Herald Of The Times

We are indebted to our friend, F. Russell, Esq., the Elocutionist, for the following lines on Webster; they are from the pen of the late Hon. William Hunter, of this town. They were given to Mr. Russell by Mr. Hunter, a year or two ago and have never been published :-

WEBSTER, thou seem'st a sage of by-gone time
Partaking of its genius, not its crime,
When Selden, Hampden, Hartlib blessed an age
That fills with glory the historic page,---
That time when Milton sung, and from his gloom
Perhaps his guilt, Cromwell hot bolts of doom
Thou art a Puritan in mould
A Patriot in thy soul.
Firm, not severe, and cautious though not cold,
Quick to detect, and in refuting, bold,--
The world controlling, by thy self-control.
Talent and eloquence are steely arms,
By thee resistless sway'd, but these above
Is honesty, scorning the aid of art,
Disdaining Statesmen's wiles, untouch'd by vulgar charms,
And springing forth th' fiery ring of the heart,
That woos and wins for thee a people's love.
Undoubting urge thy part,
Aloof from fear, abjuring hate,
The utmost peril of thy fate
Is triumph for a Patriot's heart,
To be the champion of thy country's laws,
Even to fall a martyr in her cause,
And by thy laurel-blooming grave
'Thy Country from her foes to save
Is higher lilies, and purer glory
Fitter, far, for future story
Than shoutings shrill for ill-got pow'r
From the base hirelings of the hour.
With thee I venture not to soar or shine,
And yet my star was horoscope with thine,
Will still attendant, not submissive wait,
And shed a feeble tho' congenial ray
To cheer, may hap, to decorate thy way,
And bless, unenvying, that deserved state
Which the People in their might
With disabused sight
Rejoicing in the light
Eschewing ill, assuming right
And deeming ev'ry flatterer a foe
Will on thee and truth bestow.
Then to the rescue rush !
Banner bearing,
Truth declaring,
Honor wreathes thy daring
1841.