Daniel Webster. gate the charges made by Mr. Ingersoll against Mr. Webster. Soon after the ven erable John Quincy Adams came to his desk and addressed him thus : " Young man, you have received an appointment on a very important committee to consider a very grave charge. I am older than you are, and, perhaps, have given such a subject more thought. The greatness of every nation is mainly due to the sagacity of a few great men who have guided its policy at critical periods. It was so with the nations of antiquity, it has been especially the case with England — and so it has been, and will continue to be, with our own country. The great men of a nation are its chief treasure. You have had placed in your hands the fair fame of one of the greatest men America has produced, and be careful you do not needlessly tarnish it." Mr. Davis sent a letter to Mr. Webster, asking when he could meet the committee, and a reply was made at once, when the committee wished. At the appointed time, he produced vouchers for every expenditure but one, and requested delay to find this. In a short time it was found, having been mislaid by his secretary in an old desk in the department. Every matter Mr. Inger soll desired was investigated, and every ac cusation shown to be groundless. Mr. Davis met Mr. Ingersoll soon after, and said to him : " We have examined fully all your charges, and Mr. Webster has au thenticated, and satisfactorily accounted for every expenditure in question. Now, Mr. Ingersoll, I think you should state in the House that you have been mistaken, and make ample apology for what you have said and done." His reply was, " I do not know about that — I do not think I shall." "Then," said Mr. Davis, " I addressed him thus: ' I wish no more to do with you, sir; and if you ever speak to me again I will shoot you.'" All the artists to whom Mr. Webster sat have passed away, the last and most famous,
233
Mr. Healy, only a few weeks ago, who painted the large canvas in Faneuil Hall. Among others to whom he gave sittings was the late Thomas B. Lawson of Lowell, in connection with which the artist told me a singular circumstance. It was at the time of the explosion on the Princeton, Feb. 28, 1844, when so many distinguished men were present and killed, among them two mem bers of the cabinet. For some reason, Mr. Webster did not wish to go on the excur sion, and, as he had made an engagement with Mr. Lawson, he requested the artist to insist, on its fulfilment, which was done. The day after the fatal explosion, Mr. Web ster came to the artist and said, with much feeling, " Mr. Lawson, you have saved my life." He expressed to the artist much sat isfaction with the portrait, and as he looked at it said, " That is the face I shave every morning." I have seen it stated that he made the same remark to Mr. Healy. The original, or a copy by the artist, was in the
DANIEL WEBSTER AT 35. (From the painting by Chester Harding.)
