[Washington,] Sunday morning. June 22, 1851.
MY DEAR SIR,—It had
been my intention to leave Washington for Boston to-morrow, but when it was
determined that the corner-stone of the addition to the Capitol should be laid
on the Fourth of July, a strong wish was expressed that I should be here on
that occasion. I objected to this, but the President seemed to think it
important, and I consented. He thought I could make my visit and return in
season, but I thought the interval too short, and therefore concluded to stay
hereabout till after the Fourth, and then immediately go North, with a pretty
good chance for a long visit. The President has gone to Virginia with Mr.
Stuart and Mr. Hall, and will probably return at the end of this week, or on
Monday of next. In the mean time I think of a little excursion or two into the
country; shall probably go to Harper's Ferry where I never was, and to
Winchester, and its neighborhood.
My address on the
Fourth, will be quite short and general, or may be altogether omitted if the
weather should be bad. The
Albany speech is
well under way. It will make a handsome pamphlet, though not very long. The
Buffalo speech, as it appears in the Intelligencer of yesterday, is pretty well
corrected.
If any thing
important should come to hand by the mail of to-day or to-morrow, I shall write you again. On
Tuesday, I think Mrs. Webster and myself shall go up to the Shenandoah, in the
cars. If in any of the mountain streams near Winchester I should happen to take
a trout, I shall wish that you were present to take another.
I am, dear Sir,
always and everywhere, yours truly,
SOURCE: Fletcher
Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol.
2, pp. 445-6
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