This led to a rejoinder and a war of pamphlets ensued, which was soon transferred to the newspapers, and created a great sensation and a profound interest.

Wheelock now contemplated legal proceedings.

Mr.Plumer was in ill health, Judge Smith and Mr.Mason were allied with the trustees, and the president therefore went to Mr.Webster, consulted him professionally, paid him, and obtained a promise of his future services.
About the time of this consultation, Wheelock sent a memorial to the Legislature, charging the trustees with misapplication of the funds, and various breaches of trust, religious intolerance, and a violation of the charter in their attacks upon the presidential office, and prayed for a committee of investigation.

The trustees met him boldly and offered a sturdy resistance, denying all the charges, especially that of religious intolerance; but the committee was voted by a large majority.

On August 5th, Wheelock, as soon as he learned that the committee was to have a hearing, wrote to Mr.Webster, reminding him of their consultation, inclosing a fee of twenty dollars, and asking him to appear before the committee.