dressed an immense audience of the citizens of Boston in Faneuil Hall. Thence he returned to Washington, where he remained until the public reception which was given him in July by his political friends in the capital of Massachusetts. Once more he returned to the duties of his office at Washington, where he remained until the beginning of September. During the journey which he afterward made through Baltimore toward Marshfield, he took a severe cold, which aggravated all his old symptoms. He visited Boston several times, and at length, on the 21st of September, he returned to Marshfield for the last time, fully conscious that his condition was very critical.

To every intelligent and thinking man the close of life is always an important and solemn occasion; and thus Mr. Webster viewed it. He directed his attention, as he lay upon his couch, to the subject of religion, and requested that certain passages of Scripture should be read to him. On Sunday evening, October 10th, he dictated to his attendants a singular testimony and exposition of his religious belief. It was as follows:

66 LORD, I BELIEVE: HELP THOU MY UNBELIEF. "Philosophical argument, especially that drawn from the vastness of the universe in comparison with the apparent insignificance of this globe, has sometimes shaken. my reason for the faith which is in me; but my heart has always assured and reassured me that the gospel of Jesus Christ must be a divine reality. The Sermon on the Mount cannot be a merely human production. This belief enters into the very depths of my conscience. The whole history of man proves it.

"D. WEBSTER."

It was the earnest wish of this great man to leave behind him an express declaration of his belief in the truth of the

Christian religion; and he desired the preceding comprehensive and explicit statement to be engraved as an epitaph upon his tomb. After having thus paid due regard to the moral obligations which devolved upon him, by this and by other religious exercises, he proceeded to dispose of his worldly affairs, and to arrange them, with the same prudence, intelligence, and justice which had ever characterized his conduct in his dealings with his fellow-men during his lifetime. As the will of so remarkable a person as Mr. Webster would bear the stamp of his peculiar attributes of mind and heart, and as its details will be interesting to all intelligent readers, we here introduce it. It was as follows:

"IN THE NAME OF ALMIGHTY GOD!

"I, Daniel Webster, of Marshfield, in the county of Plymouth, and commonwealth of Massachusetts, Esquire, being now confined to my house with a serious illness, which, considering my time of life, is undoubtedly critical, but being nevertheless in the full possession of my mental faculties, do make and publish this, my last will and testa

ment:

"I commit my soul into the hands of my heavenly Father, trusting in his infinite goodness and mercy.

"I direct that my mortal remains be buried in the family-vault at Marshfield, where monuments are already erected to my deceased children and their mother. Two places are marked for other monuments, of exactly the same size and form. One of these, in proper time, is for me; and perhaps I may leave an epitaph. The other is for Mrs. Webster. Her ancestors, and all her kindred, lie in a far-distant city. My hope is, that after many years she may come to my side, and join me and others whom God hath given me.