American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-11-06
DEATH OF MIR. GUSTS.

= ~. uAAss SSSA .Ss
1t becomes our painful duty, says tho
National Intelligencer, TO announce the
deceasc of the venerable George Wash
ington Gusts, the last of the members
of the family of Washington.
Mr.. GUSTS died at Arlington, near
Washington city, after "a brief illness,
on the morning of the 10th ultimo, in
the 77th year of his age. For several
years he had stood alone in his relations
to the Father Of his Country, ever an
xlous, with filial reverence and affec-
ton, to illustrate his character, and
from the rich stores of his never-failing
memory to bring forward an annual
tribute to his immortal worth Known
and honored by his fellow-countrymen,
his departure will awaken universally q
profound regret.
Born amid the great events of the
Revolution, by tho death of his father,
lCol. Gusts, of the army, and son of
Mrs. Washington by a former marriage)
which occurred near the close of the war,
he found his home during childhood
and youth at Mount Vernon, where his
manners were formed after the noblest
models; and from the great worthless of
that period, frequent guests there, he
received impressions Of wisdom and pa
trlotsm that were never efaced. In
der the counsel of Washington he pur-
sued his classical studies at Princeton,
and, when deprived by death of his
great guide and father, (and soon after
Of his reverend grandmother, he devo-
ted himself to literary and agricultural
pursuits on his ample estate of Airing
ton, the gift, by will, of that illustrious
man. lie was early united to Miss
Mary Lee Fitzhugh, of Virginia, u lady
OF unsurpassed excellence in all the re-
lations Of life, and whose irreparable
loss, three years ago, he continued with
sorrow and affectionate admiration, to
his final day, profoundly to deplore.-
One daughter, (Nlrs. Lee, wife of Col.
Robert Lee, Of the army and several
grandchildren survive him. ..
Mr.. Gusts was distinguished by an
original genius for eloqucncc, poetry,
and the fine arts; by knowledge of
history, particularly the history of this
country; for great powers of CONVEX
satlon, for an ever ready and generous
hospitality, for kindness to the poor,
for patriotism, for consistency of friend
ship, and for more than flial devo-
ton to the memory and character of
Washington. His early speeches on
the death of General Lingan and the
overthrow OF Napoleon, were every
where read and admired, even by those
who dissented from the sentiments, for
the beauty Of their conception and their
impassioned cloqucnce. Those famil-
lar with the columns Of this journal
will not forget how largely we and the
country are indebted to the warm and
ever cheerful spirit of the deceased for
many invaluable "reminiscences of Rev.
dictionary history, Of the distinguish
ed men of those times, and especially
of the private life Of their glorious
Chief in the retirement of the shades of
his home at Mount Vernon.
Thousands from this country and
from foreign lands who have visited
Arlington to commune with our depar-
ted friend and look upon the touching
memorials there treasured up with care
Of him who was first in the hearts of
his countrymcn, will not forget the
charm thrown over all by the case,
grace, interest, and vivacity Of the
manners and conversation of him whose
voice, alas is silent now. The multi
tudes of our fellow citizens accustomed,
in the heat of summer, to resort to the
shades of Arlington, will hereafter miss
that old man eloquent, who ever ex.
, tended to them warm-hearted wei
come, and became partaker of their
joy
Long a believer in the great truths
of Divine Revelation, Mr.. GUSTS turn
ed to these for consolation in his last
days, and died in communion with the
Protestant Episcopal Church.
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