BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. DANIEL WEBSTER. S early as 1813, during the first months of his long membership in the national legislature, the speeches of Daniel Webster marked him as a peerless man and drew from a Southern member the expression, "The North has not his equal, nor the South his superior." That high preeminence in statesmanship he held until his death. Daniel Webster was born in Salisbury, New Hampshire, on the 18th of January, 1782, and was descended from the hardy yeomanry of New England. His father was a thrifty farmer, and he taught all his sons to labor industriously with their hands. As Daniel emerged from childhood to youth and his physical frame became strong and hardy he labored in the fields during the summer and attended a district school, two miles from his home, in the winter. The remarkable tenacity of his memory was exhibited at a very early age, and at fourteen he could repeat several entire volumes of poetry. At about that time he entered the Philips Academy, at Exeter, New Hampshire, then under the charge of Dr. Abbott. After studying the classics for a while under Dr. Woods of Boscawen, New Hampshire, he entered Dartmouth College, at Hanover, at the age of fifteen years. There he pursued his studies with industry and earnestness, yet with no special promise of future greatness. He was graduated with high honor, chose law as a profession, and completed a course of legal studies under Christopher Gore of Boston, afterward governor of Massachusetts. He was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1805, but, preferring the country, he first established himself at Boscawen, and afterward at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He made his residence at the latter place in 1807, and that year he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of New Hampshire. There he became noted as one of the soundest lawyers in the State, and during his nine years' residence in Portsmouth he made constitutional law a special study. Mr. Webster first appeared in public life in 1813, when he took his seat in the House of Representatives at Washington at the extra session of the Thirteenth Congress. It was a most propitious moment for a mind like Webster's to grapple with the questions of state policy, for those of the gravest character were to be then discussed. It was soon after war was declared against Great Britain, and the two great political parties, Federalists and Republicans, were violently opposed. Henry Clay was Speaker of the Lower House, and he immediately placed the new member upon the very important committee on foreign affairs. He made his first speech on the 11th of June, 1813, which at once raised him to the front rank as a debater. His series of speeches at that time took the country by surprise, and he became the acknowledged leader of the Federal party in New England, in and out of Congress. He was re-elected to a seat in the House of Representatives in 1814 by a large majority. At the close of the term he resumed the practice of his profession, and in 1816 he removed to Boston, because it afforded a wider field for his expanding legal business. In 1817 he retired from Congress, and the following year he was employed in the great Dartmouth College case, in which difficult constitutional questions were involved. His efforts in that trial placed him at the head of constitutional lawyers in New England-a position which he always held. and he was retained in the Cabinet of President Tyler. In 1842 he negotiated the important treaty concerning the north-eastern boundary of the United States, known as the Ashburton treaty. In May the following year Mr. Webster retired to private life, but his constituents would not suffer him to enjoy coveted repose. He was again sent to the Senate of the United States in 1845, where he opposed the war with Mexico, but sustained the administration after hostilities had commenced by voting supplies. In 1850 he offended many of his Northern friends by his course in favor of the Compromise Act, in which the Fugitive Slave law was embodied. On the death of President Taylor, Mr. Fillmore, his successor, called Mr. Webster to his Cabinet as Secretary of State, and he held that responsible office until his death, which occurred at the mansion on his fine estate at Marshfield on the 24th of October, 1852, when at the age of almost seventy-one years. M BENSON J. LOSSING. THOMAS MOORE. OORE was born in Dublin on 28th of In 1821, Mr. Webster assisted in the revision of the constitution of Massachusetts, and he was elected a representative of Boston in Congress the following year. An almost unanimous vote re-elected him in 1824. He was chosen United States Senator in 1826, but did not take his seat until the autumn of 1828, on account of severe domestic affliction. In that body he held a front rank for twelve consecutive years. Probably the greatest contest in eloquence, logic and statesmanship ever exhibited in the Senate of the United States was that between Webster and Hayne of South Carolina in 1830. Mr. Webster supported President Jackson against the nullifiers of the South in 1832, but the fiscal policy of Jack-to Catholics, he was sent there. He speedily son and Van Buren was always opposed by him. In 1839 he made a brief tour through portions of Great Britain and France, and returned in time to take an active part in the election canvass which resulted in the choice of General Harrison for chief magistrate of the republic. The new President made Mr. Webster his Secretary of State, May, 1779. His parents were Catholics and in humble circumstances, but gave him a tolerably good education, and in 1793, when the University of Dublin was opened distinguished himself by his classical attainments, but narrowly escaped a government prosecution for treason-of which, indeed, he was not quite guiltless. In 1793 he contributed verses of considerable merit to a periodical called Anthologia Hibernica, and in 1799 he removed to London, where appeared his translation of Anacreon, ded in 1817. It had a wonderful sale: six editions were sold in as many months; and the truth of the descriptions was the wonder and delight of Orientalists, who knew Moore had never been in the East; even Jeffrey hailed it "as the finest Orientalism we have had yet." Moore's star was at its zenith when notice arrived of the fraud of his deputy in Bermuda, entailing on him a loss of six thousand pounds. An attachment was issued against his person, and Moore left for Paris, but by the kindness of friends he was ultimately enabled to compromise and settle the matter. Whilst on the Continent he composed "The Epicurean," a prose story, and "The Loves of the Angels," published in 1823. His circumstances were not such as to free his mind from anxiety, and on a hint to this effect to Lord John Russell he in 1835 received a pension of three hundred pounds a year from government. icated by permission to the prince of Wales, | tory. The poem was finished and published which brought him into notice. His singing, too, became the rage in fashionable circles, and so popular was he that he obtained the appointment of admiralty-registrar for Bermuda, with a handsome salary. He set out for Bermuda in 1804, but, wearying of the place, he returned to England, leaving his duties to be performed by a deputy. On his return from Bermuda he published two volumes of poems, which were most unmercifully treated by the Edinburgh Review. Moore considered the criticism as so personal that he sent a challenge to Jeffrey, the editor, and a meeting was arranged; but while the seconds were loading the pistols Moore and Jeffrey got into an agreeable chat, which was interrupted only by the arrival of the police, who carried them off to Bow street. The matter was ultimately arranged, and the pair became fast friends ever after. In 1807, Moore commenced his Irish melodies, a noble and patriotic work which met with a most enthusiastic reception, especially from his countrymen; the first part was published in 1813, and the last part in 1834. In 1811 he married Miss Bessy Dyke, a lady who had attained some distinction on the Irish stage; she was a most suitable wife, and made for him a happy home. In 1812 he commenced a series of satirical effusions which met with prodigious success; the wit, ease and playfulness of the satire captivated every circle, and the poet's reputation was such that a friend was able to make an arrangement with Murray, the publisher, for Moore to write an Eastern romance in poetry and to get for it the sum of three thousand guineas. This, for a poem yet unwritten, is one of the most striking events in poetical his During the rest of his career Moore was chiefly engaged as a prose-writer; his Life of Sheridan and Life of Lord Byron are among the best of his works at this period. In 1838 he resolved on a visit to Ireland; the news preceded him, and wherever he appeared he was greeted with rapturous enthusiasm. Processions met him, triumphal arches were erected where he went, and if applause could give happiness he was at the summit of earthly felicity. The closing years of Moore's life were sad and melancholy; his children one by one sunk into the grave and a settled depression gathered over the poet's mind, deepening as he drew near his end. He died on 25th February, 1852. ROBERT INGLIS. THE PROVOST OF STARVIESTON. N no place was the general | burgh, but it was also agreed that, on the joy that pervaded the king- whole, such a request might not be thought dom at the Restoration more a very graceful appendage to an address sincerely felt or, at least, which affected to be one merely of conmore loyally expressed-gratulation and to express sentiments only than in the little burgh of loyalty and devotion. This being the town of Starvieston, in the general opinion of the council, it was reWest of Scotland. On that solved that Bailie Snodgrass's motion should occasion the worthy provost be allowed to lie in abeyance in the mean of the town, David Clapper- time, and that such an address as was origton, proposed in council that inally proposed-one entirely free from all soa dutiful address should be licitations for favors-should be immediately forthwith prepared and sent up to His Maj- prepared and transmitted to St. James's. esty, congratulating him on the happy event and pledging the faith and loyalty of the ancient burgh of Starvieston for all occasions and in all time coming. ye "A guid move, provost-a guid move,' replied Bailie Snodgrass to this loyal proposition of the chief magistrate; "and I most cordially second it. But dinna think we could slip in, at the same time, a word or twa aboot the charter anent the superiority o' the lands o' Tully whustle that was promised us by his present Majesty's faither? I think this a guid opportunity for gettin' a haud o' something or ither, and I dinna ken o' onything that wad be mair beneficial to the burgh than gettin' a grant o' that superiority." All the members of council, including the provost, agreed that Bailie Snodgrass's suggestion was a prudent one and showed a praiseworthy concern for the interests of the Having come to this resolution in this important matter, the town council of Starvieston broke up-a circumstance which affords us an opportunity of speaking more fully of its chief member, Provost Clapperton, the only one of the august body alluded to with whom we have anything particular to do. Provost Clapperton-or simply Davy Clapperton, as he was most irreverently called by the vulgar rabble of the town over whose affairs he presided with such credit to himself and such benefit to the public interestwas to business a hosier, and in this business he had waxed rich. The provost was reckoned worth a good round sum. In personal appearance and manner the worthy provost was not naturally particularly dignified. He was short, broad and rather corpulent. Easy circumstances and an easy mind had contributed, each in their several ways, to impart to his figure a certain rotundity in front which looked fully more comfortable than graceful. The provost at this time might be about fiftyfive. In disposition our worthy magistrate was kind, humane and affable. He spoke to everybody with the utmost familiarity, and, we may add, with great volubility. This last, in truth, was one of the worthy man's failings. He talked a vast deal more than was necessary, and a great deal more sometimes than was understood, as he spoke both very thick and very fast, and had, moreover, a habit of repeating his words, which formed a large addition to the amount of matter he delivered without conveying an iota of additional sentiment along with it. The provost, in short, was a lively, pert, good-natured, bustling little body with a reasonably high opinion of his own importance, and most especially of the dignity of the office which he filled. If, however, any one should associate with the occupant of this office any aristocratic notions of gentility, birth, education or accomplishments, they would be sadly out in the case of Mr. Clapperton, who was, in truth, just as homespun a provost as you might readily meet with anywhere. The worthy magistrate had had little or no education. His birth was as humble as could well be, and, as to gentility and accomplishments, we verily believe he did not know what the words meant. At any rate, he had none of them, and never dreamt of pretending to them. Plain in his habits, plain although substantial in his living, plain in his manners and plain in his dress-all proceeding from a natural homeliness and simplicity of character-Provost Clapperton exhibited no outward indications of his greatness, but, on the contrary, looked fully as much like a chief butler as a chief magistrate. Having thus described as well as we can the person, manners, disposition, etc., of our worthy civic dignitary, we revert to the circumstance with which our story opened— namely, his proposal of an address of congratulation to His Majesty Charles II. on the occasion of his restoration to the throne of his ancestors. Now, with regard to this address we will not say that the idea of getting up such a thing was not one proceeding from the genuine feeling of Provost Clapperton's heart, from his affection to his sovereign and from a sincere joy at his once more filling the regal chair, but it is certain that it accorded marvellously with certain views on a certain subject entertained by no less a personage than his wife-that is to say, it accorded so far with these views as to promise being a likely means of their accomplishment. But this affair will be best explained by quoting a conversation which took place between the worthy provost and his better half as they sat together and alone one night by the fire talking over various domestic and other matters previous to retiring to bed. It occurred before the provost made the celebrated proposition in council to which we have already more than once alluded. "Davy man," said Mrs. Clapperton, "if ye had been worth yer lugs, ye micht hae dune something for the honor o' the family since ye were made a provost. Ye micht hae made me a leddy, Davy. Noo yer time 'ill sune be oot, and a' yer glory 'ill pass awa' like the last flicker o' a fardin' cannle.' "What do ye inean, guidwife? what do ye mean? what do ye mean?" inquired her husband, speaking in his usual rapid way, and really in want of the light he asked for. |