The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-08-03
PANEL Webster.

f .
gun in the courtroom, where we often
met. He was forty years old when ne came
to Boston from New; Hampshire. was ~
that time twenty-three. Just aDous Ln5
time the Spanish claims came mp. Due !
must explain them: Ourmercnants cLalnle9
twenty millions of dollars for losses sunere9
during the Napoleon wars. Spain admittco
their claim so far as 10 let us nave ,ne
FIoridas and pay us also five millions OF doi.
lars besides. This sum Of nlOney. was 70 10
divided among the claimants. Three COM
missioners were to be appointed, DeIoIe
whom the claimants were TO be heard. Our
narrator was employed by the Boston mer-
chants to look after their claims, which were
immense-in fact, the larger part OF Inc
whole sum. They desired Webster to be
with him, and they approached him on tne
subject. He expressed willingness to go 70
put the agreement in writing. IL the sum
recovered was so much he was TO have nye
per cent. if SO much more, two and nail
per cent We went on to Washington.
W hen we got to philadelphia he was ap.
approached by the merchants there, ana
asked to represent them. lie asked me II
thought the Boston merchants would OBJ
ject. I told him I thought not, unless the
interests confiicted II so, they Wouid: ne
the matter as have stated. Webster then
bargained with them, He received Ss,VO
| in hand az o retainer. The next day no
! spent this 5000 In buying silver service.
| He was in Washington three years In LOOK
ing after these interests. At the end OF the
| time he got possession of the money. L!
called TO see him. He said I" Was there
something said about maximum 30
SER ,,d said i to so him ..s Yes Eat deal was
the tn 4 n fhs Da'nna liHed. "Mr. ssid
me-, lot tn me eIiuA ere long and tedious
Jc "IT ~ of ~ - checks for ninety-five per
the calculations very WELL" "Wcca first
put the account into the hands Of an ac-
Icountant, and he can figure it out in
4 whole day, and make it all plain" "Well,
Il tfetrIith OF it is, MIR. P, I have spent
Il the SO, 900 long ago. Now you arrange it
4 for me write and tell these men that they
never expected to do this well, that this is
a brand snatched from the fire, and get
them to take ninety-fve per cent" 1 pro-
missed to do so, and did write to the leading
firms, who controlled about three foslrths.
They said :" All very we'll; let Elm have it."
He said "All very Well; tae less creditors
dare not say anything ABOUT 1t, you need not
write to them" In drawing his checks he
did deduct the live perez He got about
$50 900 out of those claims. HE then
began to build an elegant house, but soon
found himself hopelesssy IN debt. He did
not seem to know that money was money.
His income was Sarge, but his expenses
great deal larger. He remained in politics
( not 90 much business, but still mis- income
| was large: He once told q friend that it
averaged 900 per year. He grew to be
amazingly indifferent to money and debt.
His clerk, an attorney once practicing in
| his office, said to him 80 MIR. A. sent me to
tell you that your note would fall due in
day or two." every well, sir" said he.
"He told me to tell you that he wishes il
paid.' "Well. sir, you have done So"
shall be paid!" "Well, SIR, you have done
as he told you. Tell Mr.. A. when the note
is paid he shall please let me know it."
His will is a phenomenon. Tt is drawn
up in mastery manner, and 1t Is Just such
Il will rs he should have made II he pos
sessed in addition to his residence half
million to support it.
| OF his greatness there cannot be tho
slightest doubt, but it was the greatness of
power, and not of learning. He would
never study case unless it interested him.
He was not q systematic, thoroughly read
man. He could read book rapidly and
| hlioN VI IL tiIuH lllOSL UCiSOil WI
studied it. TO use Colcridge's phrase, "Hc
could read it with his thumb and fore
| finger"
| lie fell into great passion for quoting
| Latin sentences in his speeches. He did
| this in imitation of the members of the
English Parliament, who never consider Il
speech finished unless they put a Latin
phrase into it.
He knew very little about Latin. When
We were on our way to Washington, the
means Of travel were not then as now. We
bad TO 60 in stage-coachcs. put copy OF
Horace into my yalise to while away the
hour us we journeyed. was reading it one
day, and he asked Inc what it was. [ told
him. He said "Ah that is just the pro.
per book to bring; let me see It," l
handed it to him, and he could translate no
four consecutive lines in it.
Professor FELTON, used to supply him with
all of his Greek quotations.
He had all the elements OF real greatness,
but some folles also. He only serves to
illustrate the Greek maXims, which | Will
not give, for two reasons: First, you might
not be able to translate it, and second,
would not be able to render 1t in Greek;
SO will give you the translation "There
never was yet very great man without
some very great folly annexed to him."
This is true Of all the men | have ever
known except Chief Justice Marshall, and
will close with him as began, saying he
| u,,s pno Of tho fy1potaSf and kip1pst men