He informed Mr. Webster of our
presence, and Mr. Webster soon appeared. He was dressed in what was
known as his court dress. A blue coat with bright buttons, buff vest,
black trousers, and patent leather shoes. His white cravat was high
and thick, over which was turned a wide collar. After the gentlemen
had been presented, he took me by the arm and we proceeded to the
reception room of the President. At the moment of our arrival Mayor
Bigelow was presenting the members of the city government. At once
Mr. Webster became excited, and advancing to the President, he took
possession of the ground, treating the Mayor as though he were a dog
under his feet. He introduced us in a loud voice, and at the end he
seemed to regret that the State government was not a more numerous
body.
The day following had been designated for the public reception of the
President and the members of his Cabinet in the Hall of the House of
Representatives. It followed that it was my official duty to deliver
an address of welcome. I prepared my address in which I made an
allusion to the members of the Cabinet from other States, but strange,
as it now appears, I made no allusion to Mr. Webster. I gave the
address to the newspapers and it was not until eleven o'clock that I
awoke to the fact of my neglect. I prepared a paragraph and sent it
to the papers in season for the afternoon edition.
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