If he did not have the extreme beauty and grace of which Burke was capable, he was more forcible and struck harder and more weighty blows.

He was greatly aided in this by his brief and measured periods, and his strength was never wasted in long and elaborate sentences.

Webster, moreover, would never have degenerated into the ranting excitement which led Burke to draw a knife from his bosom and cast it on the floor of the House.

This illustrates what was, perhaps, Mr.Webster's very strongest point,--his absolute good taste.
He may have been ponderous at times in his later years.

We know that he was occasionally heavy, pompous, and even dull, but he never violated the rules of the nicest taste.