But I suppose that the proprieties
of the occasion require that I speak for myself."

It is to the credit of Mr. Everett and of that other Massachusetts
orator, Rufus Choate, that no tinge of jealousy or of envy
ever embittered in the smallest degree their hearty love and
support of their friend. They were his pupils, his companions,
his supporters, his lovers, while he lived, and were his best
eulogists when he died.

I heard another speech of his, which I think was never reported.
He appeared before a Committee of the Legislature as counsel
for the remonstrants against the scheme to fill up the Back
Bay lands.

I do not think the employment of a Senator of the United
States as counsel before the Legislature would be approved
by public opinion now.

I do not know what year it was, but probably 1849 or 1850.
He had grown old. But I learned more of the fashion of his
mental operations than could be learned from his speeches
on great occasions, especially after they had been revised
for publication. He spoke with much contempt of a petition
signed by many of the foremost merchants and business men
of Boston. He described with great sarcasm the process of
carrying about such petitions, and the relief of the person
to whom they were presented on finding he was not asked to
give any money. "Oh, yes, I'll sign--I'll sign." He then
read out one after another the names of men well known and
honored in the city. He threw down the petition with contempt,
and the long sheet fell and unrolled upon the floor.

He had a singular habit, which made it wearisome to listen
to his ordinary speech, of groping after the most suitable
word, and trying one synonym after another till he got that
which suited him best. "Why is it, Mr. Chairman, that there
has gathered, congregated, this great number of inhabitants,
dwellers, here; that these roads, avenues, routes of travel,
highways, converge, meet, come together, here? Is it not
because we have here a sufficient, ample, safe, secure, convenient,
commodious, port, harbor, haven?" Of course when the speech
came to be printed all the synonyms but the best one would
be left out.

Mr. Webster seemed rather feeble at that time, and called
upon his friend Mr. William Dehon to read for him the evidence
and extracts from reports with which he had to deal. His
tome was the tone of ordinary conversation, and his speech,
while it would not be called hesitating, was exceedingly
sl