84 MEMOIR OF HON. W W. SEATON. 



the power and secure the rights of the United States. In this state of things it 

 was not likely that either of our editors would confine his efforts in behalf of the 

 cause he had espoused to the labors of the pen and press ; they were both mem- 

 bers of volunteer corps, and shared in the expeditions which were organized, 

 from time to time, to repress the predatory incursions of the enemy. But the 

 labors of the pen and press were, in their case, felt to be of too much national 

 importance to be dispensed with, and a furlough granted alternately to one and 

 the other editor, provided for the uninterrupted appearance of the sheet to which 

 the public chiefly looked for authentic information and the vindication of gov- 

 ernmental measures. Mr. Seaton was at the editorial post on the morning of the 

 memorable 24th of August, 1814, when the report of the distant gun told too 

 surely that the enemy was advancing in force on the ill-prepared metropolis. 

 Hastily despatching his workmen to their respective corps, Mr. Seaton himself 

 hurried to the front and arrived in time to take part in the sharp initiative con- 

 flict which preceded the disasters brought on the American arms by incapacity 

 or want of concert on the part of the leaders and the consequent disorganization 

 of an untrained and badly armed militia. The rout of Bladen sburg led the 

 enemy directly into the city, and the results of the occupation, as regards the 

 destruction of the public buildings, are matters of familiar history. It is not 

 perhaps so generally known that a singular attestation was, at the same time, un- 

 intentionally afforded by Admiral Oockburn to the widespread fame and com- 

 manding influence of the National Intelligencer. He caused the office of its 

 publication to be sacked and its valuable contents to be destroyed ; too many in- 

 citations to patriotic effort had issued from that sanctuary to escape an ignoble 

 vengeance. 



It has been seen that the course of Mr. Seaton's life, from a period little ad- 

 vanced beyond boyhood, was such as to insure, indeed to necessitate, an inti- 

 mate familiarity with the men and events of his time, with all changes of public 

 opinion, with all discussions of constitutional law, with all the movements of 

 interest, prejudice and affection by which the affairs of the world are governed. 

 The thoughts, the passions, the motives of his fellow-men were necessarily with 

 him subjects of scrutinizing observation and intelligent reflection. When he . 

 removed to Washington the sphere of his observation and influence was of 

 coarse greatly widened. The trusted friend and counsellor of the earlier ad- 

 ministrations, there can be^uo doubt that, as he was the depositary of their 

 confidence, he often contributed in no small degree to shape their measures. 

 The intimate and honored associate afterwards of such men as Adams, Web- 

 ster, Clay, Calhoun, Berrien, and all the eminent statesmen of the past age, he 

 could scarcely fail, with his quick and penetrating intelligence, to gain such 

 insight into public affairs and to gather such stores of varied information as are 

 rarely within reach of a single mind. To him, therefore, would naturally resort 

 politicians and statesmen of every cast ; for it was instinctively felt that in con- 

 sultation with him there was a candor which knew no disguise, a courtesy which 

 never failed, a fulness of information and clearness of judgment which his in- 

 trinsic goodness of heart placed at the service of all who needed them. The 



