Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-31
An Original Letter or MIR. Webster.

When the Lioes of tie Lords Chancellors
was published by Lord Campbell, some years
ago, the distinguished author transmitted
copy Of his work to the late Daniel Webster
In Acknowledgement of the compliment our
llustrious countryman addressed letter to
Lord Campbell, for a copy of which we are
indebted to the kindness Of his, then Private,
Secretary, Mr.. G. Lanman, to whom Mr. Web
ster presented the original draft, as an auto
graph souvenir. The letter is eminently char
acteristc of the lamented Statesmans style,
principles and political sentiments, and will
be read with especial interest by professional
men and with pleasure by all others.
My Lord Campbell Some days of unex
pected leisure have given me an opportunity of
reading the Lines Of tile Lord Chancellors !;
and / feel irresstiby impelled to signify to your
Lordshp the pleasure and profit which the
perusal Of the volumes has afforded me. The
subject is a noble one, and has been treated
according to its merits. The work may be
read with advantage by all political and pro-
fessonal men. The lives which have most
interested me are those of Ellsmere and Bacon,
Charles York, and the incompatible Somers.
All must be gratihed to see the title of Els
mere restored in the person of worthy and
accomplished descendant. AS to Bacon, /
agree with you that heretofore there has been
no Just history of his life. Indeed, ! doubt
whether we shall ever be able to trace the pro-
gress of his extraordinary mind. ! think his
conceptions were withoutregular progress. A
sort of intuition seems to characterize his men,
tai power. Although do not imagine that he
fully comprehended himself, if one may do so,
or knew the full extent and consequences of his
own conceptions, yet doubtless he felt concious
of his superiority to the age; and the manners
to which he commends himself to the Judgment
of posterity "some centuries hence" is ex-
ceedinglytouching. IfEngland had been sunk
in the sea the day of his death, Bacon would
have made her memory immortal.
The life of Charles York is tale of deep
pathos. One cannot read it without admira
ton, sympathy and heartfelt sorrow. We
know not what his future might have been !;
but how bright that future looked up to the
evil hour in which he took the seals
But the man of men is Somers. / assure
you, my dear Lord, that have his character
contemplation and study. / have collected
and perused all that could find concerning
him and remember well that before / was
admitted to the bar I---sd his defence of the
"Seven Golden Candlesticks, without
tears, and rose from my chair and Joined the
shouts which conveyed the news of their
triumph to the palace of the last of the Stuart
Kings.
My Lord, excuse this intrusion. have the
honor of no acquaintance with your Lordship,
beyond a casual introduction and few min
utes' conversation in the House of Lords; but
your biography Of the great men who have
had seats on the woolsack, and the manner in
which it has been written, seem to bring con-
genial professional minds together, and to
create warmth Of common feeling between
the lovers of true constitutional liberty on both
sides of the Atlantic; and Nottingham, and
Hardwicke, and Eldon, as great teachers of
equity jurisprudence, and Somers and Camden
as intelligent and unterri6ed asserters of public
liberty, will hereafter be held in the same re-
gard, my Lord, by your posterity and mine.
/ am, with entire respect, your obedient SER
want, DANIEL WEBSTER.
To the Right Hon. LORD CAMPBELL.