Your affectionate, but distressed father Dan' Webster.

Two undergraduate letters by Edward Webster and his father's replies, dealing with that most perennial of epistolary topics: youthful spending

Dart Coll., 1838.

MY DEAR FATHER,

During the winter & spring terms of my Freshman year to gether with other students I got drawn very largely into debt and before I was aware how far I had gone I found myself in debt to a large amount Knowing that it must of necessity grately hurt your feelings and also asshamed of my own folly & weekness, I have let them remain till this time[;] in all they amout to $225. since the time in which these debts were incured I have been trying to pay them with the pocket money which you have been kind enough to give me[,] only spending as much as I was obliged to in order to appear decently and as I know you would wish a son of yours to appear here.

[¶]It is with great reluctance now My Dear Father that I broach this subject to you. As I am well aware that I disregarded the good advice you had given me and suffered myself to be led away by silly boys & willy store keepers and also knowing the state of your business and money matters I am still more reluctant

[¶]You knew the dangers among which I was thrown and warned me but I neglected your warnings but now I come like the Prodigal son of old and ask your help & forgiveness with promises of better condunct and a more rigid compliance to your wishes in future[;] and My dear Father if you would tran[s]mit me money enough to discharge them I should be very thankful to you and I can assure you that I am very sorry for what I have done, and you may res[t] assured that the like will never occurr again as this has taugh[t] me a lesson which I never shall forget—

And Dear Father I remain your affectionant and henceforth duitiful son EDWARD-

Marshfield Sep. 8. 1838

MY DEAR SON,

Your letter, respecting your own private affairs, has caused me very great grief. I am shocked, not only at the folly, & guilt, of contracting such a debt, but at the misrepresentations, which you must have repeatedly made; as you have always told me that you owed nothing, which the means I furnished were not competent to discharge. Your letter has remained several days, unanswered, because I had not made up my mind what answer to give. My first feeling was to withdraw you from College, & to let you take care of yourself hereafter. But your letter shows an apparent spirit of repentance, & if I were sure that I could trust that, I might be inclined to overlook the enormity of your misconduct. But how can I be sure that you have now told me the whole truth? How can I trust your present statements?— Besides, how was this debt created? Was it by gaming, or other immoral habits,— or by mere thoughtlessness, & folly?

I have concluded to go up to Boston, tomorrow or next day; & then, either to go directly to Hanover, or to write you again. In the meantime, I want to know more about the manner of contracting this debt; & I expect the whole truth. I would not expose you to public reproach, nor cast you off, for slight cause; but with all my affection, I will not excuse misconduct, and, especially, I will not put up with any degree or particle of misrepresentation, or concealment of the truth. On the receipt of this, you will immediately write to me, directed to Boston; & when I receive your letter, I shall determine what course to pursue.

Your affectionate, but distressed father DAN'' WEBSTER

With the passage of ten days the Senator had evidently not yet received hisson's response, the draft of which isdated September thirteenth, for he wroteagain:

Boston. Sep. 18. 1838

MY DEAR SON

I am very anxious to hear from you, as I am going in a few days, to N. York; & am desirous of relieving you, from your difficulties, if I can, before I go. I expected to receive a letter before this time. Lose no time in writing -

Yr affectionate father DANL WEBSTER

Hanover Sept. 13. 1838

MY DEAR FATHER,

I recieved your letter yesterday I was aware that it could not but grieve you very much and that was the reason why I never told you before and also made the misrepresentations which you speak of, and Sir I can quiet your fears about my repentance not being real and affected for I certainly do feel very sorry, and penitent, and you may rest assured that the like will never occur again

[¶]You wish to know how the debts were contracted, & I will tell you the truth now. You say that you dont know but it was by gaming? It was not for I never gambled for a cent in my life nor do I think I ever shall for I never could have been lead away as far as that if any one had tried me, for I detest the practise and always did. a good deal is for such things as nuts & raisins, crockerey, cigars, candy pantaloons chess men backgammon boards knifes and some wine a very little of which I can say with a clear conscience I drank my self, riding on horse back and other ways for pleasure, and I am sorry to say very few of the articles were of any use.

[¶]the only immoral thing which I have purchased is wine, the students with whome most of these debts were contracted have graduated so that there would not be the same temptations if I would yeild to them which by the help of a firm resolve I hope I never shall.

[¶]I should be very sorry to be taken away from college, but If you think best I should be willing to go, with the education you have been kind enough to give me and my bodily strength I feel I should be able to take care of myself. If I do not improve upon trial I do not wish nor ask for any further indulgence, and as to the money part of it if by any means by keeping school or in other way I could make that up to you in a measure or in full I should be most happy to do so, And I remain my dear Father your

most affectional and deeply penitent son EDWARD WEBSTER

Boston Sept. 21. 1838

MY DEAR SON

I recd your letter, two days ago, and have made up my mind to put entire trust in your statements— to clear off your embarrassments— & to give you a fair opportunity to retrieve whatever may have been amiss: & to pursue your studies

I now trust, My Dear Son, to hear nothing of you, hereafter, except what may be gratifying. You must see, now, that you for your living, & your character & happiness hereafter, you must rely on yourself. If I can get you through with your education, it will be as much as I shall be able to do. I owe a good deal of money, & am at present receiving but a small income from my profession.

If you intend yourself for the Bar, you must begin, early, to contract a habit of diligent & ambitious study. You must be emulous of excellence. An ordinary lawyer is not an enviable character. I believe, verily, that you have sense and ability enough to make you quite respectable—& I pray you, My Dear Son, keep your attention steadily directed to your progress in your studies.

Your mother will be glad of your letter, which I receive this morning. It has come back from Marshfield, we both happening to be here. She returns tomorrow, & I go to N.Y. this P.M. We look for Fletcher[*] shortly. You will have notice of his arrival— & while here, we shall expect you to come & see him. Some of us will write, to fix the time.

I enclose 3 checks for, $100— & 100 - & 50—being 250 in all. You may use these, as you have occasion— tho' I should prefer that you should not use the whole of them before the Ist1st or 5th of October—

[DANL WEBSTER]

[*] Daniel Fletcher Webster, eldest of Webster's three surviving children, had been graduated from Harvard in 1833 and at this period was in the West, where his father had entered into sub- stantial land investments - speculations that contributed to the Senator's financial distress following the panic of 1837.

Major Edward Webster, 1841, after studying law, recruited the first company ofvolunteers accepted by Massachusetts atoutbreak of Mexican War. He died in Mexico in January 1848, having contractedtyphoid fever as war drew to its close.

NOTE: Of the letters above, the originals of those of September 18 and 21 are among the collections of the New Hampshire Historical Society. The other manuscripts quoted are located within the Dartmouth College Archives.