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394 APPENDIX.
make known to the immediate members of your family the state of my
feelings and my contrition.
That every consolation and blessing may be vouchsafed to yourself
and to every member of your family, is the heartfelt prayer of
Yours, most respectfully,
J. W. WEBSTER.
PROFESSOR WEBSTER'S RELATIONS TO HIS COUNSEL.
.Just as the last sheets of the Appendix were going through the press
tire Reporter, learning, for the first time, that Professor Webster had
made a formal apology to Messrs. Merrick and Sohier for the expres-
sions used by him in his address to the jury, relative to their conduct
of his defence, and had committed to writing his acknowledgment of
gratitude for their arduous and faithful services in his behalf,-a mat-
ter which every one acquainted with the subsequent connection of the
,counsel and client had of course supposed that the Professor had satis-
factorily explained in personal intercourse,-obtained from those. gentle-
men, after some reluctance, copies of those letters; or rather, in the
instance of Mr. Sohier, an extract from such a letter; the same letter
containing allusions to other matters which Mr. Sohier did not feel at
liberty to communicate. The Reporter deems it an act no less of favor
to the memory of the deceased, than of justice to his professional
associates, to improve the present opportunity of giving publicity to these
communications.
Boston, July 18th, 1850.
Hon. Pliny Merrick:
Dear Sir,-I have long felt that I owe you an apology for the expres-
sions that escaped me in a moment of intense excitement and distress.
I have ever been aware that nothing was omitted or overlooked by my
counsel, that •w'- uld in any way serve my cause, and that you took the
deepest intere-` ar.d were indefatigable in my behalf. Although I have
not adhered to your last advice, I trust you will approve of the course that
has since been taken.
In the hope that you will pardon me for lany expression of impatience
or disappointment, and accept my sincere gratitude and thanks for
your exertions in my behalf,-
I am, respectfully and truly,
Your grateful friend,
J. W. WEBSTER.
Boston, July 19, 1850.
My Dear Sir:-Will you have the kindness to hand the inclosed to
Judge M.? x
I would write you a long letter of thanks for all the interest you
have taken in my case, did I think it necessary. Whatever I may ha ve
said, under my great distress and anxiety, that was in the least painful
or unpleasant to you, I know you will forgive. And I assure you
that I always felt that you were doing everything in your power for
me.
Gratefully yours,
J. W. WEBSTER..
Edward D. Sohier, Esq.
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