enough to enable him to hear his son's first argument, and to be gratified at the fulfilment of the promising predictions that had been circulated regarding him. He died in April, 1806.

In May, 1807, Daniel, whom we shall now designate by the more dignified appellation of Mr. Webster, was admitted to practice as attorney and counsellor of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire, and in September of the same year relinquished his office to his brother Ezekiel, who had then obtained admission to the Bar. Daniel then removed to Portsmouth. It may here be proper to say, that Mr. Webster always espoused with warmth the cause of Ezekiel, his only brother. A man of strong, native powers, though slow to action, Ezekiel only lacked opportunity and a longer life to have become a distinguished personage. He died in the prime of life, while arguing a cause in Concord, New Hampshire, and was lamented by a large class of friends and mourning relatives.

Daniel Webster was married in June, 1808, to Grace Fletcher, daughter of Rev. Mr. Fletcher, of Hopkinton, New Hampshire. They had four children-Grace, Fletcher, Julia, and Edward-of whom only Fletcher now survives. Grace died early; Edward was killed in the Mexican War; Julia married one of the Appletons, of Boston, and died a few years since.

Mr. Webster resided in Portsmouth for a period of nine years. The Bar of that time presented a roll of brilliant names. Samuel Dexter and Joseph Story, of Massachusetts, William K. Atkinson, Attorney

General of New Hampshire, Judge Jeremiah Smith, Jeremiah Mason, and men of like calibre, were the leading practitioners of the law. With them was sustained a pleasant and profitable intercourse, and the friendship which they extended to Mr. Webster was no small assistance to the efforts of the new aspirant for legal honors. Mr. Webster's practice here was chiefly circuit. He followed the Superior Court into many of the Counties of the State, and was retained in most of the important causes upon the docket. Office he never held in New Hampshire, and his private professional practice was not remarkably lucrative. It has been remarked, as a circumstance somewhat singular, that in very few cases was Mr. Webster employed as junior counsel. Scarcely a dozen instances of this kind occurred during his long career. Men had occasion for his services as their leading counsel, and reposed in him the utmost confidence--a reliance which was never misplaced or regretted, and to which many will now turn with a grateful recollection of the value of his aid.

Soon after the Declaration of War against England, Mr. Webster was called to enter the arena of public life. Though but thirty years of age, an early period to take part in the Councils of a Nation-the native strength of Mr. Webster's character had already pointed him out as the man that was needed for the times; and the undeveloped Statesman made his first step in that long career of public life which has identified his name, as Representative, Senator, Diplomatist, and Cabinet Minister, with the history of the United States.

MR. WEBSTER IN CONGRESS.

The political contest which resulted in the election of Mr. Webster to the House of Representatives, was long and spirited. A vehement opposition was started against the party which he represented, and although his ultimate triumph was gratifying in the extreme, the struggle was severe. Mr. Webster finally received a very handsome majority over his opponent, and took his seat at the Extra Session of the Thirteenth Congress, in May, 1813. The time at which he entered Congress was one of great excitement. The question of the prosecution of the War was warmly agitated, and raised divisions of party opinion, that threatened serious difficulties. The wisdom of retorting by severe retaliatory measures, against the arbitrary acts of Great Britain, respecting American shipping, was doubted by many members of that Congress. The conviction of the necessity of the conflict was not general throughout the country. Men objected that the War had been begun by a faction, that it was non-essential in principle, and that it needed not to be prosecuted with any extraordinary degree of ardor. Into the midst of this caldron of differing opinions, Mr. Webster was thrown by his constituents. He was equal to the emergency in which he found himself plunged. That Congress comprised men of surpassing talent. Of the House, Henry Clay was Speaker. Among the members were Calhoun, Forsyth, Grundy, Gaston, Pickering. Intellect and learning shed a lustre over

the Lower House, which it has rarely witnessed since. Mr. Webster made his appearance punctually at the commencement of the Session, and was immediately placed by Mr. Clay upon the Committee of Foreign Affairs, a position of honor and responsibility.

Mr. Webster delivered his maiden speech in the House on Thursday, 10th June, 1813. It took Congress by surprise. A young man, appearing for the first time in public life, and previously unknown in political circles, had made a sudden and indelible impression upon older and more experienced men. The result has proved that the early promise was not fallacious. Intellect sharpened and strengthened by continual exercise, especially in courts of law, and under the excitement of vehement opposition, is pretty sure to receive a rapid and healthy development. Mr. Webster founded his speech upon certain resolutions which he introduced in relation to the Berlin and Milan Decrees, requesting the President "to inform the House when, by whom, and in what manner, the first intelligence was given to this Government of the decree of the Government of France, bearing date the 28th of April, 1811, and purporting to be a definitive repeal of the Decrees of Berlin and Milan." The resolutions were supported by Mr. Webster, in a speech of masterly power and vigor, producing facts and arguments, which could do no less than rivet the attention of the House. The object of Mr. Webster was merely to obtain information, which was freely communicated by President Madison. The action of Napoleon in regard to the maritime questions of the day was productive of such

measure of retaliation from England, that great danger was experienced by the neutral powers which had vessels upon the ocean. Great Britain then insisting upon her right of search in vessels belonging to the United States, the pent-up passions found vent, and the mother country and her daughter were again embroiled in war. Mr. Webster entered Congress, not at the commencement of this second struggle, but in the heat of its progress. War was raging when he took his seat. The minutiae of the preparations for its continuance, were allotted to him as one of the National Council. Although opposed to the policy which had been adopted, he offered no very serious opposition to the prosecution of the war, and contented himself with seeking to guide the strong current into channels which appeared safest and most expedient. He had always believed that the most efficient method of crippling the power of England, was to attack her upon the sea, and hence, at an early period, he advocated the improvement of the Navy. Before the commencement of the War, or his entrance into Congress, he had written several powerful arguments favoring an increase of our naval force, and one of his earliest speeches in the House was intended to accom

plish the same purpose. Other topics of national interest and importance also occupied his attention while he continued a member of the House. On the repeal of the Embargo, and on an appeal from the Chair on a motion for the previous question, he spoke strongly and with effect. His standing as an orator was speedily attained. It never degenerated into a secondary quality, and the part assumed by him in