Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-01-16
From the n. Y Evening Post.
Welsfcr's Private Csrrrspo on d~mce.


If Daniel Webster fully justfes the expecta-
iions which the public had been induced to en-
terrain in regard To IT, Simplicity. point, Da'u
| ralDess and admirable common sense its
marked characteristics. Webster an inieres-
esiing letter. writer aud there is hardly note in
| this collection. however trivial the subject. but
contains some characteristic expression or senti-
ment which alone would en,ile II to preserva ton
| not excepting the very few which clearly
| inserted rather t. crafty the vanity of some
| Of the correspondents of the great orator thun
| 10 throw light upon his character and his
! tory. There are others in possession of friends
/ which, though not included in these volumes are
more deserving Of the honor than many which
! find a place here. Nevertheless Ms "A whole the
selection has been made with singular good taste
and iilia regard for the memory of the author.
| The following is the dedication Ia Mr.. Websters
first wife, with which the editor prefaces these
! interesting memorials:
/ ~ dedicate these volumes of the private cores
| pondcnce of Daniel Webster To the memory of his
wife and the mother Of his children, Grace Fletcher
Webster i desire far possible to associate her
| name with that Of him whose early fortunes she
shared whose early labors she cheered whose char
seter she appreciated, whose distinguished position
she adorned and on whose lips amid their last utter
| nnces, hung her beloved name.
| "FLEToHER WEBSTER
The first volume opens with charming frag-
mont of autobiography, written by Webster in
| 1899, and covering the period from his birth, in
| aniet New Hampshire village in 1882, to the
year 1917. when he rapidly approaching tho
height of professional success in the law at Bos-
| ton This, however, has already obtained pub
| lcity in the press The correspondence com
menccd with a versified epistle by Webster to one
of his college classmates, which would Indicate
that Minerva was not at that day very prop-
tious goddess to her young votary. The class
mate referred to--one George Herbert-is adj
dressed in strains like these:
DARTMOUTH, December 20, 1898.
Yes George, 60; leave the friends love-
Long since twas written in the books above;
But what, good God leave thee, do say
The thought disracts my soul aud fills me with dis
may.
But Heaven dccreed it, let me not repine;
lgoi but, George, my heart is knit with thine
"This shall console my heart till time shall end
Though George be absent George is still my friend
But other friends leave; il wounds my heart
TO leavea Gilman, Conkey and Clark &c, &c.
After leaving college Mr.. Webster, ut the age
of nineteen, entered on the study Of his profess
sion in law Office in his native village of Sails
bury. While there, he thus playfully commu-
noat, 8 his medltations to his friend Bingham, in
u letter daed September 22, 1901 s;
~ expect to meet many disappointment in the
prosecution of the law. find hive calculated too
largely the profession For this reason have
]
hcaon; it is tobacco have heard much OF philo
'ophical iortitude but never knew what II
lees II be sullc unieclingness, cold temper, or ln-
human heart But tobacco inspires courage Of an
other kind deliberate yet mmoyable; aifectionate
and feeling, yet dcspsing danger. Since have used
this great cnthoIicon, suspect that Cato and John
Rogers not unacquaintcd With the virtues of the
goodly leaf else whence derived they their hrmness2
OIL tobacco how many hearts hast thou saved from
the distractions OF coqucry How many throats of
ltI From
kniyesl
Come then, tobacco, new found friend,
Come, aud thy suppliant attend
In each dull and lonely hour;
And though misfortunes lie around
Thicker than hailstones on the ground,
III rest upon thy power.
Then while the coxcomb pert and proud,
The politician learned and loud,
Keep eternal cack
I'll tread where silent nature smiles,
Where solitude woes beguiles,
And chew thee, dear tobac."
In tho correspondence between Daniel and
Ezekiel Webster, at the time the latter strug-
Cling to obtain the advantages Of liberal educa-
ton, we find frequent occasions to contrast the
characters of the two brothers: In solid sense
and ability Ezakiel was :almost the peer of his
| more distinguished brother, but lie appears to
| have lacked the versatility aud playful humor
md gennity which manifest in Daniel
Whilo therefore, Ezekiel.s letters Of this period
| are written in serious and rather despondine
tone, Daniel in his replies, generally exhibits the
bright side of things, aud raises laugh by n
witty turn of expression some piece of drol
philosophy. At one time Ezekiel had got in debt
to the amount of forty dollars, and how to dis
charge it was the subject of long correspon-
denoe between the two brothers which did not
mend the matter much. Ezekiel writes that
1.-THE map of human life is chequered with mis-
| E,rtpn Al 81,
other hand, though equally stratened in his re-
sources. ends one OF his letters with
Fol de dol, dol de dol Ii dol,
I'll never make money my idol, &c"
In fact, during his whole life he combatted his
, embarrassments with the same cheerful philoso
ply, and it must be confessed, he had almost us
much need of il when his income was $4,000 n
year as when il amounted to little more than ona
seventy fifth of that sum
one more sample of the poetical diversions of
the young law student will suffice. 1t is found
in letter dated salisbury. December 1903"
81 do wrong to tell you have made no RHYMES
since | graduated. Two great occasions have
called oni each wondrous piece of verse: shall
some time show you, to make You laugh; the other
have put down To make you cry; for if author may
judge his works, it is by far the most sublime
and pathetic ever wrote. BIT must disclose the
occasion Of such daring effort. On the afternoon
preceding the evening OF ball. lady OF my acQualn-
lance troi upon some sharp tool and cut her foot
On this my muse, who had slept some Years broke
ont "like an Irish rebellion when nobody expected
it, and produced the following, which, in point fsen-
timent and language, know, you will think equal to
anything in Homer Here it is, read it:
"Rnst seize the axe, the hoe or spade
Which in your foot this cash has madel
Which cut through Kid and silk and skin,
To spill the blood that within;
BY which you're forced to creep and crawl
Nor triSk and roc at the BALL