He was a young man, and, other conditions being equal, young men have been uniformly preferred for the arduous duties of the Chair.

From the organization of the government the speakers, at the time of their first election, have been under forty-five years of age,--many, indeed, under forty.
In only four instances have men been selected beyond the age of fifty.

Mr.Clay when first chosen was but thirty-four, Mr.Polk thirty-nine, Mr.John Bell thirty-seven, Mr.Howell Cobb thirty- three, and Mr.Robert M.T.Hunter, the youngest man ever elected Speaker, was but thirty.

Mr.Winthrop was thirty-eight.

He was bred to the law in the office of Mr.Webster, but at twenty-five years of age entered political life as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.