The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1839-10-26
MIS- G. + /. l. 4 y Y.
From Rayaor's LIFE Of Je5erson
THE LAST HOURS AND DEATH OF THOMAS
JET IEhS0S.


JET PERSON.
When the morning Of that day came, he ap-
peared 10 be thoroughly impressed, as if prefer
naturally, that he could not live through it, only
expressed desire tina, lie might survive until
midday, he seemed perfectly Al SC, being vii
ling TO die. When the doctor entered his room,
he said, swell, doctor, you see am here yet "
Ills disorder being checked a friend expressed
hope Of amendment.His reply was, that 1.-The
powers of nature were too much exhausted 4 be
ralied'' On a member Of his family observing
that he was better, and that the doctor thought so,
he listened with evident iinpatlcaee, and SAID, "do
not imagine for moment THAI feel the smallest
soIicitude for the result" He ,hen calmly gave
directions for his funeral, expressly iolh!d4lng ell
pomp and parade, when, being answered by a
hope that it would be long ere The occasion would
require their Observance, lie asked, with smile,
:. DO YOU think fear to die - A few moments
after, lie called his family and friends around his
bed side, and uttered distinctly the following sen
,ence: 81 have done for my country ana for ali
mankind, all that could do, and | now resign
my soul without fear tc God, ny daughter 70 my
country" These were the last words he ariicii-
latel-his last solemn declaration 70 the world
bis dying will andteslanicn'. hcqneathing his most
precious gifts to his God and t. lis country. All
that was heard from him sGtc1N .rts, was hurried
repetition, in indistnct and scarcely audible
cents, Of Ills favori,e { acua,ion, -'tne, Dtmias
Dcminc-Nune, Di!n';tls Domino. He sunk
away imperceptibly, and breaihed his last, with
out struggle or murmur. al ten minutes before
| o'clock, on the great IURlLEE Of American
Liberty--the day, and the louf TOO, on which the
Declaration OF Independence received its final
reading, and the day and hour on which heprayed
to Heaven that he might be permitted to depart.
Astonishing coincidence wonderful anthanasia
Was not the hand Of Gcd most a!!ecgly dis
PLAYED in this event, as il o add another, and a
browning one, to the multiplied proofs Of his es-
pecal superintendent over Ibis happy country !?
On the anniversary Of day lho most distinguished
in the annals Of mankind on the ltleh anniver-
sary Of that momcntous day en- q day too, which
his own great work had rendered thus Elomcntous
at the identical moment, when fifty years be-
fore he was engaged in repeating lis sublime and
eternal truths, for the final adoption ofhs country
and III The mcrcifu fulGlncnt Of lis last earth
ly prayer, he closed Ills eyes in patriot ecstacy,
amidst the thunders Of artillery. and the lightning
of impassioned dccana:on flashing from every
temple, and the hosann"s q congregated nation,
uniting with one voice il r!aclaiming the assur-
ance of his immortality. lie like felicitous
combination has never happened in the world
no, nor can it ever happen, may be almost said
with certainty. Few Of lh9 miracles recorded in
the sacred writings more conspicuous or i'm.
posing. Mark again-what did not c<cnpe the
wonder and the record Ct the anxious spectator.
Of the scene--thc extraordinary protracti0n o
physical existence, manifested II Ito last moments
Of Mr.. Jefferson, as If 70 reader he coincidence
more srikingly and beautifully complete. At {
o'clock =. NJ, on the 81 Of j;ly, his physician
Of whose enemies it's suPer1uoas TO speak, pro
nounced that he might Re expected 10 cease Il
live every quarter Of an h,Sr from that time
Yet lie lived seventeen ha@ss longer, without an,
evident pain, Suffering, g. rcsesancss; with0u
sensih:liiv, consciousn"ss ar intelligence, fn
much more than twelve lears of the time and q
last gradually subsiilad in:o iaau,nation like
lamp which had shore 1ireUgifou! a long dark
night, spreading far its trneiicont rays, and had
continued TO burn enough to usher in broad day
light upon mankind. Ills desire 10 see the noon.
lid. If the naonol jubilee was thus wonderfully