Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-10-27
RICHMOND, OCT. 81.
LAST SCENES of Mr.. Jeferson,s Inf. Sc.

FRIEND has been kind enough place in our
hands the following correspondence, which we
have no doubt will furnish as much qualification 10
our readers as 1t has done to ourselves.-In the
letters OF Mr. Jefferson, find mastery refuta-
ton OF the errors, which have been so frequently
repeated as to an important period Of his public
history. In the mode of refutng them we also see
new proof, OF how much Genius is indebted TO
Method tor some CT its most successful efforts
Dear Str: You insist my giving YOU the
particulars OF my last visit to Monticello, and
sight OF the correspondence which led to it, MY
VISIT you know, was Illustrate and melancholy and
Its details, you may suppose, will be sorrowfu s.
few. The correspondence being destined for pub
LEGATION in second edition of Lees Memoirs, will
soon be accessible In the mean time, send You
copies of two of MIR. Jefferson's letters-which
cannot fail to encrease your admiration of him.
Upon arriving at Charlottesville, on the 9th
June, although 1t was reported that MIR. Jefferson
was sick, the account seemed neither so definite
nor alarming, as to render it proper that should
iorego the object OF my journey L, therefore, adj
dressed note to him, signying my arrival and
readiness 10 await on him next day. or any other
day of that week, which might be more agreeable
to him. Next morning Mr.. Trist called on me,
confirmed the account | had before received and
said that Mr.. j. had desired that wonld dine at
Monticello that day or the preceding. The
preceding day was the Thursday before his death,
and when 1t came, II seemed TO be the general i'm
preston around me, that the life of the Patriarch
was in danger. l. therefore, determined to call in
the forenoon, and in case his indispositon con-
tinued 10 be serious, TO return before dinner TO
Charlottesville. As approached the house the
anxiety and distress visible in the countenance of
the servants, increased the gloom of nv own fore
bodings, 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
fafh er nd bean
TOO unwell to receive any one. Ii was but too evil
dent, that the fears of his daughter oyerbalanced
ner hopes, and while sympathisng in her distress,
could not help signing, TO think that, although
separated from him only by Thin wall, was ne
yer more TO behold the venerable man, who had
entered all the walks politics and philosophy. and
In all was ioremost-and to whom, the past and the
present, and all future ages are, and will be, so
much indebted However, Mrs. Randolph having
left me, to attend her father soon returned. and
observed, that she had taken for granted that he
could not see me; but upon her casually mention
Ing my arrival, he had desired should be invited
into his chamber My emotions at approacbiny
Jete'son'S dying bed cannot describe. You
remember the alcove in which he slept There
ne was extended feeble, psostrate; but the fine
and clear expression of his countenance NOT At all
obscured. At the first glance he recoenised me
and his hand and voice at once saluted me- The
energy OF his grasp, and the spin, OF his CONVEX
salon, were such az to make me hope he would
yet rally and that the superiority of mind over
matter in his composition, would preserve him
yet longer. He regretted that should find him
so helpless said if he got well, should see all
the papers he had promised. He talked If ,La
ireshet which was then prevailing in James River
OF It's extensive devastation and said he had
never known a more destructive one He soon
however, passed to the University, expstiated on
us future utility-said lis cost would not aItooe
Their, exceed 100000 dollars; commended the pro-
iessors, and expressed satisfaction at the proeres.
OF the students. A sword was suspended at the
loot oil his bed, which he told me was presented to
him by Il thnk) an Arabian Chief. and that the
blade was true Damascus. AT this time he he
came so cheerful as to smile, even 70 laugb;ne,
at a remark made. He alluded to the probsbilitv
OF MS death-ss man would to the prospect of
oeing caught IN a shower an event not to he
desired, but not TO be feared. 1t was TO be apnre
nended that the eagerness with which he conyersed
would exhaust him, and, therefore, / could not in
ouise myself with long interview. Upon pro-
posing to Withdraw, observed that would call
to see him again. He said, well debut Won
VIII dine here to day" To this | replied. Sc
proposed deerrins that pleasure until he got bet
ter lie waved his hand and shook his head
WIN some impotence, saying, emphsticalIy-
" you must dine heGe-my sickness makes M
diherence." consented, left him and never saw
M" more observed That he kept the flies off
himself, and seemed TO decline assistance from his
attendants. Mrs. Randolph afterwards told me this
was his habit-that his plan was TO fight old ace
oil, by never admitting the approach of HELPLESS
ness anc ne was, moreover, exceedingly averse 10
giving trouble. From the interview conceivel
strong hopes oihis recove ring and when. after
dinner, conversed with his physician. DIR. Dim
gibson oil the University, these hopes were rendered
more Sanguine. For he seemed to think his dise,sa
was conquered, and that he had nothing but the |
ineiasIic state of age to fear. Mrs Randolph and
the family soon appeared to feel the diffusion of
these hopes which were but too fallacous.
shall never cease to deplore that did not find |
him IN good health. The rise of the waters. amono
other disasters, produced this by delaying me.
With great regard, am, dear sir, faithfully. !
yours, n LEE
Washington, 1914 august, 1926.
MONTICELLO, May 10, 1926
OedT SIR: The sentiments of Justice which have
dictated your letters of the Sd and 9th inst. are
worthy oil all praise, and merit and meet nv tbanl
ful Acknowledgements Were your father uo,v
living, and proposing, as you are, to publish Sc
cond edition OF his memoirs, am satisfied. he
would give very different aspect TO the PAGES I'D
tina; work, which respect Arnold's invasion and
surprise OF Richmond, in the winter of t7sO-sI
lie was then, believe in South Carolina. too dis-
tant from the scene of these transactions 70 relate
them on his own knowledge, or even to sift them
from the chaH Of runners then aaoaf. rsrno,s
which vanished soon before the real truth. asvs
pours before the sun, oblerated Nv their notor;.,