DANIEL WEBSTER TO JEREMIAH MASON. WASHINGTON, March 2, 1830. DEAR SIR, I see in the "Boston Statesman" of February 26 or 27, a renewal of an old story, told a year ago or two ago, about a letter, said to be written by me to Mr. Atherton, relative to the Hartford Convention. If I remember, when the story was told before, your name had something to do with it. I have no recollection of any letter to Mr. Atherton on the subject, written by you and me, or by me singly. If you could inquire of Mr. Atherton, and learn whether any letter of any kind was written to him, by us, or either of us, without communicating to him that you do it at my request, I should be glad to know what he has to say about it. But I do not incline to inquire myself, nor that you should inquire in my name or behalf. We have no news here since I wrote you last. Appointments not acted on. We have seen an account of your Portsmouth Town Meeting, -the letters, etc. I believe Mr. Bell can find no originals here. Yours truly, D. WEBSTER. JEREMIAH MASON TO DANIEL WEBSTER. PORTSMOUTH, May 13, 1830. DEAR SIR,-I send you inclosed a letter from Robert Means in answer to my request to him to inquire of Mr. Atherton respecting the newspaper story of your advising him to join the Hartford. Convention. I suppose you have seen his voluntary disavowal in the Boston papers of your having made any such application. (330) Vast numbers of your speech have been published, and they seem to be producing a strong impression. Were it not for the depraved condition of political morality, I should entertain hopes that the present discussion in the Senate would produce great and permanent alterations in public opinion. It must doubtless have considerable effect. I hope Governor Bell will answer Woodbury's miserable trash. Indeed, I do not see how he can in justice to himself avoid doing it. Our election is lost, as you have probably seen by the newspapers, The falsehoods and forgeries against Upham were contradicted as speedily as they could be, but there was not time for the contradiction to have its full effect, except in the immediate vicinity of this place. It is believed that if the election had come on a fortnight later Upham would have carried it. As it is, both Senate and House will have majorities of Jacksonians. It is not certain, however, that Woodbury or (in case of his being otherwise provided for) Hill will be elected to the Senate of the United States. It is quite possible that some other Jackson man may step in before them..... Yours as ever, J. M. JOSEPH STORY TO JEREMIAH MASON. CAMBRIDGE, May 6, 1831. DEAR SIR, I returned home on Wednesday, having had an unusually short term at Portland. On my return I found my youngest daughter (Louisa), very ill of the throat distemper and scarlet fever. She has been very dangerously ill, and is not yet deemed by her physician out of danger, although he encourages us to hope she may recover. Her fate must be decided in a few days. Whether I shall be able to attend the circuit court at Portsmouth, is wholly uncertain. Under existing circumstances I cannot leave home, (331) and indeed, I am myself obliged from her critical state to be day and night in her room. If a decidedly favorable change should take place before Sunday evening, I shall go from Boston in the mail-stage of that evening for Portsmouth. If there is not such a change, it will be quite impossible for me to give my attendance. I must beg the favor of you to communicate the facts to Judge Harvey, whom I have not the pleasure of knowing. He can do with the business of the court exactly as he may deem most convenient. I exceedingly regret this occurrence on many accounts; and am now so exhausted by continual watchings that I can scarcely hold my pen. Believe me very truly and affectionately yours, JOSEPH STORY. JOSEPH STORY TO JEREMIAH MASON. CAMBRIDGE, May 9, 1831. MY DEAR SIR,-The event which my thought foreboded, has occurred. My dear little daughter died this morning. We are in utter despair; and I am incapable of leaving home, from mental exhaustion, even if it were otherwise possible. I have no doubt that the acts of 1789 and 1794, to which you have referred, cover the case. The words come completely up to the case. The marshal should therefore adjourn the court from day to day for the four days, and then to the next term. I can say no more. I am desolate beyond expression. You and Mrs. Mason have met with a like calamity, and can pity and sympathize with us. God bless and preserve you and yours. I am most affectionately your friend, JOSEPH STORY. (332) JEREMIAH MASON TO JOSEPH STORY. PORTSMOUTH, May 23, 1831. MY DEAR SIR,-When I lately intruded on you with a letter of business, I had no apprehension of the melancholy event which had involved you in such heartrending distress. I am fully aware how idle would be the attempt to mitigate your and Mrs. Story's sufferings, from your late bereavement, by any consolation that I can impart. I still feel a strong inclination to let you know that we most sincerely sympathize and condole with you. Parental affection is the most uniform as well as the strongest of any that our nature is capable of. I have never known any grief to equal that of parents from the loss of children. The death of an interesting child in the early bloom of life, blasts all flattering hopes, and implants a wound that seems remediless. Philosophy and religion, with the aid of time, may assuage the suffering. The chief consolation must come from hopes which religion furnishes. In truth without these hopes life, checkered and clouded as it is by the constant occurrence of such distressing events, would not be worth possessing. And this, I think, constitutes one of the most solid foundations of those hopes. It seems |