Caroline Healey
Dall's Dairy
West Lynn, Mass. Thursday, September 28, 1848
Rose this morning very early and made some rye bread for
breakfast. Mr. [Daniel] Webster came at about eight,
suffering greatly for catarrhal influenza... At about ten
o'clock the Committee waited upon him with Mr. Fay's
barouche and took him to the Cattle Show and ploughing
match. ...I was very much interested in the ploughing
match. More than sixty teams were entered in the
competition and some of the work was beautifully done.
After this there was a trial of on the strength of
working oxen on Tower Hill. Then we went to the
Horticultural exhibition, one of the finest county shows I
saw. At dinner time, Mr. Webster was escorted from the
house with a band of music. I left the table soon
after, in order to hear such speaking as might be done in
the church - Mr. Webster however was not able to remain, and
in the course of an hour returned in his carriage to
Boston....In the evening, I went with Ellen to the levee, as
an act of condescension to the Lynn people - who had allowed
us to monopolize Mr. Webster all day. Mr. Rufus
Choate, Mr. [Daniel P.] King and others were expected but I
presume Mr. Choate detained them too late at Salem -
listening to his address in behalf of Gen Taylor. I
went late to bed, very weary.... (Daughter of Boston: The
Extraordinary Life of a Nineteenth Century Woman: Caroline
Healey Dall.)
