The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-04-30
Mtscellanrous.
.1 NOTICE OF
Grs. HARRISON WILHELM WASHINGTON.
HIS INAUGURATION.

4
The three days previous 10 his Inauguration after
bis arrival in Washingion were mostly spent at the
Mansion OF the Mayor of the city where he received
at all hours of the day the visits of his friends and fell
iow-citizens The urbany Of his manners, the open
hearted irankncss with which he received the congra
tuations Of his friends deeply impressed all impartial
and disnterested persons the Capital with the
fdent assurance that he about TO upon the
high Office to which he had been called with single
heart and purpose to discharge and faithfully execute
| the important trust
Numerous strangers, from almost every section Of
TINS WIDE spread Republic for days and weeks proceed
ing the 1t OF March, had been rushing into this Me-
tropols TIL the crowd had become immense almost be-
yond calculation. Every hotel and boarding house
was hlled TO overlooking, and almost every private
sidence crowded beyond convenient accommodation.
Inc procession for the Inauguration formed in
beautiful order and IL passed along the and
| avenues TO the Capitol the throngng multitude pres
| sing against each other seemed TO move on like the
ocean wave, and with the g noise Of many waters"
| The spontaneous expression Of joy and gadncss
which ever and anon burst forth from young and old,
| even from the aged matron and the blooming maiden
together with the waving of handkerchief from the
| crowded windows proclaimed TO the vete-
ran welcome to the highest honors of his county
Alter taking the oath of Office and having delivered
his Inaugural Address, he returned from the Capitol
10 the Presidents Mansion amid the increased accla-
nation of nearly forty thousand of his admirng coun-
rymen who there rendered him their cordial congra-
tulations. Thus passed away this joyous day of his
political triumph, none suspeclng that in enc short
| month the whole scene would be changed that GoD
preparing to summon him away from the heig ht
of his earthly glory trust to exalted station
at his right hand
| HIS RELIGIOUS CHARACTER.
The next morning (the 9th of March) Gen. HAIR
| RBoN walked down the avenue and purchased a
Quaro Bible and Book of Common Prayer, which he
carried home with him. and directed the servant to
place in his bedroom, where saw them the night
of his death-thereby indicating that he had chosen
| that Holy Book for the rule of his faith and guide of
his life in the execution of the important
mted TO his charge. This Bible he was seen reading
| early every morning and late every evening.
In his first letter to Mrs. HARRISON after his Inau-
guraon, he states that after he had returned from the
Capitol to the Presidents Mansion as soon as he
could command any time he retired to his and
fell down upon his knees before his Maker, thank
ing HIM tor all his merces, and duplicating his gra
cious guidance in the faithful discharge Of the duties
of his high station to his country and his God.
On Sunday morning, the 18th, BENJAMIN HARRISON,
Esq, of Virginia, at the request of the President call
ed at my house desiring to knew whether he could be
accommodated with pew for himself and family for
that day and expressing wish TO obtain the one
| Gently occupied by Mrs. MADIsoN--which the owner
accorded 10 him. In the public worship of the church.
he CONFIRMED to all her rituals in the audible responses
of the service and with that humility expressive of
devout feelings and humble devotion, bowed himself
his knees before the Majesty of Heaven, and sup
piIcated that mercy of which, a sinner, however
highly exalted his station, he stood so much in need
| Thus following the example of the pious rulers of
Israel and the illustrious in every age who have
adorned the doctrine Of God their Saviour.
| The following day he purchased the pew, and re-
guary attended the service of the church every Sun
day morning until prevented by his last fatal sickness
His high regard for the Sabbath such, that, of
! late years. he always avoided travelling that holy
day unless from absolute necessity; and during the
short period he occupied the Presidents Mansion,
carefully avoided all company that day, and dined
al an early hour that he might attend public worship
in the afternoon with his family, some of whom be-
onged To the communion of the Presbyterian Church.
His high estimation for the people of God" was
most nobly shown in kindness to his Ministers. On
a recent occasion, he said TO brother clergyman of
mine, with whom he had been for some time acquaint
ed whom i'll health prevented from the performance of
his clerical duties, and on whom he had within few
weeks conferred a vacant clerkship until his health
would enable him TO resume the duties of his minis
| erial office see company on Sunday, and dine
| in plain way; but shall be always happy TO
you my table, for love to have the Clergy with
| on Sunday"
In this connexion it may be proper to state that at
his own hospitabe mansion at North Bend, when the
infirm health of Mrs HARRISON would not allow her
20 attend public worship elsewhere, Gen. III. would Of
ten obtain The services of clergyman for the day, and
remunerate him literally. 1t has also been stated to
me by member of the family TINT some years since,
he accidentally became acquainted with young Min
lister of the Methodist Church in INDECENT circumsan-
ces whose native talents and powers of mind promised
extensive usefulness if properly cultivated Gen H.
kindly invited him to become a member of his family,
and offered nm the use OF MS library untll wei piepa-
red for the exercise OF his ministry Tins young cer
pyman is a distinguished and successful laborer
| in the vineyard of our Lord
4 OF late years notwithstanding his having erected,
mostly at his expense, church in his immediate
vicinity yet not being able to support clergyman for
the regular of the church. he in the habit
| of leaving home Saturday afternoon for the sole
purpose of attending the church in Cincinnati, OF
which the Rev j. T. BRooKE is Rector twice or thrice
| day. lie also frequently attended stated weekly
| lecture.
From the day of his Inauguration, it was his invaria
BILE practice to rise with the dawn OF day. and after
reading the Scripture to take walk for exercise; and
seldom did he breakfast dine without old friend
| or acquaintance paraking of his hospitality. In this
manner his W hole time was occupied. Occasionally,
| if for discngagcd from his official duties, and
the press of visters, he would steal away from his
family, and visit of his old acquaintance, with all
that corolia ty and generous good feeling character
istc Of the warm hearted soldier and devoted friend.
HIS DEATH.
With this brief notice of past events come to the
closing OF the melancholy drama. On Thurs
day the 25lh of March, in short interview with him,
he complained of being quite unwell and this inds
position continued until the xposure of his
| person in the morning walk of Saturday brought on
severe chill and fever which the best MEDICAL skill
could not arrest. No human power could stay the
ravages of his disease The community generally, in
this city without distinction of party manifested much
anxiety for his recovery, and in great numbers daily
and hourly called at his residence with xious nqui-.
res respecting his sickness and its probable result Its
violent and exciting character seemed in the opinion
of his physicians forbid the usual religious services
his sick room, lest they might produce uniavora-
| bic effect
| On Saturday evening the Sd instant, at o'clock,
approaching his sick bed his strength appeared TO
be rapidly falling and as little hope could be
terained of his recovery, few of his friends united
with at his bedside in that "commendatory prayer
for sick person at the point Of departure to another
world set forth in the service of the church, 10 which
he appeared TO listen with silent attention and appro
baton About 80 minutes before | o'clock, by the