Delaware patriot & American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1828, 1828-04-04


the usual family hour. but becoming alarmed ~
not hearing the accustomed sound of the Library
door, as II closed for the night and gave signal TO
rest in the well regulated mansion, she arose again
and continued sitting up in much anxiety and sus
pense. At length the well known step was heard
on the stair, and upon the Generals entering hs
chamber, the lady kindly chided him for remain.
ing up so late. knowing himself to be unwell to
which Washington made this memorable reply
g came 50 soon as my business was accomplished
You well know that through tong life it has beel
my unmarried rule, nersr to put IF til The norro,o
thu duties which shoutd be pvrform d to day."
/ Having first covered up the fire with care. the
man OF mighty labours at last sought rep0se ; but
it came not as it had long been wont to do, to
tort aud restore, after the many and earnest occu
patlons OF the we'll spent day The night was pas
sed in feverish restiessncss and pain. :" Tired
natures sweet resG' Ell, bamy Sleep" was desti-
ned no more to visit his couch; yet the manly
sufferer uttered no complaint, would permit nc
one to be disturbed in their rest, On his account,
and it was only at day break he would consent
that the Oyerseer might be called IN, and bleeding
resorted to. A vein was opened, but without at
iording relief. Courers were despatched to sum-
mon DR.. CraiA, the family, and Drs. Dick and
Brown, as consulting Ply sicians. all of whom came
with speed. The proper remedies were admins
tered, but without producing their healing effects,
while the patient, yielding to the anxious looks oE
all around him, waived his usual objection to med
lcines. and took those which were prescribed, with
out hesitation or remark. The medical gentlemen
spared not their skill! and all the resources Of
their art were exhausted in unwearied endeavorS
to preserve this noblcst work Of nature.
Night approached--the last night of Washing
ton: the weather became severely cold, while the
group gathered near to the Couch of the suf-
terer, watching, tYth intense anxiety for the
slightest dawning Of nope He spoke but little
10 tie respectful and aIlectinnatc inquiries Of an
Old family servant, as she smoothed down his pill
low, how lie elt hG,self he answered, 8. am VIC.
ry i'll. 20 Doctor Crak. his earliest companies!
in arms, longest tried and bosom friend. he o,ser.
we'd I. am dying, Sirbut am not afraid TO die
70 Mrs. Washington. he said 's Go 70 my escr
toir, and in the private drawer you will find two
papers--bring them to me-" they were brought,
He continued, - these my wiils-preserve this
one, and burn the other (which was immedi-
ately done. Calling to Co! Lear he directed,
''Let my corpse be kept for tile usual period Of
three days.
Here we would beg leave to remind our readers.
that, in former part of this work. we have said
that Washington was old fashioned in much of his
habits and manners, and in some Of his opinions
nor was he the less TO be admired on those ac.
counts. The custom Of keeping the dead for the
.crptura perosi Of three days. is derived from re-
mote antiquity, and arose not from fear of prelna-
turc interment as in more modern times but from
motives OF vencratlon toward the deceased for the
better enabling tire relatives and friends 60 assem-
bic from distance to perform tile funeral rites;
for the pious watchings Ut the corpse; and for the
many sad yet endearng ceremoaials with which
we delight to pay our last duties to the remains OF
those we have loved.
The patient bore his acute suiierings with man
" ur;itude, and perfect resignation to the Divine
viii while, the night advanced, it became evil
dent that he was sinking. and he seemed fully
ware that his hour was nigh He inquired the
t,vnS fp,p IN fyvnI
lie spake more-the hand OF death Was upon
him, and he conscious that his " hour was
Gomez With surprising self-possessior he pre-
pared to die Composing his form at length, and
folding his hands upon his bosom-without sigh,
without a groan-thc Father Of his Country expi-
red, gently as though an infant died Nor pang or
st; uggie told when the noble spirit took its noise.
less fight; while, so tranquil appeared the manly
features in the repose Of death. that some moments
had passed ere those around could believe that the
Patriarch no more.
II mag be asked. and why was the ministry Of
religion wanting to shed its peaceful! and benign
lustre upun the last hours of Washington Whv
was he, to whom the observance of sacred things
were ever primary duties through life, without
their consolation in his last moments: w answer.
circumstances did not permit. It twas but for lit
tie while that the descase assumed 50 threatening
character to forbid the encouragement Of hope
yet TO STAY that summons which none may refuse
TO give still farther length OF days to him whose
Is time -honored life was dear to mankind praye.
was not wanting to the Throne Of Grace. Close
TO the couch of the sufferer, resting her head upon
that ancient book with which she had been y ont to
hold pious communon,. a portion ni every days for
more than half century, was the venerable con
sort, absorbed In silent prayer, and from which
she only arose when the mourning group prepared
10 bear her from the chamber of the dead. Such
were the last hours Of Washington.