P R E F A C E. IT was the original design of the author to have given o . ries of descriptive sketches of scenes and persons in Congress, unconnected witlh any antecedents or relations I, the individuals introduced but, finding on examination c r what had been written that Mr. Webster formed the principal figure in each effort of his pen, he concluded to give the book a more personal character, and make it an approximat, ion to a biography. This change of design will be detected in any, the most cursory, glance at the book there being a want of congruity or unity too easily dis cernible throughout. The writer need not s3y that he has not att-empted a complete biography. I t is difficult., if not absolutely impossible, to mite the life of the living. It is not merely that friendship mould be too partial, or enmity too censorious, to present a true estimate of the character and conduct of tbe person illustrated-the difficulty in obtaining correct information is greater during the life of a person, paradoxical as it may seem, than after his decease. When one eminent in life has gone down to the grave, numbers come forward with ambitious haste, some mith letters, some mith anecdotes, some with facts illustra, tive of the cllaraeter and pursuits of the deceased, nnd of their relutionship to him. The grief me feel at the departure of a distinguished friend is greatly mitigated by the public sympathy wit11 our loss, and me hasten to give that sympathy a proper direction. Besides, of what we gain as authentic, me are obliged to suppress a part if not from regard to the feelings of the person, who is the subject of our memoir, yet from regard to the feelings of others whose relations mith 6iin might be affected unfavorably through our indiscreetness. There are many things told, in the intilllacy of friendship, m the abandon of social intercourse, that it mould be grossly reprehensible as well as indelicate to give publicity to. The earlier part of Mr. Websters life, rapidly sketehed, it was thought, mould lend new interest to his public careor - we like to trace greatness, if possible, to its sernin l principle, and dwell upon its gradual development Tho writer of these pages might Ilave given a fuller accouut of this part of Mr. Websters life, llnd he not been restrained PREFACE. by the fear of subjecting himself to a suspicion of having made too liberal use of the opportunities of private friend-. ship. What has been given he hopes mill prove not uninteresting. C O N T E N T S . CHAPTER I... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.