The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1850-08-02

tanning as 1t does, many facts only slightly alu.
ded to heretofore.
HIS LAST ILLNESS, &c.
After describing the first attack of disease
and the subsequent efforts to relieve, with the
sending for Dr. Wood and Col. Taylor he says:
BY this time the morning Of the stb) the dis
ease had made rapid encroachments on his
frame; bur by the united skill of these eminent
practitioners, the visible stage of the cholera
morbus was soon after checked. However,
fever ensued; and from a remittent character,
it took the form Of typhoid. Anxiety now be-
gan TO manifest itself, not only among the ex
alted patients family, but among the physicians
themselves. His chances of life hung upon
thread.
Meanwhile, there we're o,het causes. besides
merely eating and drinking, that operated fatal
ly upon his system. TO his medical attendant.
on The 9Th, lie said, 81 should not be surprised
II this were to terminate in my DEATH did
not expect to encounter what has beset me since
my elevation to the Presidency. God knows
that | have endeayored to fulfill what conceived
to be an honest duty. Bat have been mista-
ken. My motives have teen misconstrued, and
my feelings most grossly outraged" He alu-
ded, doubtless, TO the slavery question, and the
manner in which he had been variously assailed.
Even the sanctity OF his sick chamber was in
vaded by certain Southern ultraists, who came
10 warn him that unless he took some necessary
steps to protect the South, they would vote
resolution of censnre on his conduct in the Gal
phin business. / repeat merely what | know
to be true. On the 5tb, MesSrs, Stephens and
Toombs waited upon him as a committee ap-
pointed by an ultra caucus, 10 demonstrate upon
the same subject; and, according to facts since
developed, the interview concluded with threat
similar TO the above. II was not until after his
illness of the 4th, and the conference Of the 5th,
that the mind of the President seemed so sadly
oppressed, and which called forth the remarks
Just given. From tnis forward, bis mental suf~
ferngs were equal 10 his physical.
But TO proceed Towards the evening of the
8th the chronic state of dysentery, which had
set in. disappeared, and vomiting ensued DIR.
johnson, of Philadelphia, who is eminent in
these branches of treatment, was teleeraphed,
and reply received from him that lie would
arrive last evenng-but, alas too late to be of
service
The condition Of the patient was now at its
critical point. The sick chamber restored to
solemn silence, attendants placed on the outside,
and none permitted to enter except the phvsi-
clans. The family of the President, with Col.
Bliss and other relatives Of the deceased, occu-
pied room adjoining, where they remained,
overwhelmed with grief, and refusing even the
indulgence Unnecessary repose. Bulletins were
hourly sent out to inform the masses Of the
changes observable in the patient; but these so
slightly varied tor the better that all hope of his
safety was dspelIed at II o'clock. From that
period until daylight the utmost anxiety pre-
vailed.
The 9th dawned, but gloom Still surrounded
the Expenriuo Mansion. Thousands began TO
flood the avenues leading thither, and through
out the day a messenger was kept posted at tne
main door toanswer the interrogatories that were
necessarily poured upon him. At 10 o'clock,
A. NJ, a report circulated that the President
had rallied-at P. NJ that he was dead The
CONSERVATION created by the latter rumor was
happily relieved by an official bulletin at half
past 3, that the crisis had been passed and that
he was then beyond immediate danger. Bells
rang for Joy, and even the boys in the streets
lit bonfires and shouted in childish graduation.
The stream now TO the White House was great
er than ever. but about in the evening the pail
of gloom again shrouded all faces, for it was
announced the illustrious hero was dying
will not attempt to describe the commoton
that ensued Mrs. Taylor thrice tainted from
excess of apprehension, and Col. Bliss who had
never shed tear perhaps upon the battle plain,
wept like an infant. At 5-two hours previous
the physicians refused to administer any more
medicine, considering his case hopeless and in
The hands of God The heads Of departments,
corporate authorities ofthe city, diplomatic body,
and officers of the army and navy, paid their re-
spects often during the day, and seemed to en-
tertsin lively feelings of solciude for his safe
ty Everything that could contribute to the
comfort Of the sick, thenceforward, was extern
ded: but the sands of life had run out, and his
hours were numbered.
At 8, the vomiting partially ceased, as all pain
had disappeared about in the afternoon. But
the system had wasted under the shock, and gra-
duay sunk beyondrecovery Greenmatter was
thrown from his stomach at intervals until twen-
ty minutes past l0--that peculiar coloration Of
bile that indicates the dissolution Of patients thus
seized. At thirty minutes past 10, his wife and
other members of his family, were called to his
bedside toreceive his last earthly adieu--a fare
well that the stoutest could not gaze upon with
out tear II must be remembered that his was
domestic life; and his beloved partner, ignorant
as himself of those fashionable formulas which
sunder the husband from the wife, felt for the
first time the loneliness OF bereaved heart, and
understood nothing Of the rigid discipline that
would have dictated to her, go weep in solitude
society DEGREES it," Her abandonment and
grief were only heart-piercing.
THE LAST MOMENTS.
At few minutes past 10, as have heard it
became apparent that the soul of the hero and
conqueror was about taking its rest. The med
ical yielded to the spiritual agent, whose office it
was to prepare for the approach of the King Of
Terrors. But there was nothing in the conduct
of the sufferer to indicate that he feared the NOR.
tai leap. In the secret communion OF his heart
with Heaven, who can say that he died not a
Christian? After prayer, he seemed refreshed,
and called for glass Of water. 1t was given
him, and ne drank sparingly. He then inquired
of Dr. Wltherspoon how long he thought he
would live, to which the latter replied, 81 hope,
General, for many years. but thinking this a
useless deception, he added, Il fear not many
hours" i know it, was the response; then af-
ter musng moment, he asked for his family
They were sent for, and soon entered. The in
terView was ndiscrbably affecting-Mrs Tay-
Ior prostrating herself at the bedside, and her
children around her with sobs and groans ex-
pressive of their agony. The pain, which had
afflicted the patient inthe side Of the chest ceas-
ed, and attended by other symptoms of ease, it
was thought he might endure till morning. But
he himself knew better, and so declared in a
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