Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-02-22


the Father of his Country.
"He burst the eftters ofthe land,
He taught US TO be freei
He raised the dignity Of man,
Aud babe q nation be-"
Winter had now set in, with occasional wind
and rain, and frost, yet Washington still kept
up his active round of in door and out door av-
ocatiOns, as his diary records. He was in full
health and vigor, diIsd out occasionally, and
had frequent guests of Mount Vernon, and, as
usual, was part of every day in the saddle, GO
ing the rounds Of the estate, and, in his mill.
tary phraseoloqv, 'visiting the outlosts."
He had recently wake ed with his'faVorite neph-
phew about the grounds, showing the improve
ments he intended to make, and especially
pointed out the spot where be purpOsed build.
ing a new family vault, the old one being dam
aged by the roots of trees, which had over
grown it and caused it to leak. "This change"
said he, 81 shall make the first of all, for may
require it before the rest
when ! parted from him." added the neph-
phew, "he stood on the steps Of the front door,
where he took leave of myself aud another. 1t
was a bright frosty morning; he had taken his
usual ride, anil 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. I have sometime
thought him decidedly tho handsomest man /
ever saw, and when in lively mood, so full of
pleasantly so agreeable to all with whom he
associated, that could hardly realize he was
the same Washington whose dignity awed all
who approached him."
For some time past, Washington had been oc.
cupied in digesting complete system on which
his estate was to be managed for several sue
ceedng years; specifying the cultivation of the
several farms, with tables designating the Iota>
ton Of crops 1t occupied thirty folio pages,
and was executed with that clearness and meth
cd which chsI Iactsrized all his business papers.
This was finished on the 10th Of December,
and was accompanied by letter of that date
to his manager or steward. 1t is a valuable
document, showing the soundness and vigoT of
his intellect at this advanced stage of his exis-
tence, and the love Of order that reigned
throughout his affairs. "My greatest anxiety"
said he, on previous occasion, ais to have all
these concerns in such a clear and distinct
form, that no reProaeh may attach itself to me
when have taken my departure for the land
of spirits"
According to his diary, the morning on which
the voluminOus instructions to his steward
were dated, was clear and calm, but the after>
noon was lowering. The Rext day-1Ith-he
notes there was wind and rain, and sat night
large circle round the moon"
The morning of the 18th was overcast. That
morning he wiote letter to Hamilton, heartily
approving of plan for a military academy,
which the latter had submitted to th Secretary
Of War.
About ten o'clock, he mounted his horse, and
rode out as usual to make the rounds of the es>
tate. The Ominous ring around the moon,
which he had observed the preceding night,
proved fatal portent. "About one o'clock"
he notes, sit began to rain, soon after to hail
and then turned to a settled cold rain" Hav-
ing on an oyeTcoat, he continued his ride with
out regarding the weather, and did not return
to his house till alter three.
His secreta approached him with letters to
be ranked, that they might be taken to the post
office in the evening Washington franked the
letters, but observed that the weather was too
bad to send a servant out with them. Mr.
Lear preceiVed that snow was hanging from
his hair, and expressed his fears that he had
got wet; but he replied, "No, his great coat
had kept him dry" As dinner had been wait
ing for him, he sat down to table without
changing his dress. "In the evening"" writes
his secretary, che appeared as well as usual"
On the following morning the snow was three
inc hes deep and still falling, which prevented
him from taking his usual ride. He complained
of sore throat and had evidently taken cold
the day before. In the afternoon the weather
cleared up, and he went out on the grounds
between the house and the river, to mark some
trees which were to be cut down. A hoarsen-
ess which had hCng about him through the
day grew worse toward night, but he made
light of it.
He was very cheerful in the evening, as be
sat in the parlor with Mrs. Washington and Mr.
Lear. amusing himself with the papers which
had been brought from the post office. When
he met with anything interesting or entertain>
ing, he would read it aloud as we'll as his hoarse-
ness would permit, or he listened and made
occasional comments, while Mr.. Lear rsad the
debates Of the Virginia Assembly.
On retiring to bed, Mr.. Lear suggested that
he should take something to relieve his cold
"No," replied he, "yOu know never take
any thing for a cold. Let it go as it came"
In the night he was extremely i'll with ague
and difficulty of breathing. Between two and
three O'Clock in the morning, he awoke Mrs.
Washington, who would have risen to call
servant, but he would not permit her, lest she
should take cold. At day break, when the ser>
vant-woman entered to make fire, she was
sent to call Mr.. Lear. He found the General
breathing with difficulty, and hardly able to
utter word intelligibly. Washington desired
that DR.. Craik, who lived in Alexandra, should
be sent for, and that in the meantime Rawlins, |
one of the Overseers, should be summoned, to |
bleed him before tho doctor could arrive.
A gargle was prepared for his throat, but |
whenever he attempted to swallow any of it. he
was cOnvulsed and almost suffocated. Rawlins |
made his appearance soon after sunrise, but |
lyr
Grafton, became agitated "Dont be afraid" |
said the General, as well as he could speak
RaWlins made an incision. "The ori6ce is not |
large enough" said Washington. The blood,
however, ran pretty freely, and Mrs. Wash |
ington, uncertain whether the treatment was |
proper, and fearful that too much blood might |
be taken, begged Mr.. Lear to stopit. When |
he was about to unite the string, the General |
put up his hand to prevent him, and as soon /
as he could speak, murmured ''more, more;" !
but MIS-. Washington's doubts prevailed, and |
the bleeding was atopped, after about half pint /
Of blood had been taken. External applications /
were now made to the throat, and his feet were /
hathed in warm water, but without affording
any relief.
His OLD friend, DR.. Craik, arrived between
eight and nine, and two other physicians, Drs. |
Dick and Brown, were called in. Various REM |
edies were tried, and additional bleeding, but all
of no avail
"Ahout half-past four o'clock" writes Mr. |
Lear, 'he desired me TO call Mrs. Washington |
to his bedside, when he requested her to 90
down into his room, and take from his desk two |
wills which she would find there, and bring |
them TO him, which she did Upon looking at |
them, he gave her one, which he observed was
useless, as being superseded by the other, and
desired her to burn it, which she did, and took |
the other and put It into her closet.