The impression made by Webster's personality, referred to at the beginning
of these papers, partly accounts for the eagerness with which everything
he said or did is caught up, even at second hand. In any gathering,
however brilliant, the whole company pricks up its ears and listens if
one of them says, "I shook hands with Daniel Webster," or "I once heard
him speak," or "I saw him go by in the street." So it seems well worth
while to include among these very important and characteristic papers
of Mr. Webster, now published for the first time, not only several of
his letters, but a few notes that might seem trifling and insignificant
if they related to anybody else.
The following letters written from London show Mr. Webster's opinion
of the English lawyers and public speakers, and his keen interest in
everything relating to agriculture. The alarm which was excited by the
fear of a dishonor of the drafts of the Bank of the United States is an
interesting fact in our financial history:
"LONDON, June 9, '39.
"MY DEAR SIR,
"On Monday morning, the 2nd inst, we arrived at Lpool, after a passage
of 14½ days, or rather less, from Pilot to Pilot. For a great part of
the way we had calm, the rest, light winds ahead; which same light winds
have so retarded the sailing ships, that we were in Lpool several days
before the N. Y. Packet of May 1., tho' we left the 18th. We staid in
Lpool 2 days, went to Chester, and thence struck off & hit the Lpool &
London Rail Road, & got to London, on the evening of the 5th. The sixth,
it was rainy. I went out, quite alone, looked into all the Courts—the
whole four were sitting—I saw all their venerable wigs. I stayed long
enough to hear several Gentlemen speak. They are vastly better _trained_
than we are. They speak short. They get up, begin immediately, & leave
off when they have done. Their manner is more like that of a school boy,
who gets up to say his lesson, goes right through it, & then sits down,
than it is like our more leisurely & elaborate habit. I think Sergeant
Wilde, who is esteemed a long speaker, argued an insurance question in
15 minutes, that most of us would have got an hour's speech out of. The
rooms are all small, with very inconvenient writing places, & almost
nobody present, except the wigged population. I went to the Parliament
Houses (Houses not in session). They are very small rooms. Where the
Lords sit, I was sure, must be the old painted chamber where the Comees.
of conference used to meet. On entering it, I asked the guide, _what
Comee. room that was_—he turned to rebuke my ignorance, & exclaimed,
"this is the House of Lords." I was right, however. The H. of C. was
burnt, you know, some time ago, & the H. of C. now sit in what was the
H. of L., & the Lords sit, temporarily, in the old painted chamber. All
these accommodations are small & paltry; & new buildings are in progress
for the use of both Houses.
"The political state of things is quite unsettled. All sorts of
expectations exist, as to what shall happen. The ministry, most certainly,
are very weak, in public estimation, & as clearly not very strong in their
own. But Lord Wellington, whose weight & influence are, at this moment,
prodigious, does not want office; & it is said that both he & Sir Robt.
see the difficulty which they would be obliged to encounter, if in power,
in consequence of the state of things in Ireland. Mr. O'Connell is king
of Ireland; & it is thought that nothing but military power could keep
the peace in that kingdom of his under an administration which he should
oppose. Some speak of a dissolution of Parliament—others say, the Queen
will rather give way to radicalism, than receive the tories into power.
A new election, in the opinion of some, would give the Tories a working
majority of 70 members. On all these topics, I have seen too little, &
know too little, to be able to form any opinion for myself. As yet, I
have not attended any Debates in Parliament, but purpose to go to the H.
C. to-morrow Evening to witness a second Debate on the Jamaica Question.
As to private matters, I will write you, if possible, in season for the
same conveyance which takes this,—if not, I will write by the next. I
propose to send this by the Lpool, which sails on the 13th.
* * * * *
"June 12.
"I attended the Debate on the Jamaica Question. The great guns were not
fired, but the Debate was handsomely conducted. Sir Ed. Sugden began it.
He is not remarkably interesting as a political Speaker. Mr. Labouchere,
Mr. Gladstone, Sir George Grey, all young men, followed & spoke well.
"Pray remember me to all friends. Write me often, & tell me all the
news. Send my regards Mr. Blake, & let me know how he is.
"Yrs truly
D. WEBSTER.
"Be sure to let no one single thing from me ever get into the newspapers."
* * * * *
"LONDON, Sep. 20, 1839.
"MY DEAR SIR
"I have recd. your letter, respecting the two acceptances. I had thought
they were both provided for. As the Boat goes to-morrow, and as I
returned to London only last evening, I may not be able to arrange so
as to write by this opportunity; but by the _very next_, I will cause
you to hear from me. We have been about six weeks, having run over much
of England, & something of Scotland. Of course we could stay but little
time in any one place, nor were we able to see much below the surface
of things. But the agriculture, and the general of things, in England &
Scotland, I have looked at, pretty attentively. Taken together, England
exhibits a high wrought, exact, elaborate system of art & industry. Every
productive power is carried to the utmost extent of skill, & maintained
in the most unceasing activity. Constant attention & close calculation
pervade everything. Rent is high, but prices of produce are high also.
About thirty shillings, Sterling, say seven dollars, or thereabouts, may
be regarded, perhaps, as near the average rent of good land in England.
In some parts, it is much higher, say ten dollars, or, rent & tithes
together, perhaps fifteen. The land is vastly productive, & prices are
high. A gentleman told me yesterday that he had sold, some weeks ago, his
wheat crop, at eleven pounds Sterling, pr acre, standing, & his oat crop
for eight. This will shew you the aggregate of product & price. Forty
bushels of wheat, & fifty or even sixty of oats, are not an uncommon
yield to the acre. The land is naturally good, & is made the subject of
the most careful & skilful cultivation. In the course of forty years,
the _turnip_ has vastly enriched England. It feeds millions of sheep,
whose wool & flesh command high prices, & the feeding of which in the
field, during the winter, say ten sheep to the acre, enriches the land,
for the succeeding crop of wheat. Then, too, lime is used extensively,
& every bone ground up, for bone dust, which is found a most powerful
manure. And when the lands require it, a complete system of underground
draining is practised, especially in Scotland, which produces the best
effects. Agricultural labor is not more than half as dear in England,
as in the U. S.
"(I shall add a P.S. if I learn anything before this P. M. of this matter
of the U. S. Bank & Hottinguer.
"(4 P. M. Mr. Jaudon has been to Paris. Rothschilds have accepted the
Bills of the Bk. U. S. for the honor of the Bank. It is thought the Bank
may have drawn, under an understanding with Hottinguer's agt. in U. S.
of which his principals were not seasonably advised. It is an unlucky
affair, at least, & will much prejudice American interests and credits
here."