Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-12-02
The La.l Houra Of wa.hInrlon Irrlnr.


The health Of Mr.. Irving had been failing for
year past from an asthmatical difficulty. The
Times gives the following incidents connected
with the peaceful and final sleep of the patri-
arch of American letters
During the morning of Monday he walked
out to his garden, short distance from
the house, and gave some instructions IN
his gardener He also gave instructions
to the carpenters who were employed in making
some alterations in his library He did not ride
out during the day, as washis custom, but as he
made no complaint of feeling more indisposed
than usual the omission was not thought BY his
iamlly to arise from any alarming conditions.-
lie dined with the family about 4 O'Clock, and
alter dinner proposed that they should spend
the evening in amusement, conversation and
reading la addition TO the regular members
OF the family, consisting of Ebenezer Irving the
brother OF the deceased with his three dauph-
1efs' ana fleTro NJ. Irving, nephew, with his
wife, another nephew, Rev. Pierre NJ Irving. of
New Brighten, Staten Island, the literary exc
cutOr OF the deceased was also present, having
accidentally come up from Staten Island that
day. The evening was spent according to the
proposal OF Mr.. Irving, and excepting an occa,
sional reference to his difficulty of breathing
none Of the party appeared more cheerful, or a
more gratifying sharer of the enjoyment than
he. In the intervals of conversation he
glanced ever the pages of several books that
lay on the centre table, aud the last book ha ia
believed TO have opened was Lieut.. PAGES
HiStoTy Of the Paraguay Expedition About
hait past 10 o'clock he rose to retire, and taking
his leave Of the company, he ascended the
stairs alone to his bedroom While upon the
steps he met his nephew, Rev Mr.. Irving, com
iuU nnun bnlHiuo, -,
ing manuscripts. Mr.. Irving aocosied him in n
play iul manner. saying: Why, Pierre. what
are you doing with needlel" and passed on 10
his room. These were the last words he ever
uttered
One of his neiees, Miss Sarah Irving. had
preceded him TO his room, and when he entered
she vas engaged in arranging his books SO that
they would be convenient Of access In his hours
OF wakefulness during the night. While en-.
g'ged in this duty, she was startled be- a noise
as oi some one choking, aud turning round
she saw Mr Irving press his LETT hand 10 his
heart ana iaI forwards, He caught hold of a
IsblS' IN falling, and gradually sank down on
the hoor The noise was heard in the purIor
below, and in moment every member 6f tbs
household was around him, but before Anv of
them reached him he had ceased to Breathe
supposing that he had tainted, efforts were
made by the family to revive him, and. mean.
while, Dr. Caruthers and Mr.. George ID. Nor.
gan, near neighbor and intimate friend Of M
irving, were sent for. On the arrival Of the
Doctor he made an exarination Of the bodv
and announced that life was extinct.
lhe news Of the death of Mr.. Iryiug sDrasd
through the villsges Of IryingtoL and Tarrv
town yesterday morning and fell upon the Dso
pie hke thunderbolt. In no part of the eoun.
Try was he so much loved as in the neiehbor.
mood where he lived. His cheeriunegs, good
humor and beneyolence, his unostentatious
bearing, and his frank and cordial intercourse
with all classes of people, had completely won
the affections Of every citizen Of the place. and
every person in that vicinity speaks Of the loss
as though 1t were that of brother No where
WIN he De mourned with sineerer sorrow than
among the farmers, mechanics and laborers of
lrvineton and TarrYtown, who, albeit uncon.
escious Of his world wide fame as an author.
have learned 70 love him as the peace maker
Of the village"