The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-11-04
THE LAST MOMENTS OF MIR. WEBSTER.

We gather from the Boston papers and the
Geographic dispatches to journals of this city,
such incidents of the death of Mr. Webster as
the event makes generally interesting Our
information of Saturday left our readers APP
prised that his disease had taken a fatal turn,
and that his departure might be momentarily
| looked for. He was calm and collected during
the day, cOnversng, ut the intervals of pain,
with his physician and those of his friends who
| were around his bed. At six o'clock it was
distinctly announced to him that his end was
near. tie received the intimation without emo
| ton and desired that the female members of
his family might he called into the room
Mrs Webster, Mrs Fletcher Webster, Mrs
J. W. Paige, and Miss Downs, Of New York
entered, when to each, calling them individu-
| ally by name, be addressed few words of fare
| well and religious consolation.
Next, the male members of his family, and
the personal friends who were in the house,
were summoned, viz Fletcher Webster, This
only surviving son. Samuel A. Appleton This
son-in- law,) J. w. Paige Geo. T. Curtis Ed
ward Curtis of New York, Peter Harvey, and
Charles Henry Thomas, Of Marshfeld, and
Messrs Geo J. Abbott and w. C.. Zantzinger,
both of the State Department at Washington.
Addressing each by name, he referred to his
past relations with them respectively, and one
by one babe them an afectionats farewell
This was about half past six Mr.. Peter Har-
vey was then called, and the dying man sad
Harvey ] am not 80 sick but that know
you--I am well enough to know you. | am
well enough to love, and we'll enough to call
down the richest of Heavens blessings upon
you and yours. Harvey, don't leave me till
am dead-don't leave Marshfcld till am
dead man" Then, ms if speaking to himself,
he is reported to have said: "0n the Path of
October, all that il mortal Of Daniel Webster
will be no more"
He then prayed in his natural usual voice
strong, full, and clear-ending with Heaven.
ly Father forgive my sins, and receive me to
myself through Christ Jesus"
At halfpast seven o'clock, Dr. j. M War
rem arrived from Boston, to relieve Dr. Jeifries
NJ the immediate medical attendant. Shortly
after Mr.. Webster conversed with Dr. Jeffries
who said he could do nothing more for him
than 10 administer occasionally sedatiye po-
ton. "Then" said Mr. Webster, 81 am to
lie here patiently till the end if it be no, may
il come soon"
Between ten and eleven o'clock, he repeated
somewhat indistnctly the words, 4" Poet, poet
ry-Gray, Gray
Mr.. Fletcher Webster repeated the frst line
of the eIegy-"The Curfew tolls the kneIl OF
parting day"
"That's it, that's it, said Mr. Webster and
the book WAS brought, and some stanzas read
to him, which seemed to give him pleasure.
From twelve o'clock till two there was much
restlessness, but not much suffering the physi-
clans were quite confident that there was no
actual pain
A faintness occurred, which led them 10 think
that his death was ut hand. While in this
condition. some expressions fell from him. in
dicating the hope that his mind would remain
to him completely until the last.
He spoke Of the difficulty Of the process Of
dying, when DIR. Jeffres repeated the verse
Though walk through the valley Of the
shadow of death, will Tear no evil, for thou
art with me-thy rod thy rod and thy staff,
they comfort me.p
Mr., Webster said Immediately :" The fact