Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-03
"Reminiscences Of Webster.

The Wings of New York and Boston,
wishing to show their appreciation OF Mr..
Webster, contributed large sum to enable
him to purchase suitable residence at
Washington and to live there during the
negotiation with Lord Ashburton in good
style. He selected house facing the
northeastern corner of Lafayette square,
which had been built by Thomas Swami,
who had been engaged in mercantile pur
suits at Alexandria and at Washington,
and whose son has been in recent years
governor of Maryland and representa-
tive III congress from Baltimore. Moving
into this house, Mr.. Webster lived in be-
coming style, entertaining nearly all of
the senators and many of the representa-
tives. He was not able, however, to pay
for the house, which fell into the hands of
William w. Corcoran, the banker benefac-
tor of Washington, who has since resided
there, although he has greatly enlarged
and improved it.
Soon after Mr.. Webster had removed in
to his new house Messrs. Moses H.Grinnell,
Richard M. Blatchford and Simeon Draper,
of New York, were one day his guests at
dinner. While lingering at table over the
raisins and Madeira, Mr.. Grinnell said:
81 have great favor to ask of you, Mr..
Webster" ''You can ask no favor which
will not be promptly granted" was the
reply. :'Well," continued Mr.. Grinnell,
''Mr.s Washington Irving finds it necessary
to have access to the Spanish archives in
completing his life of Columbus, and will
soon leave for Spain. As the consulate at
Madrid is vacant, Blatchford, Draper and
myself, without Mr.. Irying's knowledge,
have determined to ask you to appoint
him." Mr.. Webster, after
quite a pause, inquired: "Do
understand you, Mr.. Grinnell, as
asking the appointment of Washington
Irving as consul at Madrid?" Mr. Grin
nell said they had determined to make the
request and he hoped that Mr.. Webster
would grant it. Mr.. Webster listened at
tentively, then Strengthening himself in his
chair, said, in his deep bass voice, "Why
not minister plenipotentiary to Spain,
STRIP This was more than the New York
ers had thought of asking for, and they
did not say a word. The sitting at table
was prolonged for some little time but no
further aIlusion was made to it. The next
day the appointment of Mr.. Irving as en-
voy extraordinary and minister plenipoten-
and remained there as minister several
years.
When Lord Ashburton arrived here in
1912, Mr.. Henry Stephen Fox was the reg
ularly accredited British minister, and Sir
Frederick Bruce was one of numerous
staff who attended the banker diplomat.
Lady Ashburton was the daughter of
William Bingham, distinguished Phila.
= ~,
Pennsylvania in congress in 1795-1801.
Among the distinguished Frenchmen who
visited Philadelphia was the Count de lilly,
a talented young nobleman who made love
to Miss Bingham and persuaded her to
elope with him. Mr.. Bingham, very
honest and we'll meaning man, not very
distinguished except for his wealth, was
very much mortified at this rash step of
his daughter, then only sixteen years of
age. Great indignation was expressed,
and Captain Barry, who commanded a
packet ship, gave the count a severe
thrashing. 1t was soon evident that all he
cared for was the girls money, and
having entered into negotiations
by which he received
$4,000 in cash and an annuity of $4,000
year more, he left for France, and the mar
riage was declared fraudulent. A young
English merchant named Barring subse-
quently visited Philadelphia with letters to
Mr.. Bingham, and forming an attachment
for his daughter, married her and carried
her to England. He became in time the
head of the great banking house of Barring
& Brother, was created a baron with the
title of Lord Ashburton, and returned to
this country when sixty-seven years of age
as an envoy extraordinary, charged with
the settlement of certain disputed cues
tions. He brought his butter, cook and
wines, and dispensed munihcent hospitai-
ty at the Matthew st. Clair Clark house,
not far from the residence of Mr.. Webster,
which he leased during his stay. Never
since then have senators enjoyed such sue
cessions of good dinners as those given by
Lord Ashburton and Daniel Webster.
At dinner given by Mr.. Webster, when
secretary OF state, to Gen. Cass, on his re-
turn from France, Mr.. Webster requested
Mr.. Pageot, the French minister, to take
his seat next the wife Of the Spanish min
lister, '.as you speak the Languages she IN
dorstands, French and Spanish, which 1 do
not speak" Before going in to dinner
Mr.. Pageo5 took Mr.. Fletcher Webster, the
son of the secretary, aside and inquired:
Sam I invited here to be insulted? Am I
invited as minister OF France Or not?"
MIR. Fletcher Webster said he did not IN
derstand the object Of the inquiry. While
the explanation was being made dinner
was announced, and Miss Cass was left
without an escort. To relieve her from
embarassment Mr.. Barnard, of Albany,
offered his services, Just at this moment
Mr.. Pageot offered himself as escort to
Miss Cass, and Mr.. Barnard retired. Mr..
Pageot did not address word to Miss
Cass, but made snappish replies TO her
and she then gave him no further consid-
Grafton, but faucied he was i'll. On their
return to the drawing-room Mr.. Pageot
made known his griefs to General Cass,
who disregarded them as unworthy of con-
sideration. Not long afterward Mr.. Pa
geot gave dinner, to which Mr.. Webster
was invited. No notice was taken of him,
then secretary of state. The postmaster
general. Mr.. Wickliffe, had the post of
honor, and Mr.. Webster seated himself
among the most humble at the table. This
premeditated insult was not noticed by
the secretary of state, but Mr.. and Mrs.
Webster ceased to visit Mr.. and Mrs.
Pageot. After while Mr.. We bster met
Mr.. Pageot at the table of Mr. B odisco, the
RucSian Doinistar Mr. Papoot an daavOrad