New York, 13th December, 1851.
About the time you receive this, you will probably hear of an American
testimonial to that amiable woman, Mrs. Cowden Clarke, to be presented
to her by the American Minister, Mr. Abbot Lawrence, in the name of the
subscribers, at the head of whom stands America's greatest and best
statesman, Daniel Webster.
This testimonial is in the shape of a magnificent Rosewood Library
Chair, richly carved, and covered with the finest French Satin Brocade.
It is at this moment _on_ the Atlantic, _in_ the "Atlantic," and
insured by the Atlantic Insurance Company, for three hundred dollars.
As THE FAME OF SHAKSPERE is world-wide, subscriptions of five
dollars each came in from all parts of the American Union--from
the most northerly of all, Maine,--to Mexico. From Wisconsin,
in the _far_-far-FAR West, to the shores of the Pacific, at San
Francisco--they are thousands of miles apart from each other.
Why have you left it to us poor Yankees "to take the wind out of your
sails," in presenting a testimonial to the authoress of the Concordance
to Shakspere? Mr. Payne Collier, and such like dear fellows, who know
so many eminent wealthy literati, ought, _now_ that we have set you the
example, to get up a subscription, and present Mrs. Clarke with some
better Shaksperean testimonial than a Chair! What say you to a 'FIRST'
Best Bed? But if the hangings of it beat our satin brocade cover, why
I'll hang myself in despair--no I won't, but I'll eat it--bed--feathers
and all. The Chair was to have been covered with the richest silk Genoa
velvet, of a regal scarlet or crimson, but the lady of our Secretary
of State, Mrs. Daniel Webster, would have it, that velvet covers were
quite old-fashioned; and as ladies best know what will suit ladies, she
was asked the favour to select the cover, and _I guess_ you will admire
it.
Now for the _freedom_ of America. Collins gave the Chair _free_
passage. Edwards, Sandford and Co. conveyed the case to the ship, and
will convey it from Liverpool to London, _free_. They are Express men,
and thus do we "go a-head."