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* WEBER'S LAW. 392 WEBSTER. such (liiferences may not be equally great or equally noticeable. We must distinguish between difference and •dilleientness' or diversity. In an arithmetical series one obtains an expression of the former category, in a geometrical series an expression of the latter. The mind takes note of diversity, not of difference; e.g. it notes not that an intensity difference of 2 less 1 equals one of 101 less 100, but rather that the relation of 2 to 1 is like that of 200 to 100. BiBLiOGR.iPiiY. Delboeuf, Examen critique de la lot psychophysique, sa hase et sa signification (Paris, 1S83) ; Elements de psycho physique genenile cf speciale (Paris, 1883) : Fechner, Elemcnte der Psychophysik (1960; new ed., Leipzig, 1889) ; In Sachen der Psychophysik (Leipzig, 1877) ; Revision der Haiiptpunkte der Psychophysik (Leipzig, 1882) ; G. E. Muller, Grundlegung der Psychophysik (Berlin, 1878) ; Fullerton and Cattell, On the Perception of Small Differences (Philadelphia, 1892) ; Kiilpe, Outlines of Psychology (London and Xew York, 1895) ; Meinong, Zeitschrift fUr Psychologic (1896, xi., 81, 230, 353); E. H. Weber, Der Tastsinn und das Gemeingefiihl, in Wagner's Handwortcrhuch der Physiologic, iii. (1851); Annotationes Anatoniicce (Leipzig. 1846) ; Wundt, Grundziige der physiologischen Psychologic CLeip- zig, 1893, i., 332) ; Philosophische Studien, ii. (1885. 1); Th. Ziehen, Introduction to Physio- logical Psychology (Eng. trans., London, 1892, 49-60) ; Leitfaden der physiologischen Psychol- ogic (4th ed., Jena, 1898). WEB'STER. A town, including several vil- lages, in Worcester County, Mass., 16 miles south by west of Worcester, on the French River, and on the Xew York, New Haven and Hartford and the Boston and Albany rail- roads (Map: Massachusetts, D 3). It has a public library with more than 5400 volumes. Woolen goods are extensively manufactured. The government is administered by town meet- ings, held annually. The town owns and operates the water-works. Population, in 1890, 7031 ; in 1900, 8804. Webster vas created out of parts of Oxford and Dudley, and was incor- porated in 1832. Consult Ammidown, Histori- cal Collections (Xew York, 1874). WEBSTER, Arthir Gordon (1863 — ). An American physicist, born at Brookline, Mass., and educated at Harvard and at Berlin, Paris, and Stockholm. In 1895 he was awarded the Tliom- son prize (Paris) of five thousand francs for experimental research on the period of electrical oscillations. He became professor of physics at Clark University, and besides numerous papers on physics, he wrote A Mathematical Treatise on the Theory of Electricity and Magnetism (1897), and Dynamics of Particles of Riqid, Elaslir. and Fluid Bodies (1903). WEBSTER, BEX.TAMIN X'ottingham (1797- 1882). .An English actor, manager, and playwriglit. He was born at Bath; made his debut at Warwick, and after playing in the provinces for a time appeared in London in 1819. In 1820 he became a member of the company at Drury Lane; in 1829 of that at the Ilaymarket, which he managed from 1837 till 1853. He became lessee of the Adelphi Theatre in 1844 and controlled it till his retire- ment in 1874. As an actor he was noted for his versatility. He created many rOles, three of his best being those of Triplet in Masks and Faces (Haymarket, 1852), Penn Holder in One Touch of Xature, written by himself (Adelphi, August, 1859), and Robert Landry in The Dead Heart (Adelphi, November, 1859). Among the numer- ous plays which he wrote were the adaptations of the Cricket on the Hearth and the Bird of Passage. Consult: Scott. The Drama of Yes- terday and To-Day (London. 1899) ; Matthews and Hutton, Actors and Actresses of Great Britain and the United States (Xew York, 1886). WEBSTER, D.xiEL (1782-1852). An Ameri- can statesman, orator, and constitutional lawyer. He was born in Salisbury (now Franklin), N. H., January 18, 1782, studied for a few months at Exeter Academy in 1797, then was under the care of a private tutor for a short time, after which he entered Dartmoutl College, gradu- ating in 1801. After his graduation he began the study of law in an office at Salisbury, served for a few months as principal of the Fryeburg (Maine) Academy, then resumed his legal .studies at Salisbury and in 1804 removed to Boston and entered the law office of Chris- topher Gore as student and clerk. In 1805 he was admitted to the bar and began practice at Boscawen, but in 1807 removed to Portsmouth, where he soon acquired distinction. Having be- come something of a political pamphleteer and public speaker, Webster was in 1812 elected by the party opposed to the war with England to a seat in Congress and was reelected in 1814. He was placed on the important Committee of For- eign Relations, and while acting with the anti- war party, he did not go to the extreme lengths which some of the Xew England Federalists did in their opposition to the Administration. His speeches against the embargo and in favor of strengthening the na^7'. on the currency, the bank, and the tariff, were among the ablest de- livered in Congress, but in several instances they did not exhibit the broad nationalism of which he afterwards became the foremost advocate. In 1816 Webster removed to Boston, and for nearly seven years devoted himself to the prac- tice of law. He soon rose to the position of one of the foremost advocates of the country and appeared in many of the famous cases of the day, among them the Dartmouth College and the Girard Will cases. (See D.^rtmoutii College C'.VSE. ) In 1820 he served as a delegate to the convention called to revise the Constitution of Massachusetts and took a conspicuous part in the work of that body. In the same year he <le- livcred the oration at Plymouth in commemora- tion of the landing of the Pilgrims; this was fol- lowed in 1825 by an oration on the occasion of the laying of the corner-stone of the Bunker Hill Moniuuent and by a eulogy on Adams and .Tef- ferson in 1826 — three addresses which established his fame as one of the great orators of the time. In the meantime, in 1822, Webster had been elected to Congress from the Boston district, and was twice reelected by a practically unanimous vote. As chairniiin of the .Judiciary Committee he was instrumental in securing a codification of the criminal jurisprudence of the United States. He made notable speeches on the Greek Revolution and in opposition to the protective