was taken word for word from one of Lord Mansfield’s decisions.  The wretched Peake’s character was rehabilitated, and Mr. Webster silenced.  This was an illustration of a failing of Mr. Webster at that time.  He was rough and unceremonious, and even overbearing, both to court and bar, the natural result of a new sense of power in an inexperienced man.  This harshness of manner, however, soon disappeared.  He learned rapidly to practise the stately and solemn courtesy which distinguished him through life.

There was one lawyer, however, at the head of his profession in New Hampshire, who had more effect upon Mr. Webster than any other whom he ever met there or elsewhere.  This was the man to whom the Shaker said:  “By thy size and thy language[1] I judge that thou art Jeremiah Mason.”  Mr. Mason was one of the greatest common-lawyers this country has ever produced.  Keen and penetrating in intellect, he was master of a relentless logic and of a style which, though simple and homely, was clear and correct to the last point.  Slow and deliberate in his movements, and sententious in his utterances, he dealt so powerfully with evidence and so lucidly with principles of law that he rarely failed to carry conviction to his hearers.  He was particularly renowned for his success in getting verdicts.  Many years afterwards Mr. Webster gave it as his deliberate opinion that he had never met with a stronger intellect, a mind of more native resources or quicker and deeper vision than were possessed by Mr. Mason, whom in mental reach and grasp and in closeness of reasoning he would not allow to be second even to Chief Justice Marshall.  Mr. Mason on his side, with his usual sagacity, at once detected the great talents of Mr. Webster.  In the first case where they were opposed, a murder trial, Mr. Webster took the place of the Attorney-General for the prosecution.  Mr. Mason, speaking of the impression made by his youthful and then unknown opponent, said:—­

“He broke upon me like a thunder shower in July, sudden, portentous, sweeping all before it.  It was the first case in which he appeared at our bar; a criminal prosecution in which I had arranged a very pretty defence, as against the Attorney-General, Atkinson, who was able enough in his way, but whom I knew very well how to take.  Atkinson being absent, Webster conducted the case for him, and turned, in the most masterly manner, the line of my defences, carrying with him all but one of the jurors, so that I barely saved my client by my best exertions.  I was nevermore surprised than by this remarkable exhibition of unexpected power.  It surpassed, in some respects, anything which I have ever since seen even in him.”

[Footnote 1:  Mr. Mason, as is well known, was six feet seven inches in height, and his language, always very forcible and direct, was, when he was irritated, if we may trust tradition, at times somewhat profane.]

With all his admiration for his young antagonist, however, one cannot help noticing that the generous and modest but astute counsel for the defence ended by winning his case.