May and June I doubt whether it will be in my power. If events come about according to my wishes, I hope to run away to Ohio about the 1st of May.

"Partly on my own motion, and partly at the request of friends, I have been putting into writing something of my early history, dates, incidents, etc., touching early years. I have not made much progress, nor is there, indeed, much to be said, but I have run over a few sheets of paper. It has occurred to me, in connection with this subject, to suggest to you the expediency, as of your own motion, of writing to Rev. Dr. Wood, of Boscawen, who, I hope, is yet living. He may have few or no incidents to relate, but his general recollection may possibly be worth preserving. I need not enlarge; you will understand me. It may be well to tell him that the object is to preserve materials, not to be used in his lifetime or mine. I wish he would say something of my brother, whom he knew so well and so long.

"The book,' I have seen. It is well enough, except the awful face, which seems to be placed in the front of the volume, like a scarecrow in a cornfield, to frighten off all intruders.

"Pray, let me hear from you, and tell me all you have to say, de omnibus rebus. We have a most severe winter here; this is as frosty a morning as might become the neighborhood of Kearsarge. Mrs. Webster desires her regards, and I am

"Dear Charles, always truly yours,

"DANIEL WEBSTER."

[TO MR. MASON.]

"NEW YORK, April 26, 1881.

"MY DEAR SIR: I came here Saturday, to bring my wife back to Boston, after spending a few days here with her friends. Having leisure this P. M., I incline to give it to the purpose of writing to you; but I am not about to speak on the subject of the resignation of our wise ministry at Washington, or any other public subject. It is to talk of yourself. Before I left home last fall, I had resolved to make one more effort to bring you up to Boston. For particular reasons then existing, I was induced to postpone the mentioning of the subject. I write now simply to execute that intention; and to entreat you, earnestly, to consider the expediency of such a measure. I will not presume to enter into the considerations which recommend it, at least in my opinion; but I will say that my opinion is strong and decisive on the point. I am persuaded a removal will add to your happiness, and that of your family. You will find as much professional employment as you may wish to engage in; and you will find yourself surrounded by warm friends, who estimate you as you deserve to be estimated. Your boys are now provided for. Your daughters are better

1 A volume of Mr. Webster's speeches.

at Boston than Portsmouth; at Boston, you will find associations, topics, congenial minds, and objects of greater interest than now surround you. New York, perhaps, might be still better. But Boston is something.

"I am persuaded you dislike the idea of removal, and that that is the main obstacle. But that is a thing of a week. Once settled, and all that thing is over.

"My dear sir, although it would add greatly to my happiness that you should come to Boston, I would not advise it, certainly, if I did not think it would promote yours, and promote it greatly. Indeed, I reproach myself for not having urged this point with you oftener. I wish to do it now with earnestness; I am sure I do it with sincerity.

"Ever truly and affectionately your friend,

"DANIEL WEBSTER."

[TO MRS. A. P. WEBSTER.']

"BOSTON, June 14, 1831.

MY DEAR SISTER: Your letter has come to hand quite apropos. It is our intention to set off on Thursday morning for Boscawen, by way of Nashua village. Weather being favorable, we may be expected Thursday afternoon at Nashua, and shall be happy to have you go north with us. I am under the necessity of being at Concord at noon on Friday, so that I shall be obliged to put you to the distress of an early rising on that day. In addition to Mrs. Webster, Julia will come along. Edward begins to beg hard to go, and, as his mother is on his side, he also may prevail. We shall have room for you. This is a great day with us, as Mr. Paige is to be married this evening.

"The dawn is overcast, etc."

"The happy pair set out to-morrow or next day for the Springs, the Falls, and other points of the grand tour.

"Give my best regards to Mrs. Abbott.

"Yours always affectionately,

"D. WEBSTER.

"P. S.-Julia wrote you yesterday, so that, probably, your household will learn our intentions, that is to say, provided you have left a secretary to attend to your correspondence."

In the course of this year, Mr. Walsh, the editor of the Philadelphia Quarterly Review, desired to have an article reviewing Mr. Webster's recently published speeches. It was written for him, at the request of Judge Story, by Mr. Ticknor, and appeared in his eighteenth number. It was subsequently

Then at Nashua.

reprinted, and largely circulated in pamphlet. The following correspondence relates to the article and the reprint:

[TO MR. TICKNOR.]

"Saturday Morning.

"DEAR SIR: I received a copy of the Quarterly, but, before I had read the article, lent it to Mr. Dutton. He has returned it with this note. Yesterday, I went carefully through the article. It is all that I could possibly desire. There is nothing that need be changed. If it should be printed separately, room would be more at command, and there are possibly one or two points which might be a little more expanded. I have made some attempt to see you; which I shall renew so soon as the 'allconquering sun shall intermit his wrath.' I hope you are alive to-day.

66 Yours,

"D. W."

[TO MR. TICKNOR.]

"Thursday Morning.

"DEAR SIR: I believe things will be put in train for a reprint, and, as you have leisure, will beg of you to think of the expediency of expanding two topics a little more.

"1. The nullification topic, about which we have conversed.

"2. The finance topic, with a pretty cogent page or two, in favor of maintaining the national bank.

"In mustering over some old papers the other day, I found a speech, on the subject of the present bank. I did not stop to read it, and, like everybody else, had quite forgotten it. It may contain something. I will send it to you on my return.

"We are off at nine o'clock for Boscawen.

"Mr. Ticknor."

[TO MR. TICKNOR.]

"Yours truly,

"D. WEBSTER.

1831.

"MY DEAR SIR: I have had time to add but very little to the sheets you have already had, and no time to read over any thing. But I will endeavor between this and nine o'clock this P. M. to bring the important narrative down to 1816.1

1 The autobiography, which was, from its first inception, in the possession of

"Yours,

"D. WEBSTER.

Mr. Ticknor, to whom it was entrusted sheet by sheet, as it was written.

"N. B.-I have seen no such Congress for talents as the fourteenth. It commenced its first session December, 15, and terminated its second March, '17. If you run over the Journal, you will see that the House of Representatives was particularly strong.

"I do not know whether there is any thing of mine, Congressional, earlier than my return to Congress in 1823, of interest, beyond what you have.

"I had a hand, with Mr. Eppes and others, in overthrowing Mr. Monroe's conscription, 1814, and [there is] a long speech on that subject, in manuscript.' But I do not think it worth while to notice it.

"So of my resolutions in 1813. They were right-our Government was completely cajoled by France, but whether it is worth while to allude to that now, I know not, but I doubt whether it is. I will be at home this evening, if you want to talk, and will send me word.

1 The speech is now lost.

"D. W."

CHAPTER XVIII.

1831-1832.

MODIFICATION OF THE TARIFF-BILL TO RENEW THE CHARTER OF THE BANK-PRESIDENT JACKSON'S "VETO "-SPEECH ON THE PRESIDENT'S OBJECTIONS-REJECTION OF MR. VAN BUREN AS MINISTER TO ENGLAND-REPORT ON THE APPORTIONMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES—FIRST PURCHASE AT MARSHFIELD.

TH

HE session of Congress which commenced in December, 1831, and extended to July, 1832, was fruitful in events and in discussions that were to affect the country for a long period of time. It was at this session that an effort was made to overthrow the tariff system; that the bill to renew the charter of the Bank of the United States was passed by Congress and "vetoed" by the President; and that the Senate refused to confirm the nomination of Mr. Van Buren as Minister to Great Britain.

The tariff system under which the manufactures of the country had been carried on since 1824 had established the general principle of protection as a settled policy. On this ground, and because the legislation of Congress had strongly tended to force capital into manufactures, Mr. Webster supported the system. He was unwilling to go back, because he was satisfied that the industrial pursuits of the country could not bear the change. In the winter of 1831-32, the subject was first introduced into the Senate by Mr. Clay, who offered a resolution, declaring that the duties on imported articles, which did not come into competition with similar articles made or produced in the United