Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-07-04
LAST HOURS OF MIR. POLK.


ho'following letter, describing the last hours of
the late Ex'Pssdent Of the United States, is from
the New Y6sklIcr
NASHVILLE, JUNE I6, !S49.
Yesterday, at twenty minutes before five O'Clock,
Z. NJ, James X. Polk expired at his residence in
this CITY, MIR. Polk had suffered from the diarrhea
ON his way upthe Mississippi river from New Or
leans, in MARCH; but the attack passed off, aud he
reached this city in good health A few days after
his arrival, he moved into his new mansion, state
iy edihce, which hud just been completed and fur
nishcd in style Of combined elegance and taste-
His estate lies in the very heart Of the city, ON an
emlnence known as Grundy's Hill, having been the
! home Of the Hon. Felix Grlndy, from whose heirs
MIR. Polk purchased the property. :,
Having taken up his abode here, the ex- Presi-
dent gave himself up to The improvement of the
grounds, and was every day about his dwell
ling, aiding and directing the wotkmen he had EN-
ployed. Now ovet- looking n carpenter, now Civ
ing instructions to gardner, often a,tendedb Mrs
r., whose exquisite taste constituted The element of
every Improvement. 1t is no, fortnight since that
saw him in his lawn, directing some men, who
were removing decaying cedars. was struck with
his erect and healthiul bearing, and the active en-
egy of his manner, which gave promise of long life
His flowing'gray locks alone made him appear be-
You'd the middle age Of life. He seemed in full
health. The next day, being rainy, he Remained
within and began to arrange his large library and
the labor of reaching books from the floor aud pac-
ing them on the shelves, brought on fatigue and
Slight fever, which the next day assumed The cha
racler of disease in the form Of chronic diarrhGa
which was with him complaint Of many years.
standing, and readily induced upon his system by
| any over exeTiion.
For Tie three first days his friends felt no iarni
But the disease battling their skill, (and for skful
| physicians Nashville viii compare with the first
cities in the Unon,) DIR. Hay, his brother in law,
and family physician for 20 years, sent for from
Columbia. But the skill and experience of this
gentleman, aided by the highest medical talent,
! proved of no avail. Mr.. Polk continued gradually
10 sink from day To day. The disease was checked
upon him four days before his death, but his con-
stitulion so weakened, that there did remain
recuperative energy enough in tine system for heal
thy re action He sunk away slowly and insen-
siby that il eight hours before he died, after
the heavy death respirations commenced He died
without struggle, simply ceasing TO breathe, as
when deep and quiet sleep falls upon weary man.
About half an hour preceding his death, his ven
cradle mother entered the room, and kneeling by
his bedside, offered up beautiful prayer to the
liking of kings, and Lurd Of lords" committing
the SOUL of her son 10 his holy keeping. The scene
was strikingly impressive. Major Polk, the Presi-
dents brother, also by his bedside with other
members of the family.
| Upon the coffin was plain silver plate, with
these words:
j. X. POLK,
| BORN NOVEMBER, 1893.
DIED JUNE Is, l649.
| The body lies in state to-day The noble draw
ing rooms are shrouded in black, and every window
in mourning with black scarfs Of Grape. The tall
while columns of the majestic por!ico facing The
south, are completely shrouded in black, giving
soemnly majestic and funeral aspect to the ex- Pre-
siden,'s mansion.
The funeral took place at four o'clock this after
noon, masonic ceremonies being first performed in
| the drawing room over the body. saw the BODY
before it was encoffined. The features are in noble
composuro. Death hath impressed upon them the
seal of majesty In his life, his features never wore
that impress of command and intellectual strength
that seemed chiselled upon their marble outline
| lie was habited in plain suit of black, and cnpy
Of the Constitution of the United States at his feet
Before being taken to the cemetery, the body was
Theoretically soldered within copper coffin.
From the house the funeral corlege, which was
very large all places Of business being closed by or
der of the good Wig Mayor, proceeded to the Me
thodist Episcopal Church, where, after services per-
formed by the Rev. Mr.. MFesren, ii was convey
ed to the cemetery, followed By vast concourse Of
citizens. The body was deposited in the Grundy
vault, temporarily but 1t will soon be removed to
VAULT on the lawn of the Presidential mansion,
| where willow now stands, and over il will be e.
rected stately marble cenotaph thus the body of
The President from Tennessee will lie entombed in
tile heart of lis capital. Mr. Polk by will the even
ing bs!ofe his death, gave the lawn the State IN
perpetuity, for this purpose.
Mr.. Polk sent for the Rev. DR.. Edgar of the
Presbyterian Church, seven days before his death,
desiring TO be baptized by him. He said to HIM
imprsssively
Sir, if had suspected twenty years AGO that
should come TO my death bed mprepared it would
have made me wretched man yet am about to
die, and have not made preparation. have not E.
ven been baptized. Tel me, sir, can there be any
ground for MAN thus situated to hobe %
The Rev. Doctor made known to him the assur-
ances and promises Of the gospel that mercifulIy run
parallel with mans life.
| Mr. Polk then remarked, that he had been pre-
vented from baptism in infancy by some accidental
occurrence, that he had been several times strongly
inclined to be baptized during his administration
but that the cares and perpeXities OF public life
hardly gave him time for the solemn preparation
requisite, and so procrastination had ripened into
inacton, when it was now almost too late to act
In his conversation with the Rev. clergyman Mr.
Polk evinced great knowledge Of the Scriptures
which, he said, he had read great deal and deep
ly revefenced, as Divine truth; in word, he was
theoretically, Christian.
The conversation fatgung Mr.. Polk too mitch
h. for him TO be then baptized, it postponed to
take place the next evening but in the interval the
exPresdent recOllected that when ne was govern
Nr and lived here, he used to hold many argument:
with the.Rev. Mr.. MFerren, the talented and pop
.ear Methodist minister Of the place, his warm per
sofai and political friend, and that ne had promised
, him that when lie did embrace Christianity tia
, he, the Rev. Mr.. MFefren, should bapti5e him.
He, therefore, sent for the Rev. DIR. Edgar, mad,
known his obligation, and expressed his intention
to be baptized by his friend the Methodist minister
The same day, the venerable Mrs. Polk, mother o
the ex- President, very pious Presbyterian lady
arrived from her residence, forty miles distance
accompanied by her own pastor, hoping that he