When he took his seat in Congress, in the autumn of 1823, the intrigues for the presidential succession were at their height.

Mr.Webster was then strongly inclined to Mr.Calhoun, as was suspected at the time of that gentleman's visit to Boston.

He soon became convinced, however, that Mr.Calhoun's chances of success were slight, and his good opinion of the distinguished South Carolinian seems also to have declined.

It was out of the question for a man of Mr.Webster's temperament and habits of thought, to think for a moment of supporting Jackson, a candidate on the ground of military glory and unreflecting popular enthusiasm.

Mr.Adams, as the representative of New England, and as a conservative and trained statesman, was the natural and proper candidate to receive the aid of Mr.Webster.But here party feelings and traditions stepped in.