Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-02-26
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
rnon oun DAIIr rArra or TUESDAY.

FROM PApER TUESDAY.
A mournlu and agtating event occurred in the
House Of Representatives yesterday, which, as the
news of it spread through the city, engrossed all
thoughts and filled all hearts viii sympathy.
Just after the yeas and nays were taken on
question, and the Speaker had risen to put another
question to the House, sudden cry was heard on
the left of the chair, g Mr.. ADAMS is dying -
Turning our eyes to the spot, we behed the veneer
able man in the act Of falling over the left arm OF
MS chair, while his right arm was extended, grasp
i.Sg his desk for support. He would have dropped
upon the floor had he not been caught in the arms
of the member sitting next him. great sensation
was created in the House: members from all quar-
tiers rushing from their seats and gathering round
the fallen statesman, who was Immediately lifted
into the area in front of the Clerks table.
The Speaker instantly suggested that some gentle
man move an adjournment which being promptly
done, the House adjourned. A som was brought,
and Mr.. ADAMS, in state of perfect heplessness,
though not of entire insensibility, was gently lald
upon it. The sofa was then taken up and borne
out of the Hall into the Rotundo, where it was set
down, and the members of both Houses and strsn-
gers who were fast crowdng around were with
some difficulty repressed and an open space cleared
in It's immediate vicinity but medical gentleman,
a member Of the House, (who prompt, active,
and selfpossessed throughout the whole painful
scene,) advised that he be removed TO the door OF
the Rotundo opening on the east portlco, where
fresh wind was blowing. This was done; but the
air being chilly and loaded with vapor, the sofa
was, at the suggestion Of Mr.. WINTHROP, once
more taken up and removed to the Speakers apart
ment, the doors of which forthwith closed 10
all but professional gentlemen, several of whom ar
rived in succession as the spread into the city,
, While living in this apartment Mr.. ADAMS partially
recovered the of his speech, and observed, in
faltering accents This is the end of earth - but
quickly added :" am composed" Members had
by this time reached Mr. AS abode with the me-
lancholy Intelligence, and, sool after, Mrs. ADAMS
and his nephew and niece arrived and made their
way TO the appalling scene. Mrs. A. was deeply
affected, and for some moments quite Frustrated by
the sight of her husband, now insensible the paor
of death upon his countenance, and those sad pre-
monitores fast making their appearance which fall
with such chill upon the heart.
In the Hall, meanwhile, gloomy pause occurred
in the usual hum of voices that fills il. Some
members sat in mute suspense; others stood in
groups and made or answered inquiries as to the
and the probable issue of the attack others
FASTENED toward the Speakers room to get the latest
intelligence of the sufferer condition while MANY
were busiy engaged in writing to their friends at
home the alarming news. A remark very frequently
heard was, g Well, this is just what Mr.. ADAMS
could have wished; il is an appropriate ending OF
his public career he falls, like SECOND Chatham,
in the Senate House.
Mr.. ADAMS, though for some months very feeble,
was, when he entered the hall in the morning, in
his usual health, and had but few minutes before
delivered his vote, on a motion before the House
IN an unusually distinct and emphatic manner. Tn,
attack believed, al first 10 have been fantns
fit; but this idea soon gave place to the appalling
conviction that il a recurrence of paralysis
which has twice before affected Mr.. ADAMS, though
in 'milder degree. Very slight hopes are enter
tanned Of his recovering. Mr.. A. attained hi:
eghiieth year in July last.
At eleven o'clock last nghtthe venerable sufferer
still lay in the Speakers chamber, nsensibe to al
external objects, but apparently more comfortable
and his symptoms giving hope 10 his medical at
tendants thai he might revive sufficiently by this
morning TO bear removal TO his own residence.
As soon as the news Of the painful occurrence
reached the Senate, that body likewise adjourned.