382 Festival of the 



ourselves a week ago on the edge of the Grand Bank ; — we were in sound- 

 ings in American waters, and in the ancient and favorite field of New Eng- 

 land industry. The shores of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, as we 

 coasted along them, seemed to have a claim upon us as a part of our native 

 continent, and made us feel that we had at length crossed the world-divid- 

 ing deep : — and when about sunrise this morning, after stretching down 

 from Halifax against a stiff south-wester, I beheld Cape Ann light-house at 

 a dim and misty distance, I must say that I thought it one of the most beau- 

 tiful pieces of architecture I ever beheld. I do not know to what particu- 

 lar order it belongs, nor the proportion of the height to the diameter. And 

 as to the ornaments of the capita], Mr. President, whether they are acan- 

 thus or lotus, or any other flower in your conservatory, I am quite unable 

 to say ; — but this I will say, that after seeing many of the finest buildings 

 in the old world and the new, I came to the conclusion, at about six o'clock 

 this morning, that Cape Ann light-house beat them all. [Applause.] 



It would be impossible, sir, to describe the emotions awakened in my 

 mind by the different objects on the well-known coast, as we dashed rapidly 

 up the bay, — borne on the iron wings of steam, till at last the welcome 

 sight of Boston burst upon me, as she sits enthroned between her sister 

 heights, presenting to me, as it were., within her family embrace and imme- 

 diate vicinage, every spot most dear to a man on earth, — the place of my 

 birth and the haunts of my childhood, the scenes of my education and early 

 life, the resting-place of my fathers, — every thing, in short, which a tender 

 and dutiful patriotism comprehends in the sacred name of home. 



Ladies and Gentlemen, I cannot say much to you this evening. I need 

 repose bodily and mental, and would gladly find it in listening to the elo- 

 quent voices of those around me. Some painful feelings crowd upon me. 

 I heard at Halifax the mournful news of an event which has deprived us 

 this evening of the presence of one, whose countenance was the light of 

 every circle he entered ; whose death will be felt not in America alone as a 

 public calamity ; — from whose long-tried friendship I had promised myself 

 a cordial welcome on my return. Allow me, sir, the gratification and sol- 

 ace of being a listener ; and let me only express the hope, that after more 

 than five years' absence, during which period, time, I dare say, has been 

 doing his work on the outer man, you will find the inner man unchanged in 

 all that you ever honored with your indulgent and friendly regard, and to 

 assure you that I return with no wish or ambition but to engage with you 

 in the performance of the duties of a good citizen ; in the hope of sharing 

 with you the enjoyment of the prosperity, with what a gracious Providence 

 has been pleased to bless the land in which we live. 



The President then gave — 



Horticulture— The ne plus ultra of tillage, the Poetry of Agiiculture. 



The Marshjield Farmer—" All head in counsel, all wisdom in speech"— always ready 

 to defend the soil, and to make the soil more and more worth defending. 



To this Mr. Webster responded as follows : — 



Ladies and Gentlemen,— There are far better farmers in Marshfield than 

 I am, but as I see none of them present, I suppose I ain bound to take the 

 compliment to myself. 



