The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1859-09-07
The Last Scene of washington's Life.

The Last Scene of washingtons Life.
Irving's new life of Washington, in five
volumes, has Just been completed. In the
fifth volume, after giving a succinct mar
rative of the Administration of Washing
ton, his retirement from Office, and his
mode of life at Mount Vernon, Mr. Irving
brings the work to close with the follow
ing description of the final scene:
Winter had now set in, with occasional
wind and rain, and frost, yet Washington
still kept up his active round OF indoor
and outdoor avocations, as his diary re-
cords. He was in full health and vigor,
dined out occasionally, and had frequent
guests at Mount Vernon, and, as usual,
was part of every day in the saddle, going
the rounds of his estates, and, in his mil
itary phraseology, visiting the out-posts.
Hehad recently walked with his favorite
nephew about the grounds, showing the
improvements he intended to make, and
had especially pointed out the spot where
he purposed building a new family vault,
the old one being damaged by the roots
of trees which had overgrown it and caused
it to leak. This change" said he, Il
shall make the first of all, for | may re-
quire it before the rest"
when parted from him." added the
nephew, "he stood on the steps of the
front door, where he took leave of my
self and another. 1t was bright frosty
morning; he had taken his usual ride, and
the clear, healthy flush on his cheek, and
his sprightly manner, brought the remark
from both of us, that we had never seen
the General look so well. ! have some
times thought him decidedly the hand
soonest man | ever saw, and when in a live
ly mood, so full of pleasantly, so agree
able to all with whom he associated, that
| could hardly realize that he was the same
Washington whose dignity awed all who
approached him"
For some time past Washington had
been occupied in digesting a complete
| system on which his estate was to be man.
aged for several succeeding years speci-
| flying the cultivation of the several farms.
with tables designing the rotation of crops.
1t occupied thirty folio pages, and was
| executed with that Clearness and method
which characterized all his business pa
pers This was finished on the 10th Of
| December, and was accompanied by a let
| ter Of that date to his manager of stew
| ard. 1t is a valuable document, showing
the soundness and vigor of his intellect at
| this advanced stage of his existence, and
the love of order that reigned throughout
| his affairs. MY greatest anxiety" said
| he on previous occasion. lis to have all
| these concerns in such a clear and distinct
| form that no reproach may attach itself to
me when have taken my departure for
the land Of spirits"
1t was evident, however, that full Of
| health and vIgOr, he looked forward to his
1 Il, ga
serene old age in this home of his heart.
According to his diary, the morning on
| which these voluminOus instructions to
his steward were dated was clear and calm,
but the afternoon was lowering. The
| next day, llth, he notes there was wind
4 and rain, and "at night alarge circle round
the moon"
The morning of the 10Th was overcast.
That morning he wrote letter to Hamil-
ton, heartily approving of plan of a mil
itary academy, which the latter had sub
mitted to the Secretary of War.
| About ten o'clock he mounted his horse
and rode out as usual to make the rounds
of his estate. The .ominous ring round
the moOn which he had observed on the
preceding night, proved a fatal portent.-
About one O'clock" he notes, lit began
" SllpNs HObll dllti " nan, anu llitll
ed to a settled, cold rain" Having on al
overcOat, he continued his ride without
regarding the weather, and did not re
turn to his house till after three.
His secretary approached him with let
ters to be ranked that they might be ia
ken to the post-office in the evening
Washington franked the letters, but OBJ
served that the weather was too bad t.
send a servant out with them. Mr.. Lea
perceived that snow was hanging from hi
hair, and expressed his fears that he haC
got wet; but he replied, NO, his great
coat had kept him dry" As dinner hat
been waiting for him, he sat down to tn,
table without changing his dress. III
r the evening" writes his secretary, ''he ap
> | peared as we'll as usual
} On the following morning the snow wa
| three inches deep and still falling, whicl
| prevented him from taking his usual ride
p He complained of a sore throat, and ha'
: evidently taken cold on the day before
: In the afternoon the weather cleared VI
and he went out on the grounds betwee
:. the house and the river to mark som
I | trees which were to be cut down. A hoarst
- ness which had hung about him thrOug
= the day grew worse toward night, but h
made light of it.
! He was very cheerful in the evening" &
. he sat in the parlor with Mrs. Washingto
= and Mr.. Lear, amusing himself with tn
= papers which had been brought from tn
post-office. When he met with any thin
- interesting or entertaining, he would rea
it aloud as well as his hoarseness would pc
r NIT, or he listened and made occasions
I,' comments while Mr.. Lear read the d
il bates of the Virginia Assembly.
- On retiring to bed, Mr.. Lear suggeste
= that he should take something to relieN
:, his cold. No" replied he, you know
- never take any thing for a cold. Let
" 60 as it came"
- In the night he was extremely i'll wit
= the ague and difficulty of breathing. B
~ tween two and three o'clock in the NOR
" ing he awoke Mrs. Washington, wi
- would have risen to call servant, but
:, would not permit her, lestshe shonld tai
- cold. At daybreak, when the serva
~ woman entered to make a fire, she W
~ sent TO call Mr.. Lear He found the Ge
~ eral breathing with difficulty, and hard
~ able to utter a word intelligiblv. Was
~ ington desired DR.. Craik, who lived
~ Alexandria. should be sent for, and tn
i,s in the meantime Rawlins, one of the ov,
- seers should be summoned to bleed h
ny before the doctor could arrive.
A gargle was prepared for his throat, |
=, whenever he attempted to swallow it.
a. was convulsed and almost sutfocated
Il. Rawlins made his appearance soon af
~ sunrise, but when the Generals arm '
=" ready for the operation, became agitat
u ~ Don't be afraid said the General
~" "f well as he could speak. Rawlins ms
~ an incision THE oriice is not la
'"' enough" said Washington. The bio
Tho however, ran pretty freely, and \
@Ias @ Washington, uncertain whether the tr'
> ~ ment was proper, and fearful that
Fro much blood might be taken, begged
,ar Lear to stop it. When he was about
Or unite the string, the General put up
o,,, hand to prevent him, and as soon as
,,v could speak, murmured, More, NOR
ali; but Mrs. Washingtons doubts prevail
ov and the bleeding was stopped, after ab
its a halfpint of blood had been taken.
ba- ternal applications were now made to
in, throat, and his feet were bathed in WI
: + water, but without affording any relic
,ba- His old friend, DR.. Craik, arrived
or tweeneight and nine, and two other |
fur sicians, Drs. Dick and Brown, were ca
in. Various remedies were tried, and
ditional bleeding, but all of no avail.
about half-past four o'clock, WI
den NJ Lear, "he desired me to call