Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-04

malls from the pen oil the deceased, as wen as recent
conversations held with him shortly before the af
fecting close of his career. In illustration OF the
power which sense of public duty ever exerted
over him, Mr..G. read portion of the address of
Mr. ADAMS 10 his constituents Immediately before
setting out, in the depth Of winter, on Journey
to Cincinnati to lay the foundation of the Obserya-
tory in that city; and, to exhibit the early founda-
ton of that virtue and piety which distinguished
the deceased through life, the eloquent preacher
quoted some touching passages Of the written adj
vice and admonition addressed to Mr.. ADAMS when
a boy at school, by his pious and srong-minded
Mother.
The address was followed by closing hymn and
the Apostolic benediction when the funeral process
sion began 10 be formed, the corpse was borne out
of the hall, the several public bodies fell into their
places in order of the programme, passing in sue
cession along the broad aisle and through the north
door into the Rotundo, and so out on the eastern
porlico, and down the great flight of steps to the
open area in 'front.' where carriages were in waiting
TO receive them.
The whole proceeding was conducted with great
decorum and dignity, and the universal interest ex-
ciledamong people of all classes TO witness il shows
the deep hold the event itself had taken on the pub
lie mind. As the coffin was borne into the hall,
the impression was profound on every countenance,
and all seemed 10 feel that the soemnitles OF Death
and of the Judgment had been brought nearer to
them than ever before. The dignity of the victim,
his eminent station and yet more eminent endow-
ments the lustre Of his moral virtues, together with
the open publicity and appalling suddenness of the
blow which crushed him, as well as the spot where
tell, seem not to have failed in accomplishing their
solemn mission and pressing their resistless appeal
to the human heart. May Congress, of which he
was as the father may our Nation of which he was
long so bright an ornament; may the Age, in which
he shone as great light; may our entire World, in
almost every part of which his name had been heard
and where heard had been honored, be warned by
his sudden death, as they had all been blessed and
benefited by his long, illustrious, and useful life.
Thus much for the solemn scenes and ceremonies
within the Capitol. Without the building 1.-THE vast
Rotundo of which, as well as the Hobbies and pas
sages were densely crowded by hundreds or thou
sands who could not gain admttance to the Repre-
sentatives Hall the scene was striking, from the
vast multitude of orderly and well-dressed people
of both sexes, the military companies and various
college societies, &c. which filed the
great space in front of the Capitol and all its pre-
cncts, amounting in all, within and without the
Capitol, on the grounds and the avenue to the
terry, 10 not less than fifteen thousand men, women,
and children. Of the arrangements and incidents
out of doors and in the city, City Reporter fur
nishes the following account:
Among the immense multitude who attended the
funeral, we noticed many citizens of Baltimore and
the adjacent counties of Maryland. The members
of the Legislature Of that distinguished State did
themselves honor in attending the funeral in body,
pursuant to joint resolution of the two Houses,
unanimously adopted on the previous day.
Early on Saturday morning the west wing of the
City Hall, in which is the Mayors Office and the
chambers of the City Council, was hung with
mourning drapery, and'all business in the Offices Of
the Corporation closed for the day. The National
Flag on the elevated pole in front of the City Hall
displayed at hafmast; and along Pennsy-
vania avenue and indeed in other parts of the city,
there was general cessation from business, the
stores, hotels, and many dwellings being hung with
mourning drapery. All the fire engine-houses had
their flags at half-mast but the Perseverance Fire
Company, of which Mr.. ADAMS was an honorary
member put their building into deep mourning, the
entire steeple being covered with black and lis front
festooned with mourning emblems and drapery.
The procession, under the direction OF JOSEPH
III. BRADLEY, Esq as chief marshal, moved along
Pennsylvania avenue towards the Capitol about half
past eleven o'clock, being Joined by the Mayor, the
City Councils, and officers of the Corporation, who
left the City Hall about eleven o'clock. The chief
marshal was aided by the following gentlemen as
assistant marshals: Mr.. JAMES ScoTT, Mr.. E. H.
FULLER Mr.. G.. S. GIDEON, Mr.. w. III. WINTER,
Mr.. WV. BARKER, Mr.. ]. X. QUEEN, and Mr.. ].
w. MARTIN.
The military part of the procession consisted Of
the Rnggod Cavalry, fine troop of horse from
Alexandra, Virginia, and the Mount Vernon Guards
also from Alexandra, accompanied by Garcia's ex-
cellent band. Our Washington Light Infantry and
the National Blues Immediately followed the Alex
andra companies.
In the line of the procession we noticed besides
the public bodies and societies named in the pro-
gramme, the members Of the Corporation OF Alex
andria. That body and the volunteer companies of
that ancient and patriotic town paid marked respect
to the memory of the venerable Ex-Presdent by
their full attendance al his public funeral.
The officers and students of Georgetown Col
lege attended, bearing their two handsome banners
in mourning. Then followed the officers and stu
dents of Columbian College; the Odd Fellows,
in full regaIia the Temperance Associations,
ing rosetes ; and the officers and members Of the
Perseverance Franklin, and Anacostia Fire Com
panies-makng altogether an imposing appearance.
The Funeral Car. which was built BY Mr.. ] f.
Harvey, had canopy covered with black velvet. Il
was surmounted with a spread eagle covered with
Grape. The car was drawn by six white horses,
led by as many grooms, the horses and leaders
being in sable attire.
The coffin, which was made by Messrs. Lee a.
Espy, was covered with black velvet and ornament
ed with silver lace The silver breastplate, manu-