The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-07-14

comments while Mr.. Lear read the debates
Of the Virginia Assembly.
On returning to bed, Mr.. Lear sup-
gested that he should take something to re-
'ieve his cold. "No," replied he, "you
know never take anything for /. cold. Let
it 60 as it CAME"
In the night he was extremely i'll with
Sgue and difficulty Of breathing. Between
TWO and thee o'clock in the morning ho
awoke Mrs. Washington, who would have
risen to call q servant, bat he would not
permit her, lest she should take colo. At
daybrake, when the servant woman entered
to make a fire, she was sent to call Mr..
Lear. He found the General breathing
with difficulty. and hardly able to utter a
word inteligibly. Washington desired
that Dr.. Craik, who lived in Alexandria,
should be sent for, and that in the mean
time Rawlins, one Of the overseers, should
bo summoned, to bleed him before the doc.
tor could arrive.
A gurgc was prepared for his throat,
but whenever he attempted TO swallow
any OF it, he was convuIsed and almost
suttocated. Rawlins made his appearance
soon after sunrise, but when the Generals
arm was ready for the operation, become
agitated. "Don't be afraid" said the Gen
era, as well as he could speak. Rawlins
made m incision. "The orifce is not
large enough" said Washington. The
blood however, ran pretty freely. and Mrs.
" ashngton, uncertain whether the treat
ment was proper, and fearful that too much
blood might be taken, begged Mr.. Lear to
stop it. When he was about to unite the
string the General put up his hand to pre-
vent him, aud as soon as he could speak
murmured, more, more - but Mrs. Wash.
ingtons doubts prevailed, aud the bleeding
was stopped, after about half pint of
blood had been taken. External applca-
tIons were now made to the throat, and
his feet we're bathcd in warm water, but
without affording any relief.
Ills old friend, DR.. Craik, arrived be.
tween eight and nine, and two ther physi.
clans, Drs. Dick and Brown, were called
in. Various remedies were tried, and
additional bleeding, but all Of no avail.
About half:past four O'clock" writes
Mr.. Lear, "he desired me to call Mrs.
Washington to his bed side, when he re.
quested her to 60 down into his room and
take from his desk two Wills which she did.
Upon looking at them, lie gave her one,
which she observed was useless, as being
superseded by tl'e other, and desired her
to burn it, whicl, she did, and took the
other and put it into her closet.
After this was done, returned to
his bedside and took his hand. lie said to
me: 81 find am going; my breath can.
not last long. l believed from the first
that the disorder would prove fatal. Do
you arrange all my military letters and pa
rcrs. Arrange my accounts and settle nv
books, as you know more about them than
any one else; aud let Mr.. Rawins finish
recording my other letters which he has
begun" l told him this would be
done. He then asked me If I recollectcd
anything which it was essential for him
to do, as he had very short time to con.
tinue with us. Itold him that I could re.
collect nothing but that hoped lie was
not so near his end. lie observed, smiling,
that he certainly WAS, and that as it was
the debt which we must all nav. he
looked to the event with perfect resirna.
tion."
In the course of the afternoon he mp
pearel to be in great pain and distress from
the difficulty Of breathing, and frequently
changed his posture in the bed. Mr.. Lear
endeavore'l to raise him and turn him with
as much ease as possible. IL am afraid
fatigue you too mucl,' the General would
say. Upon being assured to the contrary,
Well" observed he, gratefully, cit is a
debt we must pay to each other, and hope
when you want aid of this kind you will
fud it,"
His servant, Christopher, had been in the
room during the day, and almost the whole
time on his feet. The General noticed it
in the afternoon, and kindly told him to sit
down.
About S o'clock his old friend, DR..
Craik, came again into the room, and ap.
preached the bedside. Doctor" said the
General, 81 die hard, but am not afraid
togo. believed from my first at ttack, that
should not survive Tiny breath can.
not last long," The doctor pressed bis
hand in silence, retired from the bed.
side, and sat by the fire absorbed in
grief.
Between and 6 tho other physicians
came in. md ha syaa oeo;otod - -. 49,