1 October 1843

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Informs his sister-in-law that he travelled through Rochester, Philadelphia, and Baltimore before arriving in Washington, D.C., where he stayed at the house he formerly occupied as Secretary of State. Reports seeing the family of Dr. Harvey Lindsley, a Washington physician and member of the American Colonization Society. Refers to a new addition to the social circle, Harriette LeRoy Lindsley, likely a relative of Dr. Lindsley.

GLC01946.26

20 March 1844

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Reports to his sister-in-law that he arrived in New York the previous day. Expresses concern regarding the sorrow of daughter-in-law Caroline Story White Webster, referring to the recent death of her daughter Grace Fletcher Webster. Includes a note to Harriette's husband, James William Paige. Requests that James inform a Mr. Tucker to retain anything in Webster's name scheduled to arrive on a boat in Boston. States that his goods might arrive before him in Boston on "The Mozart," a boat sent from Washington, D.C.

GLC01946.27

5 January 1846

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Informs his sister-in-law that he left two items at the Paige's residence in Boston: a "tin pail or box of bristles intended for Mrs. Curtis," and his "breach pin, commonly called Mrs. Perkins." Instructs Paige to send the pail to Mrs. Edward Curtis in New York, and requests that she send his breach pin to Washington, D.C., using his free frank. Refers to Mr. Adams (possibly John Quincy Adams) in Congress as a "man who sometimes confounds his enemies; but quite as often his friends." Hopes the squall Adams raised in Congress will blow over. Records that this document was written at 11 o'…

GLC01946.32

29 April 1847

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

On a tour through the southern states, Webster writes to his sister-in-law Paige, stating that Richmond, Virginia has a "pleasant beat." Poetically describes morning as a "new image of light, a new breaking forth of the sun, a new waking up of all that has life, from a sort of temporary death, to behold, again the works of God, the Heavens & the Earth." Reports that he had left Washington the previous day with his wife Caroline LeRoy Webster, William Seaton (Webster's friend and co-owner of the congressional paper The National Intelligencer), Josephine Seaton (William's daughter), and…

GLC01946.35

January 18, 1848

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Thanks his sister-in-law and her husband James William Paige for the interest and concern they expresses for his reputation. Intends to thank Horace Binney Wallace, son of Webster's friend and Philadelphia lawyer John B. Wallace, for an article. Praises the characters of Mrs. Wallace and Horace B. Wallace.

GLC01946.36

January 28, 1848

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Requests that an unnamed friend of his sister-in-law Paige forgive him for forgetting to submit payment for a book he ordered. States that his wife Caroline LeRoy Webster has "driven out" with Mrs. Blatchford (likely the wife of his close friend and business associate Richard Blatchford) and another acquaintance.

GLC01946.37

February 14, 1848

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Informs his sister-in-law that Washington physician and friend Dr. Harvey Lindsley "reprieved [Webster] out of the hands of the Court ... till he can deal with [Webster's] rheumatics." Reports there is "little interest in the House of Congress" besides several speeches he intends to send to Harriette's husband James William Paige.

GLC01946.38

February 4, 1848

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Expresses concern to his sister-in-law Paige regarding the health of his daughter Julia Webster. Expects daily reports of Julia's health from Paige, Caroline, and his son Daniel Fletcher Webster. Reports that he had written a note to Horace Binney Wallace, son of Webster's friend and Philadelphia lawyer John B. Wallace.

GLC01946.40

4 March 1848

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Fletcher Webster

Written during the 1846-1848 United States War with Mexico. Webster updates his son on arrangements to receive the body of Webster's other son, Major Edward Webster, who had died in camp near Mexico City in January. Reports that General Roger Jones wrote to a friend in New Orleans requesting that the "Remains" of Major Edward Webster continue from New Orleans to New York or Boston. Notes the Court (possibly the Supreme Court) has adjourned and that there is nothing before Congress of a pressing nature to him, except the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which he opposed. Refers disapprovingly…

GLC01946.41

February 15, 1850

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James William Paige

Serving as Massachusetts Senator, reports to his brother-in-law that he sent a letter from Paige to William Meredith, Secretary of the Treasury in 1850. Expects to receive Meredith's reply within two days.

GLC01946.42

17 February 1850

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James William Paige

Reports to his brother-in-law that William Meredith, Secretary of the Treasury, wrote to the Committee of Commerce in the House of Representatives regarding the subject of coinage. Reports that he will take the issue to Senate the following day. States that the admission of California to the Union as a free state in the Compromise of 1850 will not "break up, break down, or overset the Union" though the Union "may be tipped ... as a cart is liable to tip up when a heavy weight is put in to the hind end." Humorously ends by saying "You may go, on buying & selling, & getting gain."

GLC01946.43

18 February 1850

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James William Paige

Reports to his brother-in-law that the Chairman of the Committee of Commerce in the House of Representatives will report a Coinage Bill the following day and "put it, immediately, on its passage." Promises Paige that if the Bill is delayed in the House of Representatives, he will introduce a similar Bill in the Senate.

GLC01946.44

December 29, 1850

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Writes to his sister-in-law on the subject of tripe. States that Harriette's husband, James William Paige, remembers Mrs. Hayman, who previously served as cook for Webster's friends Sarah and George Blake. Compares the cooking skills of Monica McCarty, his cook and servant, to Hayman.

GLC01946.45

1850

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Pamphlet signed

Title: Daniel Webster's oration on the Compromise Bill

Published in Washington, D.C. by Gideon & Co., printers. Includes a dedication written on the front cover, likely to his brother-in-law James William Paige, stating "My dear friend & brother, accept this, as a copy of my last speech in Congress. Yours affectionately ... " Signed by Daniel Webster. Webster's speech supported the Compromise Bill of 1850, focusing on the following points: admission of California to the Union as a free state, the organization of New Mexico and Utah territories with no mention of slavery (the institution was to be decided upon by inhabitants of the…

GLC01946.47

February 5, 1851

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James William Paige

Sends papers to his brother-in-law, including his famous Plymouth Oration (also entitled "First Settlement of New England") delivered in Plymouth, Massachusetts on 22 December 1820. Informs Paige that the papers were refined by New York Representative Edward Curtis. Reports that former Massachusetts Representative Edward Everett agreed to superintend the publication of the papers. States that his previous clerk, State Department employee George Abbot, intends to assist Everett with the publication.

GLC01946.48

14 July 1852

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Letter signed

Title: to James William Paige

Informs his brother-in-law that he can not go to the British Provinces in Canada until he resigns as Secretary of State, a position to which he was reappointed in 1850. Discusses whether he will live in Washington, D.C. or Boston following his resignation. Regrets that Willie (possibly Paige's son) cannot come visit. Based on the handwriting, possibly written by Webster's clerk, George Abbot, and signed by Webster.

GLC01946.50

circa 1845

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Thanks his sister-in-law for a letter he recently received. States that he is in the company Mary Scott (likely a friend of the Websters), and Mr. & Mrs. Curtis (likely Webster's friend, lawyer and New York Representative Edward Curtis and his wife). States that letter is written "In the Senate."

GLC01946.57

circa 1845

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Informs his sister-in-law that he plans to dine with his biographer, lawyer George T. Curtis later in the evening. Reports that he will attempt to conclude dinner with Curtis by 9 o'clock in order to play a game of whist. Letter is written at 2 o'clock from the Fremont House.

GLC01946.58

circa 1845

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Informs his sister-in-law that he hopes to be in Boston, where she resides, by the following Saturday. "Washington" written in pencil on this document at a later date.

GLC01946.61

January 10, 1848

Manuscript letter

Title: to Daniel Webster

An unknown author informs Webster that the "Government and Country are approaching a crisis." Reports that the United States will face great financial difficulty by the end of 1848. Complains of the financial strain placed on the United States caused by the Mexican War (1846-1848) and the Revenue Tariff of 1845. States that the market of the United States is deprived of food and predicts closures in French ports and changes in the British economic market. Complains about Secretary of the Treasury Robert J. Walker's Tariff of 1846 which moderately lowered many rates, but which many…

GLC01946.67

4 April 1863

Linthion, C.S., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James A. Washington

General Richard B. Garnett has ordered that Wortham's battalion move its position and await further orders. At bottom is an autograph note signed by Washington, to Wortham, reading "I will wait for you here. Come as quickly as possible. No news." Written two miles outside of Washington, D.C. After receiving the note, Washington forwarded it to Wortham, and added his note at the bottom. James A. Washington was a Colonel in the Fiftieth North Carolina Infantry, in command of George Wortham, ranking just above him. General Richard B. Garnett would be killed exactly three months later while…

GLC02233.20

17 May 1863

Wortham, George, fl. 1823-1883

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James S. Wortham

Writes his father saying his regiment is leaving for Virginia, his application for a furlough was denied, and he is temporarily in command of the regiment. Informed by a General that he "cannot be spared from the field," but he expects to be granted a furlough soon. Wortham is in command of the Regiment because Colonel Washington is sick. Adds, "P.S. May 19th I have just learned where we are going to. It is Virginia. We have been waiting here since the 17th for transportation and do not know when we can get off - perhaps tonight, perhaps not in two or three days…."

GLC02233.22

28 July 1863

Burch, James Anderson, 1829-1906

Autograph document signed

Title: [Court Martial proceedings in the case of John Absher for being absent without leave]

Details court martial proceedings of John Absher, who pled guilty to the charge of "absence without leave," but attempted to defend his conduct, saying he was unable to return in time due to poor health. Records specifics of the charge, testimony from the trial, and resulting sentence. Despite Absher's defense, he was sentenced to "be bucked with a stick ¾ of an inch in diameter and gaged for twenty days two hours in the morning and be compelled to stand in the stocks two hours in the evening of each day." James A. Burch was a Captain in the Fiftieth North Carolina Infantry. Later served…

GLC02233.32

3 August 1863

Cherry, John H., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Wortham

Cherry's boat was taken from him and he asks that Wortham return it as Cherry is poor and crippled and depends on the boat. Written at "WnSton, North Carolina," possibly Winston-Salem or Washington. "My boat (a very nice one, which I would not take $1000 for at these times) was taken from me at my moorings here and as I am a poor man, Col, the Yankees having destroyed all my property in their raid through here under Genl Foster and as I have been for 2 yrs & am now a cripple and had it (the boat) as a dependence mainly I respectfully hope that you will (taking in consideration my…

GLC02233.34

25 May 1864

Ayers, D.A., fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Wortham

Ayers, searching for African-Americans with his cavalry, so far has "arrested but one negro...and he was not armed." Believes more are between Jamesville and Washington and will continue to search. Excerpt: "…I have been driving faithfully all day and have not arrested but one negro that I have found in the woods and he was not armed, though I have him with me yet. I have correct information from some of the Negroes and they were between Jamesville and Washington, some of them having stolen a canoe and crossed the River about Hyman's Ferry 4 miles above Plymouth. I am going to drive…

GLC02233.41