cial city of the State. Here he found a cheerful intelligent circle of friends, who made his leisure hours pass off happily, and he recovered from his indisposition, as a strong man rises from weariness and exhaustion, the moment he has been refreshed by rest.

Soon after Mr. Webster had opened his office at Boscawen, a trial for murder came on in the county of Plymouth. The court assigned him to defend the prisoner, although the time had not elapsed for his admission as a Counsellor at the Supreme Court of the State. The murder was foul and horrid, perpetrated on an innocent man-a fellow prisoner for debt. They were in the same room. No provocation was given by the sufferer, or none, that could in the slightest degree, palliate the offence. The fact of killing could not be questioned. The defence, of course, was narrowed to one point-the insanity of the prisoner. There were no proofs of his former insanity, but the malignity of his disposition was well known to all the country around; his Counsel, nevertheless, was not deterred from going on, with all these formidable circumstances to contend with. He argued, that the enormity of the deed, perpetrated without motive, or without any of those motives operating upon most minds, furnished presumptive proof of the alienation of the prisoner's mind; and even the cool deliberation and apparent serenity which he exhibited at the time the deed was done, were proofs that reason was perverted and a momentary insanity had come over him. The Advocate astonished the

court and jury and all who heard him, by his deep knowledge of the human mind. He opened all the springs of action and analyzed every property of the mind so lucidly and philosophically, that it was a new school for those who heard him. He showed the different shapes insanity assumed from a single current of false reasoning upon a particular subject, while there is a perfect soundness of mind on every subject, to the reasoning aright upon wrong premises, and to the reasoning wrong upon right premises, up to those paroxysms of madness, when the eye is filled with strange sights, and the ear with strange sounds, and reason is entirely dethroned. As he laid open the infirmities of human nature, the jury were in tears, and the bystanders still more affected; but common sense prevailed over argument and eloquence, and the wretch was convicted and executed. Notwithstanding the fate of the murderer, the speech lost nothing of its effect upon the people. It was long the subject of conversation in every public place, and is often mentioned now with admiration. The path of a lawyer is never strewed with flowers; he must be constantly harnessed for the contest, and he often contends with fearful odds, and cannot choose his cause, or his client, or his witnesses. To discharge his duties properly he should have hardihood, tact, talents and learning, with readiness, patience and forbearance. In this new situation at Portsmouth, Mr. Webster was encompassed with shrewd and powerful men. Among these were two

gentlemen very much distinguished in their profession. Mr. Mason from his eminent talents and skill in the management of causes had acquired an extensive practice. He was witty, sarcastic, argumentative and persevering, and therefore a most powerful antagonist. Judge Smith, who resided in a neighboring town, about this time returned to the bar, after having been ChiefJustice of the State. He was one of the best read lawyers in New-England, and also a fine classical scholar. His speaking at the bar was easy, fluent, playful or severe, as the occasion required. His opinions passed for law with the court and jury, and the weight of his character was felt in every cause in which he was engaged. With these and others of eminence, Mr. Webster had to contend at an age when most young lawyers are preparing themselves for future labors in minor causes and in inferior courts. Mr. Webster did not rely on his eloquence for success, but prepared himself with great industry and care. He secured the jury by a clear statement of his case, and always used such plain language, that they could not misunderstand him; they thought it was just such as they would have used, had they been called to tell the same story; not knowing how difficult it is to reach such a style of communicating our thoughts. Not two years had

elapsed before he was considered among the first jury lawyers of the country. The elder practitioners now sharpened their wits to take the lead of him in the law arguments to the bench. In this they were disap

pointed, for he was at home there also. He argued his cause to the court with as much clearness and force as he had done with the jury. His mind, naturally logical, seized the strong points in a law case, and he pushed his reasonings home to the understandings of the judges. His seniors at the bar now found it was better to divide the empire with him than to dispute it. These great men soon became his cordial friends, and are now amongst his warmest admirers and eulogists.

It was natural, that one so well fitted for public life should feel some desire to try his fortune in politics, at least so far as to measure his strength with those of other men, who had gained reputation in the halls of legislation. He began well; the times were stormy; war hung over us; party spirit was full of bitterness in every part of the country; sound and fury took the place of fair discussion, and rancorous feuds were in every town and village, but Mr. Webster entered into none of them. He was decided, firm and straight-forward. No politician was ever more direct or bold; he had nothing of the demagogue about him. Fully persuaded of the true course, he followed it with so much firmness and principle, that sometimes his serenity was taken by the furious and headstrong as apathy; but when a fair and legitimate opportunity offered, he came out with such strength and manliness, that the doubting were satisfied, and the complaining silenced. In the worst of times and in the darkest hour he had faith in the redeeming qualities of the people. They might be wrong, but he

saw into their true character sufficiently to believe, that they would never remain permanently in error. In some of his conversations upon the subject, he compared the people in their management of the national affairs to that of the sagacious and indefatigable raftsmen on his own Merrimack, who had falls and shoals to contend with in their course to the ocean-guiding fearlessly and skilfully over the former-between rocks and through breakers, and when reaching the sand banks jumping off into the water with lever, axe, and oar, and then with pushing, cutting and directing made all rub and go to the astonishment of those looking on. The first halo of political glory that hung around his brow was at a convention of the great spirits in the county of Rockingham, where he then resided, and such representatives from other counties as were sent to this convention to take into consideration the state of the nation, and to mark out such a course for themselves as should be deemed advisable by the collected wisdom of those assembled. On this occasion, an address with a string of resolutions were proposed for adoption, of which he was said to be the author. They exhibited uncommon powers of intellect and a profound knowledge of our national interests. He made a most powerful speech in support of these resolutions; portions of which were reprinted at that time, and which were much admired in every part of the Union. From this time he belonged to the United States, and not to New Hampshire exclusively. Massachusetts seemed to take as deep an interest in his career as his native State.