Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-02-03
TEE PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE OF DANIEL


- nv ale tGOh1kAoEOAULGOE UE DANIEL
WEBSTER. !
1esss LITTLE BRowN & o., Of Boston, shsve |
lately published. in two handsome octave volumes,
"Ihe private Correspondents of DANIEL WEBSTER,
edited By FLETCHER WEBsrEF," Chis SON. This |
work is now for sale by W.T. BERRY & Co., of this
city. 1t is 40 indispensable accompaniment to the
political works of Mr.. WEBSTER and thousands,
who care nothing for the speeches of the great
statesman will read those memorials Of his private
life for their intrinsic wisdom and beauty.
From the Autobiography which pretaces the
first volume, we make a!leDgthy eztraetsbeloW.--
Young men may learn from it o most useful les
son, of the importance OF adhering rgidly to their
professions:
sIp March, 1905, was admitted,to iprsctice in
the SuGoIk Court Of Common Pleas The prac-
tice then was for the patron to 60 into court, in
troduee the pupil to the judges, make a short
gpeech. commencing his diligence, etc. and move
for bis admission to tie bar. l had the honor to
be so introduced by Mr. Gore. remember every
word Of his speech. Il contained q prediction,
which I firmly resolved, qlsantum in me tiIeri,
should not 90 entirely unful6led
In January preceding my admission, was the
subject Of great honor. The clerk of the Court
of Common Pleas for the county of Marlborough
resigned his place. Ny father was one Of the
judges of the court, and was appointed to the
vacant clerkship. This was equal to PresideR-
tiAl election. The Office had an income of fifteen
hundred dollars year. It seemed TO me very
great aud indeed it was so rebEs oonSderGtis. The
obtaining Of this Office bad been q darling object
with MP father. Its possession would make the
family easy, and be FASTENED to send me tidings
that the prize was WOE. 1 certainly considered it
great prize, myself, and was ready to abandon
my profession for it; not that l did not love my
profes sion: aud not that did not hate the clerk
ship, and all clerkships; but simply from desire TO
reach that high point of terrestrial bliss at which
might teel that there was 8 competency for our fsn
lily, myself included. / had felt the res GnguStg
| till my very bones sched. But Mr.. Gore persmp-
| torily shut me out from this opening paradise
| When I went to him, with my letter in my hand
to communicate the good news he said it was civil
| in their HOnOrs of the Bench, and that must
write them a respectful letter; that they intended
| IL as mark of confidence in me, and of respect
| probably, for my father, and that / was bound to
! make civil Acknowledgements. This was 3 shower
bath of ice water. was thinking of nothing but
of rushing to the immediate enjoyment of the prot
fered Office; but he was talking of civil scknOwl-
| sdgment and deoorous decension. Finding my
| spirits, aRd face too, l suppose, falling he found
out the cause, and went on to speak, in g serious
! tone, sgsnst the policy and prOpriety Of taking
such an ofhce. To be sure, his reasons were good,
| but was slow to be convinced. He said l was
nearly through my professional preparation, that
should soon be at the bar, and be saw not why l
might not hope 70 make my way as well as others;
thst this Office in the first place precsrious, It
depended on the will of Others and other times
| and other men might soon arise, and my Office be
given to somebody else. And in the second place,
| if permanent it was q stationary place. tat q
| clerk orce, / was probably nothing better than q
clerk, ever; and, in short, that be had taken me
for one who was not to sit with his pen behind
| his ear "Go on" said be, land finish your stu,
dies; you are poor enough, but there are greater
| evils than poverty; live on no mans favor; what
bread you do eat, let it be the bread of indepen-
dence; pursue your profession, make yourself use
full to 7oEr friends and little formidable TO your
enemies, and you have nothing to fear.'
I need hardly say that scquiesced in this good
advice; though certainly it cost me psng. Here
Was present comfort, competency, and l may even
say riches then viewed things, ell ready to be
! epio7sd, and was called upon 70 reject them for
the uncertain and distant prospect OF professional
success But did resist the temptation; did hold
on to the hope which the 10 set before me.
One very difficult task remained, however, to be
| performed and that was to reconcile my father to
my decision. knew 1t would strike him like a
thunderbslt. He had long had this Office in view
for me; its income would make him, AID make US
all easy and comfortable; bis health was bad and
growing worse. His sous were all gone from him.
This Office would bring me home and it would
bring also comfort and competency ito all the
house" It was now mid-Winter; l locked round
for a country slsfgh, (stsge-oosches then, no more
ran into the centre or New Hampshire than they
ran to Bafin's Bay) and finding one that had come
down to the market, took passage therein, and
10 two or three days, was set down ct my fathers
door I was afraid my own resolution would give
way, and that after all ] should sit down to the
clerks table. But l fortified myself, well as
could; put on, remember, an air Of confidence,
success, and gayety. Il was evening. My father
was sitting before his Ere, and received me with
manifest 10y. He looked ieeber than l had ever
seen him, but his countenRuce lighted up on seeing
his clerk stand before him. in good health, and bet
ter spirits.
He Immediately proceeded to the great appoint
ment ssid how spontaneously it had been made
how kindly the Chief Justice proposed it, with
what unsnimity ell sssented, ETC., etc, etc l fell
as if I could die, or fly; 1 could hardly breathe
Nevertheless. l carried Il through, as we say, &C.
cordng to my plan. Spoke gsyly about i; was
much obliged to their HOnors; meant to write
them a respectful letter. II l could consent to re-
cord snybojy's judgments, should be proud to re-
cord their Honors, ETC., etc, etc. proceeded II
this strain, till he exhibited signs of amEz smen il
having occurred to him at length that might be
serious in an intention to decline the Office, thing
which had never entered into his Imagination
"Do you intend to decline this officer said be, 81
length. "Most certainly, said l. Il cannot think
Of doing otherwise; / should be very sorry, if
could not do better ct present than to be clerk fol
fifteen hundred dollars year, not to speak of tu'
ture prospects I mean to use my tongue in the
courts, not my pen; to be an actor not register
of other men actions. hope yet, sir, to aston
ish your Honor, in your own court, by my profes
ssusl sttAnmeltsG
For moment, thought he was angry. BE
rocked his chair, slightly fash went over an eye
softened by age, but still as black as Jet but it wal
gone. and thought saw that parental partially
was after all little graufed at this apparent de-
votion to aB honorable profession, ard this seeming
confidence of success in it. We'll, my son, you
mother has always said you would come to some
thing or nothing, she was not sure which; think
you are now about settling that doubt for her.
This he ca d, and never a word spoke more to me
on the subject. l stayed at home a week, prom
issd to come sgain as soon as 1 wss admitted, ant
returned to Boston"
RIsH DEvELoPMESTa- Washington cores