The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-05-10
From ArthuPs Home Gazette,
uEcOLLECTIONs AND ANECDOTES
oP THE PR tEsIDENTS.
ur Anrnrn j. arANsnrnY.
lDEATH OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS

ny ARTHUR !, hTANhhthf,
lDEATH OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
II witnessed the fatal attack which terminA-
sJd his long and illustrious career, IL was
Potition mornings and he had il charge, a.
rnong other papers, a memorial from, NJ Vat
tomAre, asking an appropriation in behalf Of
his iAyorite system Of International Exchange
add was In the act Of rising to present II. |
was within few feet Of him, when l heard
Mr. Hudson, colleague Of Mr. AS from Mas
sachusctts, ,exelaim in tone Of alarm, look
MIR Adams is dying" Instantly turning my
eyes, beheld him, with his right hand still
;aFasping the corner Of Ills desk, falling help
HrAsIy over the len arm Of his chair, his face
exhibiting the impress of death, hi. mouth o.
pen, his eyes and mouth streaming with wa
aer, his lips moving, in the effort TO speak,
his lell arm extended as il 10 prevent his fall,
or catch at some support lie would have
reached the floor had not the member next
him caught him in his arms, In a moment
the House was in a state Of uuspeakablc con
fusion. An business was at an end every
body was on, their fcet-and all rushing TO.
ward the point Of interest The members
around him held him up in their arms till
two of the messengers were brought in, who
took hin, up on their shoulders, and bore him
- in a horizontal position. into the centre aisle,
aud through the. west door Of the Hall into
the vestibule. Mr. Winthrop, who was Speak
or of the House, and being in the Chair.could
not leave it, looked with an expression shall
Ina
suddenly prostrated, and STOPPING down, sug-
rcsted in an eager under-tone, "Will not
somebody make a motion 10 adjourn ?" The
motion was Instantly made, put and carried
and the liberated Speaker, springing from
his seat, rushed down the aisle, and reached
the spot whGre Mr. ttumy WHY; when, ny his
order, sofa was brought, the helpless suffer
er laid cautiously upon it, and thus carried
by the assistants into the Rotunda.
Here the crowd of members and strangers
who had been pressing round, were by the
entreaties of the physician induced 20 draw
back, and leave n space for air The east
door OF the Rotunda was thrown open. Mr.
Adams appeared desirous to speak, but was
earnestly urged to forbcar the exertion. 1t
was at this time that he uttered those words
so often quoted, This is the end of earth"
From the Rotunda, he was borne to the
Speakers room, a large aud lofty apartment,
with windows opening 10 the east front of the
building. A sort of bed was made upon the
same sofa which he was brought in : the
rich and massy curtains were let down, the
room reduced to a state OF twilight, and visit
q. oil az
ter he entered the chamber he expressed q
desire that Mrs Adams should be sent for
and member who was present, instantly
took carriage, and in a surprisingiy, short
time brought her and his son 10 that dark and
melancholy couch. But it was too late--thC
body indeed was there, but, though he con
tinued to breathe, the mind was gone. Re
peated calls were made close to his ear, bu
there was no response nor the slightest token
of recognition. His eyes remained closed
his breathing was heavy, nor we're all the cf
lorts of the physician productive of the small
,est change. 1t was at this sad moment that
was permitted TO catch ahasty parting sketcl
of the sinking patriot stood, for the pur
pose, at the foot of the couch, and by the
glimmering and imperfect light, preserved a.
well as l could, the expression of solemn no
pose which rested upon the countenance.
enclose you the drawing, as faithfully pre-
served on stone and heightened by the mas
tcrly tonch Of Sarony. The House met the
next morning, but in no ft state for business
The minds Of all were tpo soemnly impress
ed by the spectacle they had witnessed il
the midst of them, confirmed and deepenet
As it was by the solemn scene still exhibited
to their oceasiohat view in an All Joining cham
ber. a motion was soon made to adjourn
and the resolution for adjournment expressly
ndverted TO the fact that the oldest member
ofthe House aud an Ex-President of the IT,
p hiledi StAteslay diving within the walls of tbc
Capitol. tr'--' '------------
There was solemn pause in the public
business, and il seemed TO prevade the entir,
community. Nothing was to be heard in tn,
a, streets but the enquiry "How is Mr. Adamsi
Us he living yet2" The papers Transmitted