Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-03-20


ment which would have been most efficient in
destroying the disease. By Friday the alarm
had become very serious-the door was crowd
ed by anxious enquiring friends, and those who
met in the street asked from each other the lat
est intelligence. The affection of the family
was extreme, but there was still hope. On Sa-
turday his daughter and son-in-law arrived
from Baltimore, and were shocked to find the
case so much worse than their worst fears.
Scarcely a glimmer of hope was left to us,
but this feeble ray was most anXiously watched
and cherished. When once Swallowed by so
deep gloom, the least of the twinkling stars IN
the armament is more precious to our sight,
than is the sun itself in the noon tide OF an I'M
clouded day. :;
Death, from the first day of his illness, had
continued to approach with steady pace and
in a form more than usually hideous. The fine
countenance so bright with intellect, SO beam
ing with benevolence, was sadly altereo-Dy
the disease partly, and partly by remedies SO
frutlessy applied. The eyes had lost their
speculation-the eloquent voice was husheaI
the Divinity had departed from the temple, and
its walls were defaced but life still fingered, loath
to abandon habitation which had so long CIV
en- to thing in itself so little desirable and so
worthless, beauty, purity and worth.
The attending Physicians were Doctors HUNT
and HALL none could have been more anxious
ly attentive; the latter staid by him every night
OF the last TOUR OF HVe.
About noon on Monday, consciousness re-
turned; and he had power to speak few words.
Nature had made last effort to permit him to
take leave of his family and friends, to give
them assurance that he died in Christian nope,
and to Join with them in prayer to his God
The Rev Mr.. Posi- Ofhciated. In so much OF
the prayer as related to his family and his own
acceptance with heaven, he seemed heartily to
join-but when a petition was offered that ne
might be restored to health, he audibly dissen-
ted " no. non He had done and suffered enough
in this contentious world, and was entitled 10
the release, and the transfer to a higher exist
ence, which the just and good are authorized
to expect.
twas now become manifest evento the most
sanguine that recovery was beyond the most
remote probability He was too shining mark
for death longer to miss-All that was lett to
us was to smooth his passage to the tomO-tO
moisten his dry parched lips and tongue, and
perform such little offices of affection as might
sooth his last sufferings
During the last eighteen hours, he was tran
ouil as child Breathing and warmth were
the only evidences of life-no motion, no pain,
no consciousness-therel lay the wreck OF WILL
LIAM WRIT.
| Three friends besides the Clergyman, atten-
ded his bed side during the night-hls family
too, worn as they were by nearly weeks con-
slant watching, could not be induced to take re-
! pose Anguish and affection gave them strength
| to bear what would have exhausted the strong
! est men. 1t was night long to be remembered
IA night of silent, despairing sorrow, which
conveys to the heart language never to be
! forgot-a language which it is not for a pen
like mine to transcribe.
Tuesday morning breaks upon the scene still
unaltered, save that life fickered more family
| and all pulse was gone. About II O'Clock the
| breathings become gradually more distant and
4 1lf,l<
| another breath-Is he gone? SO calm, so i'm
| perceptibly did he make his exit, that the pre-
| else moment of his departure could scarcely be
marked without sigh or struggle his bright
! spirit has departed from amongst us, from
! state of existence which he adorned and honor
! ed here to an existence higher mightler and
more glorious.
| Upon highly excited mind, a slight incident
will sometimes make deep and lasting impress
sion. As the last chickering's of life were falling
! while his whole family, and the trends VINO
! had watched with them, were grouped around
his bed, and in silent, deep attention to the aW-
| full scene all held their breath, and their hearts
and pulse stood STILL few soft, low notes from
| pet bird, which had before been so silent that
| its presence in the room was unremarked, fell
! with startling sweetness on the ear. Only once
| before during his illness, had it been known to
sing. On the proceeding day, at the conclusion
of the last act of devotion in which he ever
joined, these same soft notes had mingled with
| the solemn Amen
Within an hour, the decease of their distin-
guished brother was announced in the Supreme
Court The feelings of the Court, said the We
nerable CHIEF JUSTICE, would not permit them
to proceed with business, and it Immediately adj
| journed. The proceedings Of the meeting of
the Bar which followed-the twice honored re-
solutions which were adopted, prefaced by the
feeling and eloquent address, from one who in
the pride of intellect, can seldom be excited to
give utterance to feeling-the adjournment of
the two houses of Congress- to give their members
an opportunity to escort his remains to their
temporary resting place in the Congress vault
| "a proceeding heretofore uneXampled-for
which indeed there has rarely, perhaps never
before occurred such an occasion; for who,
among the good and great of the dead or the
living, can compare in all things with Mr.. Writ?
the proceedings Of the Supreme Court, on the
day after the funeral, with the observations Of
the CHIEF JUSTICE, who had such opportunity,
with such capacity to know and appreciate his
worth-"we too, gentlemen, have sustained a
loss which it will be difficult, if not impossible
to repair-we too, have lost the estimable friend