Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-11
From the Richmond Enquirer July Z,

Liberty, the Author Of the Declaration OF Inde-
pendence, "the Ornament OF Human Nature It
SELF Gas he once said of Benjamin Frankiin,)
the first man left in his country, and one OF the
FIRST in his age Of great men, is gathered to the
tomb OF his fathers. The state, the nation, the
whole world itself, has sustained loss of which
no language can give an adequate description.
Liberty weeps over her favori,e child; and ages
vet to come will bow with reverential gratitude
before the lofty monument, which his labours
have erected. His fame belongs TO History; Sc
iftaleDts the most rare, virtues the most con-
spicious, services the most useful, can entitle
any man 10 glory, the reputation OF Thomas
Jefferson will be among the brightest which she
will have TO record. But we leave it to others
TO commemorate his virtues: In few DAYS
the Orator will dwell with enthusiasm, and the
Poet win pour forth his most melting strains,
upon the great services Of this public benefac-
tor.
we have time only at present to state the E.
vent Of his death, and to sketch few Of the
transactions Of his remarkable life.
On Saturday last for the first time we had
heard that he was i'll, and that his physicians
entertained serious fears Of his life. Messen-
gers had been sent to call in his distant rela-
tons But we still trusted 10 the strength Of
his constitution, though we awaited the event
with trembling solicitude. On the morning Of
the Anniversary, more alarming accounts
reached us; tha, his complaint (the Summer
Disease) had left him, yet that his physician
(Dr. Dungleson) was afraid he had not strength
enough to rally from the attack: A subsequent
letter, however, was rad in the course of the
day from near relation, stating that his COM
plant was not only sbated, but his strength was
increasing. But on the Evening Of the next day
the stage brought 10 US the fatal tidings of his
, dissolution. The passengers stated, that when
they left Charlottesville the bells of the town s
the University were tolling Cor the il,ustrious
dead; and the mail brought letters, Of which the
following are extracts:
Charlottesville, JIly 4, O'Clock.
"rHoMAs JEFFERSON died to-day, ten min
utes before one O'Clock, p. NJ"
Ertrdrt Of another letter, sam place and day.
"The latest account from Monticello Cup 10
u O'Clock to-day)brngs the unwelcome tidings
that MIR. JEFFERSON is lingering upon the
threshold Of eternity.
p s. T,co o'clock--Mr. JEFFERSON is no more
He died at 10 minutes before o'clock; this
day and hour too, on which the Declaration Of
Independence was read.
What wonderful coincidence! Fifty years
from the Declaration Of Independence-on the
very day, and it is said the very hour on which
il was read to the Congress of the U. States,
this great man, the author OF the Declaration,
Ia, breathed his last! No other Euthanasia
could have been wished to him! He ha. de-
parted on the very day which he has made so
glorious. The day Of his fame was the day Of
his death. The applause and gratitude of a
whole Republic were at that very moment re-
hearsing his work, and repeating his praises.
Could he have selected the moments of his de-
parture,s this would have been the very one
which he himselfwould have chosen. His death
has added new interest to a day, which his
life had rendered so illustrious
The particulars of his death have not yet
reached us: but if we may Judge from the whole
tenor Of his conduct, the hole tone oil his con-
yersation for the few last months, we are salts
fed that he died with all the equanimity of a
sage "Acquiescence (said he ten days ago) lis
duty, under circumstances not placed among
those we are permitted to control" He was in
the habit of saying 10 his intimate friends, that
though he did not wish to die, yet he did not
fear to die. But few days ago he declared,
that il he could leave his Family unembarrass-
ed, and if he could see the University fairly un-
der way, he was ready to depart. Nunc demittas,
Domine, was his favorite quotation. We have
no doubt that his "ruling passion was strong in
DEATH Itwas scarcely ten days ago, when he
breathed the most fervent wishes for the good
Of his country, and for the success of the polit-
ieal principles TO which he was so fervently at
tached. II is said, that in the course Of last
week he calmly gave directions about his coffin
and interment; and that on Monday, enquiting
with some solicitude what was the day of the
month, and being told the Sd Of July, he ex-
pressed desire to- live ill the next day that
he might breathe the air of the 5oth Anniyer-
sary.
A few words more upon the life of this dis.
tinguished man, and we have done. He was
born OH the Cd Of April, l74S, in the county Of
AlbermarIe, at Shadwell, country seat which
now belongs to his grandson, within short
distance Of Monticello, and within half a mile
Of his Riyanna mills. He was OF course in the
saith year Of his age. He received the highest
honors at the College of VIM. and Mary; and
studied the law under the celebrated George
Wythe, late Chancellor of Virginia. Before
he had attained his 2sth year, he was distin-