CHAPTER XI. 



Boston. Whig Caucus. Speech of Mr. Webster. Politics in Massachu 

 setts. Election of Governor and Representatives. Thanksgiving Day 

 and Governor s Proclamation. Absence of Pauperism. Irish Repeal 

 Meeting. New England Sympathizer. Visit to a Free School. State 

 Education. Pay and Social Rank of Teachers. Importance of the Pro 

 fession. Rapid Progress and Effects of Educational Movement. Popu 

 lar Lectures. Lending Libraries. 



Nov. 10, 1845. WENT to a great meeting of about 3500 

 people in Faneuil Hall, where they were discussing the election 

 of the governor and executive officers of the State. It was called 

 a Whig caucus, being only attended by persons of one political 

 party, or if others were present, they were there only by courtesy, 

 and expected to be silent, and not interrupt the harmony of the 

 proceedings. When I entered, I found Mr. Daniel Webster on 

 his legs. Since the arrival of the last mail steamer from Liver 

 pool fears had been entertained that the pretensions of the Cabi 

 net of Washington to the whole, or greater part of Oregon, must 

 end in a war between England and the United States. This 

 topic was therefore naturally uppermost in the minds of a peace- 

 loving and commercial community.. The cautious and measured 

 expressions of the Whig statesman when out of office, and his 

 evident sense of the serious responsibility incurred by one who 

 should involve two great nations in war, formed a striking con 

 trast to the unguarded tone of the late inaugural address of the 

 President of the Union on the same subject. I was amused to 

 hear frequent references made to the recent debate in the British 

 House of Commons, the exact words of Sir Robert Peel and 

 others being quoted and commented upon, just as if the discussion 

 had been simply adjourned from Westminster to Boston. The 

 orator rebuked the blustering tone of defiance, in which dema 

 gogues and newspapers in some parts of the Union were indulg 

 ing against England. He then condemned the new constitution 



