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

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

28 November 1827

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James William Paige

Relates to his brother-in-law that en route to New York, the steamboat on which the Websters travelled could not leave the New London, Connecticut harbor due to stormy weather. Reports that because of his wife Grace's ill health, they decided to instead take a coach to New Haven on Monday morning 26 November 1827. Requests Paige to manage a business transaction likely related to his law practice in Boston. Bottom quarter of second page missing. Year written in pencil at a later date.

GLC01946.06

20 February 1828

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James William Paige

Requests to hear about his brother-in-law's visit to Hartford, Connecticut. Complains that he has not received mail beyond Baltimore, and blames the stagecoach drivers. Reports that the stagecoach got into an accident going to Baltimore while carrying Associate Supreme Court Judge Joseph Story. States that he has a visitor and stops writing. Returns to report that the visitor was New York lawyer David Ogden. Year written in pencil at a later date.

GLC01946.08

April 12, 1829

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James William Paige

Informs his brother-in-law that he has made it through "this most melancholy occasion." Appears to be speaking of the 10 April 1829 death from a heart attack of his 47-year-old brother Ezekiel. States that "Mrs. W. [probably his brother's wife] bears all with incredible patience and resignation" and that the "whole community seems most deeply impressed" and "shocked by the occurrence." Refers to several friends and family who attended the occasion, including the Levys, Mr. Kelly, and Ellen. Seal intact.

GLC01946.11

8 March 1834

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James William Paige

Discusses legislative action regarding the Bank of the United States, including introduction of the Massachusetts Resolutions before the Senate. Notes that the House majority remains small, and that Senate support should be stronger, but that John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay are acting unpredictably regarding the measure.

GLC01946.17

13 October 1839

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James William Paige

Relates his European travels to his brother-in-law. States that Samuel Jaudon, his friend and former cashier of the Bank of the United States, is having financial difficulty but is "on his legs." Complains of the high rate of interest for Americans when drawing English capital, claiming it is the goal among certain British banks to "defuse and decry American credit." Continues writing on 16 October to discuss his departure for Paris, delayed so he could "put letters by the Queen" (likely Queen Victoria). States that Jaudon completed his loan 15 October. Recipient inferred from content.

GLC01946.18

February 2, 1840

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Informs his sister-in-law that he forwarded her previous letter to his wife. States that he received news from Paige's father, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Joseph Story. States he has settled in with Mr. Curtis (possibly New York Representative Edward Curtis), and Mr. Evans (possibly Maine Representative George Evans), as well as his French and law books. Docket states that this letter contains an enclosing from "La'Salle" (not present).

GLC01946.19

11 November 1841

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Offers this letter to his sister-in-law with a gift. Hopes she values the gift beyond its "material & the workmanship." Offers the gift to assure her of his "constant and affectionate regard."

GLC01946.21

circa 1842

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Writes to his sister-in-law, enclosing a note of introduction for British foreign minister Lord Alexander Ashburton and James Paige, Harriette's husband. Instructs Harriette to have the note "sealed and presented on [Ashburton's] arrival." States, "You will hear that the the [sic] Treaty is done! and I am almost done, too," referring to the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842, which defined the North Eastern boundary between the United States and Canada and resulted in a lasting peace agreement between Britain and America. Reports that the only issue not negotiated with Ashburton was that of…

GLC01946.22

29 August 1842

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

States at the top of the letter, "1 o'clock- Tariff passed," likely referring to the Tariff of 1842, which returned duties to what they had been before the Compromise Tariff of 1833. Thanks his sister-in-law Paige for the sixth "mouchoir," or handkerchief she had recently given to him. Informs Paige of his travel plans through Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Nashua, New Hampshire, and Marshfield, Massachusetts. Requests Paige to find a "good natured woman" to cook for him now and then; states that he prefers a white woman. Records that this letter was written at 1 o'clock. 1842 written…

GLC01946.23

27 March 1844

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Describes a service he attended the previous evening to his sister-in-law. Discusses the form used in the book of Habakkuk, stating that the "passages ... present ... a remarkable instance of the Hebrew form of Poetic composition." Quotes 3 Habakkuk, verses 17 and 18. Suggests Harriette read Bishop Lowth's writings on Hebrew Poetry, which for Webster "opened ... quite a new view of the beauties of the prophetical & practical parts of the Old Testament." Signed and docketed on the back by Paige.

GLC01946.28

2 October 1844

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Reports to his sister-in-law Paige that he enjoys the company of her husband, James William Paige, in Philadelphia. States that he plans to venture into the Mining District of Pennsylvania and hopes James will join him. Relates that he went to a party the evening before with James at the home of John Morin Scott, Mayor of Philadelphia.

GLC01946.29

1845

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James William Paige

Thanks his brother-in-law for sending a beautiful basket. States that he went with his son Edward Webster to a pond where they acquired some ducks to send to Paige. Referencing the killed ducks, declares it "murderous, & hardly fair sport; but it shows how things are done, down here in Marshfield." 1845 written on this document in pencil at a later date.

GLC01946.30

1845

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Harriette Story Paige

Declines a dinner invitation to his sister-in-law's house in favor of an invitation to Mr. Ward's (possibly Thomas Ward, the Boston agent of the Baring Brothers banking firm in England) where he plans to meet Mr. Granville Harcourt Vernon, English Parliamentary figure and son of the Archbishop of York. States that Vernon had an evening with the Webster's at Mr. Baron Parke's. Reports that Vernon's sister, Miss Harcourt, married Colonel Molcomb, son of Sir John Molcomb. October 1845 written in pencil on this document at a later date. Document comes with an envelope with an address, an…

GLC01946.31

20 November 1846

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James William Paige

Requests that his brother-in-law Paige accept a case of port wine, now in Boston, in Paige's store. States that the wine will improve with Paige's care. Instructs Paige to send one case to Marshfield, Massachusetts, where Webster owned a residence.

GLC01946.33