The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-03-18
PERSONAL. RECOLLECr TONS OF
DANIEL WEBSTER.

| In the Winter of 1901. | met Mr..
| Webster for the first time. The number
Of those who knew him personally is rap,
| idlg diminishing. but the interest of the
public III every thing connected with him
has hot abatcd since his death. Hence
the present attempt to recall what can
| II my personal intercourse with one whose
"ame and fame belong to the history OF
| his country.
When the late Chief Justice fancy,
then practicing law in Baltimore, en-
tered General Jacksnn's Cabinet. he re-
tired from the case of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company against the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company
pending in the Court of Appeals of Mary
| irnd. The question in dispute was the
right of prior choice of route of the re
sppctive works at the Point of Rocks.
and at other narrow passes on the left
bank of the Potomac river. The drci
fhc litigation originated, had been in
favor of the railroad company. and the
canal company had appealed In the
court below the counsel of the former
had been NJ fancy. Mr. Reverdy John
: III. and myself and the latter had been
represented By Mr.. Writ. Mr.. Walter
Ger. When Mr.. fancy RETIRED his eli
ents determined to employ Mr.. Webster
to replace him; and rs he happened to
be in Baltimore on visit. | was directed
to call on him, retain him if possible
and 60 with him afIerwarl 10 Annapolis.
where the Court OF Appeals was sitting,
with the facts might probably be of ser
vice in facilitating his preparation for the
argument about to fake place.
found Mr.. Webster at the house of
his connection, Mr.. Hugh Birckhead. on
his way to Washington. He was in the
drawing room with the ladies of the fami
ly when called. and passed the even
ing in his company. 1t was not the occa-
sion for discussing the merits of a legal
controversy. He asked me to sit by him
on the sofa, and began nur very brief con-
versation by saying: Well my brother
Latrohe. aud ST. our good friend Brick
head tells me YOU come to retain me for
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany." Something was then said about
the Shortness of the time allowed for
preparation, but he agreed to 60 with
me to Annapolis as soon as lie came back
from Washington, where some business
that could not be postponed required his
presence.
Three things struck me at this inter-
view. The first was the deep SonornuS
tone of Mr.. Webster's voice: it seemed
u come ab idl0 psctOre. and was unlike
any that had then, or have since. heard.
Again, his pronunciation of the word
Baltimore. which made the first syllable
long and broad. And again, his calling
me my brother Latrobe,' not that such
form of address was not frequent at the
bar but because Of its use by Mr.. Web
iter to such a sprig of the law as | then
was.
There We're no railroads in those days
and steamboat travel ON the Chesapeake
being interrupted by ice when Mr.. Web
ster returned from Washington. we left
Baltimore in hack after breakfast. and
plodding through the piny woods and
over the wretched roads of Anne Arun
del county, drove into Annapolis after
lam Gwynn. the railroad company senior
counsel, made third in the carriage
He was an admirable conversationalist
without being a talker, a wit without
being a satiri>t. a humorist without be-
ing eccentric, with an inexhauStible fund
of anecdote and apt quotation. and, in
addition to being an able lawyer, WAS of
L genial, loving nature. that endeared
him to all that knew him. Mr.. Webster
appreciated him at once, and the two,
with common topics OF conversation about
men and books and things generally.
made the journey seem as short as it WAS
enjoyable to their single listener.
The Legislature OF Mary land was III
session at this time. The hotel was
crowded, and at first there was doubt
whether even Mr.. Webster could be re-
ceived. Finally he was given a room
which the occupant vacated for the occ;,-
sion. 1t was in a building i'll the rear oi
the hotel. and contained two beds, one
OF which Mr.. Webster took possession
Of, and at his instance appropriated the
other.
Our quarters were in what had been
noble mansion i'll tie palmy days of tie
old city. We were III large square
room with Il lofty ceiling, ii broad high
lire place. and a tall old fashioned man
tel-piece a bright wood fire was burn
ing, and although there was no carpet,
ana but single candle on IA rickety TIA
Die, the general aspect was most CRATE
tul after our dreary ride FROM Baltimore
lire We remained ior several days, and
until serai ate room, We're allotted to us
On the second huor OF !: ga! cried build
ing, called the Colony, close by.
Mr.. Webster was at this time in his
titieth year. in the prime of life, and at
the height of his reputation. crowned
with the glory of his great speech in re
md h.p h.n II,
built man, there was little i'll his person
to distinguish HIM. IL was his head that
indiv lduaIizcd him. His grand forehead,
his dark eyes set deep beneath ovcrshad
owing brows, his firm determined mouth,
made a t0ui ensemble which once seen was
never forgotten. Harding's likeness, i'll
the second volume of Curtis's life, IS i'll
my opinion, the most characteristic OF
the many have seen. While 1t wants.
no doubt, the accuracy of Whipple's da-
yuerreotype. in the same volume, | see
IN t more OF the man knew. The like
ness by IIealy in the first volume of the
:, tine work, does Mr.. Webster great iu-
JUS. ice 1t belittles him. He was lar
nobler- looking person. His bearing was
grave and digniied. When he ad,ire >sed
Il court it was commanding and impress
>ive; and yet 40 man $ manner could be
more pla full, no man $ tone more cordial
and 9enial, than Mr.. Webster's, when lie
pleased. | made him out, too, to have Il
keen sense Of numor. and to appreciate