money, enters upon the following
strain of philosophc consolation:
SALISBURY, November 2, 1902.
81 have now by me two cents in lawful federal
Next week I will send them if they be
III. They will buy pipe-with pipe you can
implies INSTRUMENTATION is allied
o fortitude-lrom fortitude it is but stepto sto-
cisn, and stOicsm never pants for this worlds
foods. So, perhaps my two cents, by this pro-
ess, may put you quite at ease about cash"
Again, as late as June 10th, 1904, he writes from
salisbury, On. H. after having declined a comfort
BILE office in order TO pursue his profession
"Zeke, don't believe but what Providence will
o we'll for yet. We shall live and live comfort
bly,. have this week within an ace of be-
1g appointed clerk of the Court OF Common Pleas
)r IlilSborough county. Veil, you Will say, YOU
re no better off than if you had not come within
n ace. Perhaps l am-say nothing, but think a
bod deal and do not 'distrust the GODS ~
In conclusion OF this letter to his brother of !
lne 10Th, he relieves his mind with the following
erses:
"Fo di dol dol di dol di dol:
I'll make never money my idol,
With my friend and my pitcher q
I'm twenty times richer
Than if made money nv idol
Fol di dol, dol di dol di dol"
1t may be remarked here that Mr., Webster in c
lie midst Of his family, and with his children and
and-children AROUND, not little gwen to Off q
md rhymng, and would greatly divert them by
5 extempore English hcrocs, in which the sono- a
US march of the rymth would be humorousy dis t
oportioned to the trif;ng nature of his theme. S
But thespoets was not the only vocation which the
eat statesman narrowly escaped. At one time in W
youth, some OF his friends earnestly pressed up c.
him the duty of entering the Christian ministry II
d ne was wont to tell, with evident endowment b
story of his being advised to assume the bust. re
IS of NecroneGncy! An old man, who enjoyed Ell
reputation in his native village of his being a b;
zard, assured young Daniel tnat he was "iust fe
de for conuror, and there were at that time al
reat many stray cattle to be found the business fe
sred good opening. He concluded by offering to We
e the future statesman ITO partnership and to 90 ne
YES with him in the profits
" bile on the subject of Mr. Webster's history / be
mot 1orbear mentioning incident related of his IN
rtshlp, which do not remember to have seen re- tn
ded. He was then young lawyer in Portsmouth in
ID. AT of his visits to Miss Grace Fletcher re-
mad, probably with view of combining utility OH
enjoyment, been holding skeins of silk thread an
her. when suddenly he stopped saying, e Grace, no
nave thus been engaged in untyihg knots let be
I nnoT1 fIn flo