Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-10-02
WASHINGTON. Feb. 22d, 1884.
.SGturtlay morning.

cOtHuHy morning.
My DEAR AUSr:-This is the first time my
pen has ever traced this endcaring appellation
in reference to yourself: but, believe me, it is
not the first time, by very many, that my heart
has felt drawn towards you, with the yearn-
ing which it would naturally feel towards the
only near surviving relative of my precious
and sainted father and now, there is sa-
credness in the feeling, which 10 other tie
can give, and which will be cnshrined in my
heart, until it shall cease to beat
Your dear son, Judge G., who has indeed
been to us the kindest of friends IN this sea-
son of our deep aflliction, interested us all
very much, some few weeks ago, in an even
ing visit to my fathers, by narrating with how
much care you treasured up every thing, re-
lating to your much loved brother, particular
ly every thing which threw light on his relig-
ious views and sentments-and it is the hope
of afording you qualification and comfort, ,un-
der this irreparable loss, that | sit down to
give you as minute and detailed an account
of the last illness and death of our dear de-
parted one, as the present confused and col
lapsed state Of my mind will permit.
/ cannot, dare not, dwell on the loss which
his family has sustained in their Head, Hus-
band, Father and Household Priest: for when
feel as if my heart would break press my
hand on it, to still its rcbellious rising, and
raise my eyes and soul to the Hills whence
comcth all our help; and indeed, my dear
Aunt, this help has been extended to us al
most mlraculously, for had been told two
short weeks ago, that he who was the dearest
and most absorbing object Of our earthly af-
fcctions, was so soon, so very soon, to be ta-
ken from us, mcthinks the sudden shock would
have made IS quit our hold Of our Almighty
Refuge, and driven us into wailing and de-
spair And yet, when the fiat came, and we
knew it to be inevitable and irrevocable, God
held us up, and dried our tears, and. hushcd
our lamentations, and enabled us to stand a.
round the dying bed, to speak, and to receive
words of consolation.
lie whom we loved, and whom the Lord
loped, (precious thought,) was picture Of re-
novated health on the morning of Sunday the
9th inst.,-so much so that dear mother, at the
breakfast table, said to him playfnlly-"You
are looking so much more like yourself, my
dear husband, than have seen you for years,
that really think you ought to have your pic
turc taken.' On the previous evening, Sat-
urday, he had been preparing himself for an
argument on the following Monday, in very
important case, and had been in the Capitol
Library, examining authorities, in addition to
those of his own Office and altogether express
sed himself better satisfied with his prepara-
tons, than he had been for long time for in
this, MS in every thing else, his humility often
made him undervalue HIMSELF SO as to dis
tress us.
Directly after breakfast, Sabbath morning,
9th inst, hc assembled us as usual, in his
chamber, at family prayers; and never did
hear more solemn and fervent outpourng OF
the soul ut the footstool Of die Mercy Seat
lie prayed "for the extension ofthe Redeem
er's Kingdom, with holy earncstncss; for
his children present and absent ; for his enc
mics, if he had any and for his friends every
where especially those who had not yet
been brought to know and love the Saviour; ;
finally, he prayed that his own soul and that
of those so dear to him, might be sprinked a.
fresh with pardonng blood, and that the as
cended Saviour would through the influence
Of his Holy Spirit, keep him, and all Of US IN
His fear, and enable us to walk in his Com
mandments through life; sustain and cheer
us in the hour Of death, and at last receive us
to himself, a reunited and blessed family, to
worship forever around his Throne, to the
glory of God the Father, Son and Holy Spir-
it."
His heart being thus attuned to worship
God in his public ordinances, he walked with
my sister Ellen, Alexander Randall, Of Anna
polls, (the brother Of my brother. r.in-law, Judge
Randall, Of Florida,) and myself, to the CaPi-
tol, to hear the Chaplain, Mr.. '''s',preech.
It was not actually raining, but so exceeding
ly damp, that some persons had their umbrel-
las up, to turn the drizzling moisture. II IS
to this walk, that the cold which terminated
in his death, is attributed. Yet he had some
times walked in as bad, & even worse wealth
er before, without serious injury; and the