The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-10-27
The DAILY DISPATCH
THE LAST HOURS OF DANIEL, WEn.
STER.

1he Boston Courier furnishes the following
par,icula relative to Mr.. Webs,e,,s ds.,h.
he last hours of one so beloved az he who se
earthiy career mas just closed amid so MANY
circumstances of consolation, were ofths ss-n.
even tenor as all the rest.
The puoiic are already informed of,he chief
features of that deeply interesting scene. un 70
the period when Mr.. Webster desired to tsks
leave OF all who were in the house. One bv
one, 10 deep sorrow, but sustained by his own
great example, the members of his family. and
,he trends and attendants, came in and took
leave OF him. Hr desired them to remain near
MS room, and more than once eujoined on those
present, who were not of his immediate family,
not 10 leave Marsh6eId till his des,h had ,aksn
piace. Being assured by all that his every
"ish would be religiously regarded he then
addressed himself to his ply sicians, making
minute inquiries as to his own condition. and
'he probable termination of his life,
Conversng with great exactness, he seemed
10 be anx lens to be able TO mark to himself The
hnal period of his dissolution.
lie was answered that it might occur in one.
two or three hours, but that the time could mo-,
be definitely calculated.
"Then," said Mr. Webster, 81 suppose I
must lie here quietly till it comes"
The retching and vomiting now required
again.
Dr. Jefiries offered to Mr. Webster some
thng which he hoped might give him ease.
Inc dying statesman remarked-'Some-
thing more, Doctor-more. | want respra-
tion.'
Between ten and eleven o'clock he repeated
somewhat IndIstinctly the words, "Poet, poetry
Gray, Gray"
mr. Fletcher Webster repeated the first line
OF the gy-"The Curfew tolls the knell OF
parting day.
That's il, that's it," said Mr.. Webster; and
the book was brought and some stapzas
read to him, which seemed to give him plea
sure.
From twelve o'clock till two there as much
restlessness, but not much suffering; the pby-
sicians were quite confident that there was no
actual pain
A iantness occurred, which led him to think
that his death was at hand. While in this con-
dltIon some expressions fell from him indica-
ting the hope that his mind wonld remain tn
linn completely until The last.
He spoke of the difficulty of the process of
dying, when DIR. j fries repeated the verse;
Though | walk through the valley of the
shadow of death | will fear no evil, for thou art
with me-thy rod and thy staff, they comfort
me.
Mr. Webster said immediately:-''The fact
the fact. That is whatI want Thy rod
thy rod. thy staf-thy staff"
Inc close was perfectly tranquil and easy,
and occurred at precisely twenty-five minutes
befcre three O'Clock, as before stated.
The persons present were Mr.. and Mrs.
tletcher Webster, Mr.. and Mrs. Page, Mr.. S.
"A. Appleton, Miss Downes, air. Leroy, Ed
ward Curtip, Peter Harvey, George r. Curtis,
tilnny Thomas, Esqs, George ]. Abbott, a nd
We. Zanlzinger, Of the State Department;
Drs. Jetfiies and J. Mason Warren, and the
personal attendants and demestics of MIR. Web
Mrs. Webster being unable to witness the
last moments, aw ai,ed the event in her own
apartment.