New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-02-21
NUMBER 2gs,
Death of Washington.


Proceeding still farther over very bad road.
VIC came suddenly in view Of the Potomac; and
Mount. Vernon, with its mansion house and
smooth green lawn, was before us. Having
sent in our address, we received permission from
the courteous branch Of the family, who now
held the estate, to enter and survey the interior
We were struck with its extreme simplicity, the
lowness of the walls and ceilings; and the bare,
floors which we're waved, not as with us, car
peted
'' Passing through the great hall, ornamented
with pictures of English hunting scenes, we as
cended the oaken staircase, with its carved and
antique oalustrade; we stood at the door-We
pressed the handle-the room and bed where he
dled were before u.s. Nothing in the lofty drama
OF his existence suTpasses the grandeur of that
final scene; the cold which he had taken from
exposure IN overseeing some parts Of his grounds,
and which had resisted the earlier domestic re-
medies that were applied, advanced in the course
Of two short days into that frightful form of the
disease of the throat, laryngitis It became
necessary for him to take to his bed His val
ued friend, DR.. Craik, was instantly summoned
and assisted by the best medical skill Of the sur
rounding country, exhausted all the means Of
his art, but without afording him relief He
patiently submitted, though in great distress,
to the various remedies proposed, but it became
evident from the deep gloom setting upon the
countenance Of the medical gentleman, that the
case was hopeless advancing insidiousy, the
disease had fastened itself with deadly certain
ty. Looking with perfect calmness upon the
sobbing group around him, he said: 6 Grieve
not my friends; it is as / anticipated from the
first; the debt which we all owe, is now about
to be paid; am resigned to the event. Re-
questing Mrs. Washington to bring two wills
from his escrutoife, he directed one to be burnt.
and placed the other in her hands. as his last
testament, and then gave some final instructions
TO Mr.. Lear, his secretary and relative, as to
the adjustment of his business affairs. He soon
after became greatly distressed and, as in the
paroxysms which became more frequent and
violent, MIR. Lear, who was at his side, assisted
him to turn, he with kindness but with difficulty,
| articulated-'sI fear give ycu great trouble,
| sir-but-perhaps, it is duty which we all owe
| one to another-I trust that you NAV receive
| the same attention when you shall require it,"
| .ssAs the night Haned, the fatal symptoms
| became more imminent--his breath more labor
| ed and suffocating and his voice soon failed him
Perceiving his end approaching, he stretched
| himself to his full length, he folded his OWE
| hands in the necessary attitude upon his chest
placing his finger upon the pulse of his left wrist
1 and thus calmly prepared, and watching his
| own dissolution, he awaited the summons Of hi
| Maker. The last faint hope of his friends had
| disappeared; Mrs. Washington, stupefed with
grief, sat at the foot of the bed, her eyes fixed
] stedulasLly upon MN DF Srdlk, IN aeep gloom
/ stood with his face buried in his hands at the
/ fire; his faithful black servant, Christopher
the tears uncontrolled, trickling down his face
i on one side took the last look Of his dying mas
ter while Mr. Lear in speechless grief, will
i folded hands, bent over his pillow on the other
thought broke the stiffness of his last mo
ments but the suppressed sobs of his affectionat,
servants collected on the stair case the tick 0
the large clock in the hall as it measured OF
i with painful distinetness the last, feeting mo
nenls of his existence, and the low moan o
the winter wind, as ii swept through the leafes
snow covered trees. The laboring and wearie.
spirit drew nearer and nearer its goal: thu
blood languidly eoursed slower and more slowl,
through its channels-the noble heart stopped
ggled-stopt-hu right han,
slowly slid from the wrist, upon which his finge
had been placed---it fell at the sde---and tn
manly efigy of Washington was all that re
mained upon the death couch IN. Y. Courie
and Enquirer.