Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-03-06
VOL. 3.--NO. 178.
DAILY VIRGINIAN.
For the Baltimore Sun.
Visit to MI Clay by Young Merchant of Bal
timore During His Last Illness.


In ono moment more was in the room-alone
with Henry Clay. That feeling rushes back on
me What had to say! What was the
purpose of my visit ] was confused, and while
h"sitating in my approach. ! cast my eye on him.
:'the noblest Roman of them all" seated near the
fire with his wrapper thrown around him. and IN
response to my glance, he gave that smile OF wei
come which, while ii gave his countenance new
life impaired to me the assurance ofmy kind re-
ccption, | approached hin, and when he said,
My son, am glad To YOU" was relieved
of NIL ienrs, md felt ns though saw one whom i
had known long before. When | then rel caied
to him the object of my visit, he said IL am real
~ glad To seo you, sir; you are welcome, you arc
Welcome" Even in those few words his voice
failed, his cough commenced md when he was
relieved from IT he gave To me the too striking
assurance that soon we must mourn nation's
loss.
| said to him tha, had distinctly sta,eu III my
note TINT desired only moment with him, and
would retire, but he pressed mo 10 remain. lie
spoke 10 me of Cm istopher Hughes, Esq, and
WIN. Schlcy, Esq, and other Balti'r a4eans and
appeared, in his conversation, = lo COM saHt
ut lcnsi with the standing of many ut our proit-
mont citizens. He asked me then OF myself, anu
never, never. cnn eNaee from my memory his
appearance when told him that at home had
widowed mother. whose only earthly support /
WAS. The good old man, the gallant Horny Clay
snid, "Bc kind to your old mother, watch her de-
clining years, be unto her dutiul and loving
son, and when she sleeps in death, you will feel
your reward" The conversation continued, and
| fonrng that il might be productive of bnd effect
upon his almost PROSTATE system. moro than
once arose to lcnve. but hc pressed Inc to remain.
lie snid, "Sir, this interview gives me pleasnre
because n stranger you are the representative
of n large class Of the American people. who
acknowledge day by dny claim ! have upon
them, which cannot, to this timo understand
On my table have now II score Of letters receiy-
ed this morning, large majority of which are
from those whose nnmes | have never heforo
heard. They are letters of sympathy and medi-
cal advice; but while feeling their kindness, yet
must trust alone TO my kind ply sicians here
| snd 10 him that on the return of spring we all
hoped that his health would be improved, and his
system nvigoratcd by its gentle weather. He
replied, mo, sir; | can never go home again a
live; cannot hope for that; but tcish once more
10 addfeSS The Senate" Then his eye lit up; his
face looked IA had not seen it before and his
whole frame appeared as though new life had been
given 70 it.
Soon arose to leave, and asked him if could
serve him in Baltimore. lie told me that he was
attended To in Washington in so faithful mani or.
thnt every want wns anticipated and every ut
tcnton shown him. lie spoke OF the kind attend
nncc of Mrs. Calvert, and suid that, away from
home. he could not be moro advantageously loca-
ted. felt desire to serve him aud he road my
sincere wish, for previous to my leaving he re-
quosted mo to procure him some Malaga grapes
in Baltimore, of which he was very fond. | prom
ised him that would and extended to him my
hand at parting lie reached forth his hand, and
rising from his seat, placed his left hand on m y
head and said my son God bless you-be kind
son to your old mother, good by: take my bless
ing with YOU gnod-by.'
These were his words, exact, and precisely
uttered and assure you they will never be for
gotten. | was too full for uttcranco. / endeav
ored 10 think him bu, my tongue was palsied and
| retired, my fnce still beholding his until left
the room, and even now. when memory leaps over
intervening matter, feel tho majesty of his last
look