The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-12-22
Interesting Details In the Life and Histart
of Daniel Wcbster.

of Daniel Webster.
A correspondent of the New York Eve
ming Post, writing from the home of Daniel
Webster -Marshfield, observation-disclosures
some interesting details in regard
collection Of his fathers cor
respondence which will be published in the
coming winter by Messrs. Little, Brown 4
Co., of Boston:
MR.. WEBSTER AND JOHN RANDOLPH.
The challenge received by Mr.. Webster
from John Randolph, while they were both
Of the National House of Repre-
takes up a portion Of the cores
pondence. In this affair General Wool, Of
New Yorb, acted as the friend and adviser
Of Mr.. Webster, and senator Benton, of the
challenging party. The singular deception
Of Monroe Edwards, practiced upon Lord
Spencer, is also told at length. 1t may be
that in 1s43 while this notori-
Gus individual was in England, he presented
to Lord Spencer forged letter Of introduc-
ton from Mr.. Webster, and took advantage
Of the civilities extended TO him on that ac-
count, to borrow Of that nobleman the sum
Of three hundred pounds, having been foled
as he pretended, in some negotiation he had
lately undertaken.
Shortly after, Lord Spencer hearing some
thing which led him to suspect the true
character Of Edwards, wrote to Mr. Web
ster, stating the circumstances and his sus-
picions, but declaring that he was neverthe-
less glad Of the opportunity Of thus showing
his regard for Mr.. Webster and those who
bore his recommendation. To this Mr.. Web
ster returned an answer, denying an ac-
quaintance with Edwards, and exposing him
as bad character; but in the meantime,
the adroit forger had managed to pay up,
and before receiving the answer, Lord Spen-
Ger wrote another letter, announcing that
Edwards had acted like an honorable man,
and apologzng for ever having harbored
suspicion against Mr.. Websters friend.
wEBsTER's YOUTHFUL STRUGGLES.
A very pleasant part Of the correspond
ence are the letters Of Mr.. Webster, written
while a law student, to his brother Ezekiel
who was struggling to pay for his education
by keeping school in Boston. All the spare
cash which Daniel could earn by teaching
or copying deeds had been devoted to his
brothers college expenses, but his income
was too narrow to meet them fully. Several
of the letters relate to the subject Of deyising
means Of raising money to deiray debt Of
fifty dollars, which Ezekiel had incurred in
the purchase Of books in Boston. This
caused the two brothers great perploxlty.
In one Of his cpistles, Daniel, after trying
to cheer Zeke, by an enG!ncraton Of the
possibility which yet remained or raising
money, enters upon the following strain OF
phiosophic consolation
"SALsBuRY, Nov. 4th, 1902.
! have now By me two cents In lawful
federal currency Next week I will send
them if they be ALL They will buy a pipe
with pipe you can understanding i'm
plies INSTRUMENTATION is allied to fOrtitude
from fortitude it is but one step to sto.
icism, and stcicism never pants for this
worlds goods. So perhaps, my two cents,
by this process, may put you quite at case
about cash"
Again, as late as June 10th, 1904, he
ar.,as fra," Saii-L---.r -, u.,) -f--- L--i.-s
declined a comfortable office in order to pur-
sue his profession:
"Zeke, don't believe but what Provi.
dcnce will do well for US yet. We shall
live, and live comfortably | have this week
come within an ace of being appointed Clerk
Of the Court of Common Pleas for Hills
burough county. Well, you will say, you
are no better Off than if you had not come
within an ace. Perhaps am-say nothing,
but think good deal, and do not distrust
the gods"
HE THINKS OF POETRY AND THE PULPIT.
In conclusion Of this letter to his brother,
lowing verse:
'fo 81 dol, dol di dol, d dol;
III never make money my idol;
With my friend and my pitheer,
I'm twenty times richer
Than II made money my idol.
Fol di dol, dol di dol, III dol"
II may be remarked here that Mr.. Web.
ster, in the midst of his family, and with
his children and grandchildren around, was
not little given TO oii.hand rhyming, and
would greatly divert them by his extcmpore
English heroics, in which the sonorous march
Of the rythm would be humorously dispro.
portioned to the triilng nature of his theme.
But the poets was not the only vocation
which the great statesman narrowly escaped.
At one time in his youth, some Of his friends
earnestly impressed upon him the duty OF
entering the Christian ministry, and he was
wont to tell, with evident enjoyment, the
story Of his being advised to assume the
business of Necromancy! An Old man, who
enjoyed the reputation in his native village
OF being wizard, assured young Daniel
that he was lust made for conjuror," and
as there were at that time, q great many
ctr In 10, IA, L,,. "a. a
good opening. lie concluded by Offering
to take the future statesman into partner
ship, and 60 halves with him in the profits
HOW HE BECAME A MARRIED MAN.
While on the subject of Mr.. Webster's
history, | cannot forbear mentioning an in.
cidcnt related of his courtship, which do
not remember to have seen recorded. lie
was then young lawyer in Portsmouth,
n. II. At one of his visits to Miss Grace
Fletcher, he had probably with view of
combining utility and enjoyment, been hold.
ing skeins of silk thread for her, when sud.
denly he stopped saying: "Grace, We have
thus been engaged in unying knots; let US
see il we can tie knot, one which will not
unite for lifetime" lie then took piece
of tape, and after beginning knot of pc.
culiar kind, gave it to her to complete. This
was the ceremony and ratification of their
And now in little box, mark
ed by him with the words, "Precious Docu-
mcnts," containing the letters of his early
this unique memorial is still to be
found. The knot las never been united.
HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
Perhaps the most interesting relic of Mr.
Webster which will be incorporated in these
volumes will be his autobiography, as yet
written by him in the year
1929, for his friend, Mrs. f. B. Lee, of Bos.
ton. 1t is written in his clear legiblc hand,
and covers sixty three pages of letter paper.
The time over which the narrative extends
is from his birth, in 1882, to his final settle.
ment as lawyer in Boston, in 1916. The
first four years of his Congressional life are
thus taken in, while he represented the
House Of Representatives. The whole histc.
ry of his humble beginning, his struggles to
obtain an education, his experience as col.
cgian and q law student, the books he read,
his first ptIort Mt ncwsna mar. "a ritinu aro hnr,