gray hair. His eye-brows are thick, more than commonly arched, and bushy; which, on a slight contraction, give his features the appearance of sternness. But the general expression of his face, after, it is properly examined, is rather mild and amiable than otherwise. His movements in the Senate chamber and in the street are slow and dignified. His voice, once heard, is always remembered, but there is no peculiar sweetness in it; its tones are rather harsh than musical; still there is great variety in them; some have a most startling penetration; others, of a softer character, catch the ear and charm it down to the most perfect attention. His voice has nothing of that monotony which falls upon the ear, it may be heard all day without fatiguing the audience. His emphasis is strong, and his enunciation clear, and so distinct that not a syllable escapes any of his hearers. The compass of his voice is so great, that it fills any room, however large, with perfect ease to himself. The conversational talents of Mr. Webster are admirable; but what he says is spontaneous and extempore, not made up for any particular occasion, as the conversations of professed talkers and wits are, who come out to monopolize the eloquence of the drawingroom or of the banquet. There are times, however, when he awakes to all the blandishments of the social hour, and bears his part of the caenae Deum without a rival; but this is not often. On a journey, or in a retreat from business, he throws aside all his grave habits of thinking, and mingles familiarly with those who are capable of giving or receiving any information; and his superiority is as fully acknowledged here, as in his public labors. Most distinguished statesmen are not fitted by education for promiscuous society. One of the evils attending great men in England and other aristocratic countries is, that they have but little acquaintance with the middling classes in society; and many of them, from being educated privately, have never tried their corporeal and mental strength with beings of their own age. When mind contends with mind, without any of the distinctions of society, in a public school, the powers of each are very accurately measured, and the youth grows up with a proper knowledge of his own capacity. Mr. Webster had every advantage for this intellectual discipline. Born among the yeomanry of New Hampshire-a shrewd, inquisitive, communicative peoplehe began to talk as soon as to think. The process of an early education among them is catechetical, and the youth is accustomed to learn, both by answering and putting questions among all his friends, from his first opening a book. Thus educated, a statesman has an acquaintance with all classes of men; he knows the views of every one on the great questions of morals, politics and religion, from the highest to the lowest ; for these subjects are freely discussed by all. These early lessons of the road and the hearth of the schoolroom and the vestry-are never forgotten; they mingle advocate will not be remembered, but enough remains of his forensic and legislative exertions, fixed and settled, to establish his reputation, and to preserve it through all the ages of this Republic. There is yet thank God, 'no storied urn or consecrated bust,' to commemorate his talents or his virtues, for he still lives in the strength of manhood 'and reason's prime,' to serve his country. But he has done enough for fame; his reputation is already written upon the page of history. When a grateful country shall erect a temple for her worthies, he will stand a colossal figure for the pride of the nation, and the delight of those who love to contemplate the finest efforts of human genius. Boston-Hale's Steam Press, |