The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-11-16
Front the Richmond Enquirer of Oct. ~.
LAST SCENE OF Mr.. JEFFERSON'S
LIFE. &c.


which we have no doubt will furnish as
much gratlhcation 10 our readers as IL has
done TO ourselves. In the letters Of Mr..
Jefferson, we lind mastery refutation of
the errors, which have been SO frequently
repeated as to an important period Of his
public history. In the mode of reiuting
them we also see new proof, ofhow much
Genius is indebted To Method for some of
ITS most successful efforts.
Dear Sir-You insis, on my giving you
the particulars of my last visit to Monlicel-
10, and sight of tho correspondence which
led To il. My visit, YOU know, was frus.
irate and melancholy, and IT'S details, you
may suppose, viii be sorrowiu iul aud few
The correspondence being destined for
publication in a second edition OF Lees
Memoirs, will soon be accessible. In the
mean time, | send you copies of two of Mr..
Jefierson'S letters--which cannot fail to
increase your admiration of him.
Upon arriving at Charlottesville, on the
2Tth June, although it was reported that
Mr.. Jefferson was sick, the account seem
cd neither so definite nor alarming, as TO
render IT proper that / should forego the
object of my journey. |, therefore, address
sed note to him, signifying my arrival
and readiness to await Oh him next day, or
any other day of that week, which might
be more agreeable To him. Next morning,
Mr.. Trlst called on me, confirmed the ac-
count had before received and said that
MIR. J. had desired that | would dine NJ
Monticello that day or the preceding
The preceding day was the Thursday be-
fore his death, and when Il came, il seem
| ed To bee the general impression around
! me, that tho lio OF the Patriarch was in
danger. | therefore determined TO call in
the forenoon, and in case his indispostion
continued to be serious, 10 return before
dinner TO Charlottesville. AS | approach
ed the house, the anxiety and distress visi-
BILE in the countenanco of the servants, in
creased the gloom of my forebodngs, and
entered IL under no little agitation.
After the object of my early call was
made known TO Mrs. Randolph she told
me that, although her iathcr had been ex-
pecting To see me, he was then too unwell
To receive any one. IL was but too evident,
that the fears Of his daughter oyerbalanced
her hopes, and while sympathisng in her
distress, could not hel lp signing to think
that, although separated from him only by
a thin wall, was never more to behold
the venerable man, who had entered all
the walks Of politics and philosophy, and
sip all was ioremost--and TO whom, the past,
aud tbe present, and all future ages are,
and viii be, so much indebted. However,
Mrs. Randolph having left me, to attend
to her father, soon returned, and observed,
that she-had taken il for granted that he
could not see me but upon her casually
mentioning my arrival, he had desired /
should be invited into his chamber My
emotions at approaching JeGtrSon's dying
bed, | cannot describe. you remember
the alcoye in which he slept. There he
was extended, feeble, PROSTATE but the
fine and clear expression Of his counten-
ance not at all obscured At the first
glance he recognised me, and his hand
and voice at once saluted me. The ener-
gy of his grasp and the spirit of his con.
yersation, were such as TO make me hope
he would vet raly--and that ;he superior
lty Of mind over matter in his composition,
would preserve him yet longer lie re-
grptied that | should find him so helpless,
said if he got well, | should sec all the pa
pers he had promised. lie talked Of the
freshet which was then prevailing in James
Riyer--of its extensive deyastation--and
said he had never known more destruc-
tive one. lie soon, however, passed 10
the University, eXpatiated on its future
utillty-said It's cost would not, altogether,
exceed S320,UOO commended the pfofes-
sors, and expressed satisfaction at the
progress of the students. A sword was
suspended at the foot Of his bed, which he
told me was presented TO him by n think
an Arabian Chief, and that the blade was
true Damascus.-A this time he became
so cheerful as TO smile, even TO laughing,
at remark | made. lie alluded TO the
probability Of his death--as a man would
TO the prospect of being caught in show
er-as an event not 10 be desired, but not
10 be feared. II was to be apprehendod,
that the eurerness with which he cOnyersed
would exhaust him, and, therefore, | could
not indulge myself with long interview.
Upon proposing 70 withdraw, / observed
that / would call TO sec him again. lie
said, Well do--but you Will dine here
to-day 2" To this I replied, 81 proposed
dclerring that pleasure until he got b..
ter" IIo waved his hand, and snook m
head with some Impotence, saying.
phaticnlly-" You must dine hDre-
sickness makes no difference ! consent
cd. left hin, and never saw bIm more. ]
observed that he kept he flies of Of him
self and seemed TO decline assistance
from bis attendants. Mrs. Randolph az /
terwards told me this was his habit-that /.
his plsn was to fgh, old age oil, by never
admitting the approach Of holplessness.
and he was. more over, exceedingly ayerse I
10 giving trouble. From the interview. I /
conceived strong hopes Of bis recovering, |
and when. after dinner. Conyersed with I
his physician. DR.. Dunglison Of tie Uni /
yersrty. these hopes were rendered more /
sang1ine. For be seemed 10 think his di8-