The truth is, that it was a most significant illustration of the utter futility of Mr.Webster's presidential aspirations.

These friends in New York, who no doubt honestly desired his nomination, were so well satisfied that it was perfectly impracticable, that they turned to General Taylor to avoid the disaster threatened, as they believed, by Mr.Clay's success.

Mr.Webster predicted truly that Clay and Taylor would be the leading candidates before the convention, but he was wholly mistaken in supposing that the movement in New York would bring about the nomination of the former.

His friends had judged rightly.

Taylor was the only man who could defeat Clay, and he was nominated on the fourth ballot.