The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-06-16
From the Now York Express, May IS.
Mr.. Clay's Illness.

We had the pleasure Of half an hours con.
versation with DR. Jackson, on Sunday, at Phil.
adelpha, in reference to the character Of the
disease of his distinguished patient. Dr.. Jack
son has spent many days with Mr.. Clay at
Washington recently, and has taken that deep
interest in his case which springs not only from
high devotion to his profession, but from sin.
cere love and regard for Mr.. Clay. He tells Us
that the exertions which Mr. Clay made in
1949-50 in behalf of the passage Of the Com.
promise Measures, in which he NANTES ed such
intense feeling and interest, prccipitatcd his life
ten years at least, and that he is now, in conse
quence of such over-exertions, which employed
him night and day, and which occupied all his
thoughts as well as oil his time, where he would
have been in the ordinary course Of nature,
without such an effort, at the age Of eighty five
years. The excitement while it lasted kept him
alive, but bodily decay soon followed, until now
there is not sufficient physical vitality to pro
long life. Younger men with good constitutions
have recuperative power sufficient to enable
them to master such physical relaxation, but at
seventy.fve no one can expect SO to overdo and
so tn master nature.
Mr.. Clay feels the truth Of all this, and does
not mourn at what has been done, nor repine ut
the prospect before him. He knows that death
is not far off, and is prepared for the summons,
come when it may. He felt sad for while that
the pleasure Of reading was denied him, and
DIES not retain so large an interest in public
affairs as when in better health, though he is now
read to every day by his son. The world, he
says, is naturally becoming more and more con.
tracted TO his view, and as dav after day passes
away, the visions of life gradually recede and
open prospect of the better world beyond the
grave. The occasional glimpses of restoration
"a stronger pulse or quieter rest at night
~Ostn hnvp1, s,scI g., r.
on several occasions he has told his physicians
that he has desire to live
His prostitution Of body has not touched his
mind, and one feature of his e ebleness is that
he cannot support himself alone, and is not al.
lowed to walk. even with the support Of others
DR.. Jackson told HIM recently that if he stood
erect he would faint, and that ii h should ant
he wonld breathe no more. "Why is this Z"
asked Mr. Clay. "Because there is not enough
Of vitality in the heart to give circulation IT, the
blood" elias II then come to this ?" said Mr..
Clay, and for momeut s"rrowfuliy. And
seing the necessity, he was suffered himself to
he borne like child tn ana from his bed Mr..
Clay throughout had studied his desesse, If de-
sease it be critically thoush) fully, and even
physically. He has watched he gradual vast
ing away Of life, until there is but the faintest
pulsaton left to tell him that the spirit still sur
woes within its annotated tenement Of flesh
He will die calmly aud beautifully as he has
lived, and his spirit will depart full OF the Chris
tan hope of glorious imnlort ,lly. That
"unbought grace Of lfc"-the good man 8 hope
in God-which imparts SO much dignity to
death, will make the sunset Of life as Tranquil
twilight merging int, the darklght up such
darkness as this, and further on the dawning Of
the perfect day Of a celestial paradise. Mr.
Cl,y' after fifty years service for his country,
will enjoy the rest Of eternity hereafter.