The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-10-07
( LETTER. OF WEBsrER.-The following
very characteristic letter Of Mr.. Webster has
never before been published:

never before been published:
s9 ~ WASHINGTON, Jan. 5th, 1855.
Dear Henry IL have received your letter
Dec. 81, giving an account OF the high tide and
storm, and Of the breaking away OF the Dyke.
1 regret the occurrence; but 1t it no occasion
for repining or complaint. II has happened
that ia a course OF high tides, and at q mo-
ment of violent East wind, The sen has In
vaded the land with such violence to over
come the barriers which man had erected
against its encroachments. Very we'll This
is an event beyond human foresight, or. at
least beyond the power OF human prevention,
and is, therefore, no cause ofremorse, although
it may occasion regret. No wise man sup
poses that the agencies of nature, or the pow
er Of physical canses, will tail &c haye their
full effect and operation always. Ii high tide,
aud strong wind from the sea, concur and
cooperate, the land will be, TO some extent
usually oyerflowed, and b. tn the just and un-
Just must alike bear the consequences. In all
this there is nothing wrong nothing TO COM
plain OF, nothing 70 repine at. Whatsoever
Providence orders, Is right and the violent
commissions and agitations OF the elements are
hut processes in the general administration OF
Providence. ~ h4A1ss IL. 55stss
The winds, the sea, the clouds, commit no
mistake. Ii our new barn (if may illustrate
sen ntiment by SO coarse an example, were TO
be blown away by the winds, (iike one Of iis
pretlecessors,) or burnt up BY lightning, 1t
would not cause me moments pain. Moth
ing would remain but to re- build IL. But II Ii
were to be burnt through the caielessness OF q
enough, almost TO wish that he, himself, had
been o little scorched in the came fire. There
fore, my dear Henry, go to work, repair or re-
build the dyke. II any OF the trees are killed,
let them die and set out others. II the Eng
lish meadow be injured remedy the injury rs
best You may, and guard, as well as you can,
against future ,casualties. The sea, though
the instrument of Providence, is not Provi-
dence. You may, therefore, war against 1t
without irreverence; and If you can so far
shut it out, res strain il, and get the mastery OF
it, as TO be able to say that hitherto 1t shall
come butnO farther--there IL no impiety in 80
saying. Give the Atlantic, then, TO UNDER
stand that hereafter yon do not expect 10 see
its unwelcoine aud officious waves overflow
ing our meadow, interfering. with our bell,
and spelling our orchards: Yonrs truly,
4 @. II. r., Esq.
A SAD SToRY-On the 18th inst, in the
insane department Of the Erie County Poor
House, died Mrs. Mary Copp A sad history
js hers. Some years ago she married Mr. H.
Is. Copp, or COPELAND, who was for some time
mem Der Of the stock company al the Metro
politan Theatre She was . lady who bad
been well educated. and in her Southern home
accustomed to every luxury which wealth
can supply. Her personal beauty. or possibly
her anticipated fortune, attracted him who
better and for worse, while life should last
Shortly after her marriage to Mr.. COPELAND.
they came to this city, and with her f,inds
mousse WAS puTenoeeu ana Iuru1sne0. NO ef.,
fort OF hers was wanting 70 make home at.
tractiye 10 her husband. She overlooked bis
excesses, and forgave his deviations from the
paths of virtue; but all her exertfons were
powerless to win him from the wiIes Of the
tempter He hastened from bad 10 worse
neglected and naltreated his wife, and Enal-
iy deserted her altogether. Heart broken aud
diseased, she suffered beyond the power OF
description. Article after article of furniture
and dress were disposed Of 10 supply the me-
cessaries OF life, till at length sorrow and
sickness dethroned reason, and the insane de.
partment Of our poor house claimed her ~ an
inmate. And here the good angel ~ length
released her from the bondage worse than
DEATH There was no kind friend 70 perform
the sad rites of sepuiture. no reiative 10 shsd
a tear on her coffin, no one to offer prayer
for the peace OF her SOUL She was buried ~
the poor-house. should this paragraph meet
the eye of him upon whose soul rests the SIN
of bringing misery and death upon one who
loved him--ii the last spark of humanity be
not extinguished in his heart--conscicnce Will
upbraid him with the crime OF murder, aud
set his pillow thick with thorns.- Bg0aio
fA. ~ Courier, Sspi. 10