ver was a better example of Emerson's maxim
that "a Conservative is a Democrat grown old and gone to seed."
As the young man grew in reputation and influence he became
more moderate in his opinions. He was appointed Judge of
the Supreme Court; then was elected Governor by a union of
all parties in what was called "the era of good feeling";
held the office nine years; then represented the Worcester
district in Congress, and withdrew to a dignified and honorable
retirement from which he emerged to hold the office of Mayor
of Worcester the first year of the life of the city. He was,
as I remember him, the very embodiment of dignity and aristocracy.
He had a diffuse and rather inflated style, both in public
speaking and in private conversation. His dignity had a bare
suspicion of pomposity in it. He looked with great disdain
upon the simplicity of behavior of some of his successors,
and their familiarity with all classes of the people. He
came into my office one morning full of an intense disgust
with something Governor Briggs had been doing. He said: "In
my time, sir, the office of Governor of the Commonwealth was
an office of dignity. The arrival of the Chief Magistrate
in any town was an event of some importance. He travelled
in his carriage, with suitable attendants. He appeared in
public only on great occasions. But now you see hand-bills
about the street giving notice that there is to be a Temperance
tea-party to-morrow afternoon, in some vestry or small hall.
Music by the Peak family. His Excellency George N. Briggs
will address the meeting. Admission, ten cents."

He accepted his position at the head of the social life of
Worcester as a matter of course. I remember one night, when
a party was breaking up, I said to the person next to me, in
some jesting fashion: "I am sorry to see the decay of the
old aristocracy." The Governor, who was getting his coat
at the other end of the room, overheard the remark, and called
out: "Who is lamenting our decay?"

The Governor looked with great disgust upon the formation
of the Free Soil Party and the Anti-Slavery movement. But
when the war came he remained thoroughly loyal. He encouraged
enlistment in every way, and measures for the support of the
Government had all the weight of his influence. He was a
Presidential elector, and voted for Abraham Lincoln at the
time of his second election.

When Webster was first chosen Senator he refused to be a candid