New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-20

pecuIiarity of Mr.. Webster was, in this hap
pier than most mOrtals, that whenever he
wanted money he got it out of somebody. In
solvent IA he must have been for at least quar-
ter of century, there is no evidence that he
was ever obliged, by the condition of his purse,
TO forego buying anything which he wished to
buv-bo0ks. bulls, wine, land, furniture, or
Mate. II must be confessed that he managed
IN do this with a great deal Of dignity. In
tbe life of Charles James Fox, there Is
smell of the stable, the race-cOurse, and the
camblinp.hel. In the life of Mr.. Sheridan,
there is Didderism on every page, with
degradation in the last chapter. We be-
lieve that we are right in saying that MI.
Webster impressed everybody, including trades
men and .capitalists, with sense or MS perfect
solyency and with belief that he had immense
pecuniary resources somewhere. Whatever ne
got he kept-the Franklin farm, the Marsh
field estate, the herds of cattle, the library
the pictures, the silver, the wines. The gen
crosby of his friends never grew weary
in his very last moments, they we're taking up a
subscription for him in Boston. Whatever ag-
onies they might DO suffering, his creditors IL
they groaned at all did so privately No attach
ment was put upon the blood bulls No sherhs
officer took liberties with the expensive books
in EXPENSIVE cases. He retained everything,
and of course he retained his Washington
medals.
Not so lucky was the heir to whom the I'M
guarded store descended. He also inherited
the family trait of wanting money, but not
being great man he did not get it so easily
as his ancestor. People who would have lost
all, rather than talk of security 20 Mr. Daniel
Webster were not so nice in their transac-
lions with his grandson. Mr.. Peter Harvey,
the best friend q man needing friends
ever had, found that these medals
had been pledged, and forthwith he put
his hand into his breeches pocket, where 1T
had gone so many times on similar errand,
and redeemed the curious coinage. The more
we know of Mr.. Harvey's relations to the
great Senator and Secretary, the more we are
inclined to admire him. He seems to have
acted from sheer reverence for what he con-
sdered to be Mr.. Webster'5 greatness. There
is no touch of the tOady, nothing OF
the Boswell in Mr.. Peter Harvey. lie SIMPLY
found man Of great intellectual force utterly
incapable of taking care of himself and so
charitably volunteered all sorts of good offices,
and especially the Christian office OF raising
money to take up notes A perfectly Tree,
honest and unidentified Life of Mr. Webster
written by Mr.. Harvey would be one of the
most interesting bits of biography IN the
language. But he will not write it, Not be
We left the rescued medals in the hands OF
this excellent friend. He seems to have
thought that they had passed through the
perils of pawnbrokerage often enough, and to
have felt that they should find last safe
resting place somewhere. He has acted
with his accustomed wisdom. He has
given the Invaluable memorials to the
Massachusetts, Historical Society-an asso-
citation unspeakably respectable, and COM
posed exclusively of gentlemen who are
never "hard up" We defy anybody to
imagine Mr. Robert C. Winthrop going into a
pawn-shop 1t is impossible to conceive
of Mr.. Charles Francis Adams suffering
these relics again to be exposed to indignlty.
There is not member, hardly even CORE
spending member of this NJ. II. S. who would
not rather die than part with the medals. 1t
is matter for congratuiatlon, after
their exposure to so many vlcissltudes,
that they should have been thus kept
together and it Is pleasant also to
know that the trading in Washington
relics is about over. The Republic has taken
the great mans bones out of the market; the
medals are safe; and the remainder of his per-
sonal property. as yet unsecured, will soon
find permanent lodging, or pass into the
receptacle of things lost on earth.