Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-03-08
TIE LAST HOURS or wAsHINCToN

THE LAST HOURS OF WASHINGTON
(f',om Gusts Rccouctions a,,d Prirq,c Hc,a,;,sl
twenty eight years have passed away since en- in
tercstpg group were assembled IN the Dco,I, rnnn
and witnessed the last hours OF Washington So keen
aud unsparng hath been the s,;ythc of Time at ri
MI those who watched lvcr the Patrarcl.'s coucb nm
The 18th and lith of December 1929, but single
parsonage survives
On the morning Of Tie lG.i the General was c,c,-
ged III making some imPro" front of NInnni
fSihoh. as was usual with hun, he carried his CONF
pass, noted bis observations, and marked ont tho
ground. The day became rainy, with seet AMI the
in1provor remained exposed 10 the inc!emencv ~,
Tie weather. as to be considerably before his re-
'nrn TO the house About O'clock he was seized
WIN chiiness and nausea but having clanred his
cIothes he sat down to his door worl--Iere being
80 moment OF his time for which he had not provided
an an appropriate employment.
~ night, on Joining his family circle the General
NohPidihcd OF slight lndspostOn, and, after a s,np1c
cup OF tea, repaired TO his Library where he renamed
writing until between eleven and tw Give O'clock
- ~ ashIngton retired about the usual faniI; hour
OUT beng alarmed at not hearing the acct.s,rnc,I
sound 0 the Library door as il closed fur In. rb,
ad gave signal Tor rest in the well regulated mansion
she arose again and continued sitting up in much
Anxiety and suspense AT length tho we'll known step
was heard on the stair aud upon the Generals enter
snG his Chamber, the Lady kindly chidcd him or re
naihi"g up so late knowing hmselrto be un,yell: to
winch Washington made this memorable repIv. 81
came so soon rs my business accornpsbed Va,
well know, that tro' tong Hfc has Jcen mn nm,
uaried rie, necer to put eff IN to-mcrroo e G,,;c,
"ioh,c's Sho"fd be pcyJormed hD.day"
tiaVIng first covered up the fire with care tle mn ~
OF mighty iabos at last sought repose but il cane mo,
~ It had lcDg been do 10 comfort and resoo
after the many and earnest occupations of the weu
SPco' gay lhe night was passed in fcvcrjsh resle.
Hcss and pam Tired natures sweet rostorer hahn
sleep" was destined more TO Wis his coucb ,oi ~,
manly sufferer uttered complaints would permit mo
one 10 be disturbed in their rest on his accnun, am,
II vas only at day break he would consent that tho
o7ersecr might be called in, and bleeding resored m
q VEN was opened, but without aiTordne relief t,
'!2.S were despatched 10 summon Dr. Crak the family
anu RS DICK and Brown, as Cosuiting Physicians
all OF whom came with speed. The proner rc,neJ;oe
we're administered, but without PRODUCING troir he,I
cecis' while the patient yielding TO the an ions Iook
Of all around him. waived his usual objection 70 mo
declines, and took those which were prescribed vdI
Cnt hesitation or remark. The medical ocp,Ie,no
spared not their Skill and all the resources NJ tIer
we're exhausted IN un'vearied endeavors TO prcscrve
TINS modest woill of nature
NIgbt2ppToaChCdth the ia=i nInht Of w asI,;,-tor. a.
weather became severely cold, " lille the cro,n aa,,
ed nearer TO the couch Of the smferor watchiu9 with
intense anxiety, for the slightest dawuinr Of hone Ito
spoke out niue no the respectful and afcctionate
enquiries OF an Old family servant as She srnoo,icd
down his pillow, how lie felt himself he ausyvcrcJ SCI
am very W. 10 Dr. Crail bis earliest Communion in
arms, longest tried and bosom friend lie ohsorveL t,I
am dying sir-but am not afrarI In din r., A.
Washington, he said: Go to my cscrioir and in H.,
pirate drawer you will find two pareJs-hr;r, ,,n
10 me-" lbey were brought. lie continued: s.Thcse
are my WIs-Pre3crYc tbs one, and burn the other -
Which was Immediately done. Calling fo I;oI t,o,r
lie dTecie fIct my corpse tie kept for the usual NO
rod of three days.n 20
Here we would be! leave TO remind orr ro.,r- |
tta IN former part of IhIs work we have said thu,
w asIIng Ton was old fashioned ~ much oI hi I,b,rl
manners, and IN some OF ms opinions nor was lao tho
Tess to DC admired Oh those accounts The cuz !
torn of keeping the dead for the scrpf,raJ ncr,c5 rs
three days, isderlyed from remote antiGav .nJ .ro
not from tear OF premature iBlcrDen as in moro ~
dern times but from motives Of yenera,;o, T., H. ~
ceased; for the better enabling The relative.
20 assemble rom distance 10 perform the ito
!or'the pio's wachings Othe CORPSE; and f7r n . ,
sad set sDjCarIng cercmoUia!s with which ,vo dt
So pay .a.t duties 20 the remains of fose w., 80
ioYcd, " ""'t
thc patient bore lis acute suTcrinrs viii, manic /
lUtbOde. and perfect resignation to the Divine ,y,li.
hale, 3s tle night advanced IT became evident t,
was slpang, and ho seemed fully aware that his ..our
vas nigh" lie inquired tie time; aud il was answer
-, few u11moDis 10 twelve lie spaise no moro i;o
iaod 81 death was upon lisa and lie vas conscious fiat
IRIS ''hour come" With surprising self po7,essio
he prepared to die. Composing lis forn Al cpgtf AMI
folding his bands upon lis bosors out sigh ,vitiou,
Sfoan-ihe Father Of his country expired ecpny =.
though an infant died Nor Tsn- or slr'ir~le told I
"hen t,e NOBLE spirit took rs noisecss Ggbi; while 80
Tranquil appeared The manly features in tie reposc OF
DEATH tba sono moments had passed those around
ann could believe that the Pari7rch vas no moro
IL be asked and why was The ministry Of rcIi,;on
wanting 10 Shed as peaceful and benign ius.rc upon
ine last hours Of " sshngtor, YLy was lac d, Ill.,,
the o5eeryabocs ct sacred thing, were ever ,r,,r
2uics, through life, Without their consultations in H.;
last m lrDcuts2 We answer cirCursiances did no, ro
MT. II was but for little ybI0 that the disease assn
ed threatening character 10 forbid the eucosr
cement Of hope SCI 10 stag that sIpm1ns Tlch none