Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-08-08

| He was permitted to see the fftieth anniversary
of that glorious event, in which he acted SO
prominet part; and on the very day, when the
! American People were engaged with enthusi'
astc feelings in repeating the sublime Declare
ton of Independence, and in invoking bless
ings on the head which conceived, & the hand
which penned il, its venerable author, and his
patriotic coadiutor were removed from among
grateful people, rich in the enjoyment OF all
the blessings, which their wisdom had pre-
dicted. and their labours contributed to pro.
duce.
In letter, written by Mr.. Jefferson, shortly
before his decrease, to the Committee of Arrange
ments for celebrating the 4th OF July, land
which will be preserved as precious relic) ne
expressed his thanks to Providence for the pre-
| servation of the lives Of the three surviving
sieners of the Declaration, "a favour" Ito use
his own words) $50 much The more era flying,
as it has enabled them, by its blessed effects to
witness the wisdom of the choice then made
between submission and resistance" His p-
Gus wish was accomplished, he lived to see the
return of that auspicious day; and full OF years,
and rich in the enjoyment OF nations graft
tude, he has descended to the tomb OF has anees-
tors.
Ipray you sir, to believe that as no portion OF
your countrymen, know better than the Corpo'
ration and citizens Of New-York how to value
the services of your deceased relative, so none
can svmpathize more deeply in the grief which
his loss has occasioned 10 his family.
am, Sir, with respect, your obedient servant,
PHILIP HONE, Mayor.
Monticello, July 23d, 1926.
Sir-I received yesterday evening, on the
part of the family of Themes Jefferson, deceas-
ed, the letter you did me the honour to address
to me on the 18th inst communicating the pro-
ceedinps ofthe Common Council of the city oil
Ncw-Yo rk, a, their meeting OIL the 9Th day OF
July, 1896. With respect to the grateful feel
ings displayed by the Common Council to-
wards the deceased, and their regret for the loss
sustained by the American people on the occa-
sion, trust shall be pardoned for the liberty
take in saying. that they are expressed in Ian
guage manifestly issuing directly from exalted
sentiments, emil ghtened views Of republican
policy, and refined benevolence.. For the sym
psthy also expressed towards the large family,
which has to endure the misfortune OF being
forever deprived Of such head, have the hon.
our to make the only return in their power, the
tender to the Common Council of that sincere
homage of respect and gratitude which we are
all equally proud to feel and tc acknowledge
We request you, Sir, to. inform the Common
Council that the affections Of the heart, and the
social qualities, Of the deceased, were constant
ly ascending in their scale 10 his last hour
= 4 H., l. 4 hoo III
they had never attained their greatest height
until there was nothing Of life left for him.
Their advancement during the latter period oil
his existence, towards perfection seemingly
more than human, became subject OF admira-
ton approaching to awe in some ofsthose who
witnessed the fact.
His qualifications for public service of vari-
GUS kinds, and his unlimited devotion to the
public interests, are fixed forever in all memo.
ries indeed they are the rational grounds OF
that gratitude so honorably and feellngly ex'
pressed by his fellow citizens Of the Common
Council Of New York, and others. But the IN
tense and perse,ering zeal with which he exer-
ted all the strength Of his capacious and well
stored, his luminous and powerful mind, upon
the subject Of the scientific, literary and profess
sional education of youth, for the last eight
years Of his life, altho known by the visible ell
fects Of his industry and taste, employed Tor
the technical advancement Of that end, cannot
be fully appreciated until the characters formed
upon his plans shall have appeared in the great
theatre of human af:.irs. Then will come out
magnif cent appendix 10 his present renown
"a vast posthumous accession TO that well de-
served fame of which he died in possession.
That another brillanlHaio Of Glory will be then
seen TO encircle the images Of him upon earth,
which shall be produced by individual genius x
public bounty, needs no prophetic tongue to tell.
| cannot refrain from congratulatins the Com
mon Council on their being the first to call the
attention of the instructors Of the peol' in re-
lipion, 10 the miraculous Euthanasia OF these
two venerable patriots. Few of the miracles
recorded in the sacred writings are more con-
spicuous. 1t seems like their first reward for
that moral excellence which has been proclaim
ed by all the world; to which their intellectual
mowers and eventful lives have made them
known half a century ago, and thence forward
to this day. hope for indulgence when take
the liberty further to say, that in the case OF
Thomas Jefferson, there was an extraordinary
felicity even of physical existence, manifested
in his last moments, which unless now mention
ed NAV fall into oblivion. Ats PM. on the Sd
July, his medical friend, of whose eminence it