The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-10-19

The World published the following ex-
tracts from private letter from Ex President
Pierce. giving an account of the circumstances
of the mortal illness of Nathaniel Hawthorne,
at Plymouth, n. H.:
CONCORD, N. H., March IS, 1868.
My DEAR -: When at your pleasant
home year ago, promised to send you the
last letter written by the man OF genius, the
companion of my boyhood and my constant
ana cherished friend 1t was long before II
caueht my eye in mass of ill-arranged pa
pers, and longer period has, perhaps, elaps-
ed since. His strength was falling, as the
handwriting but too clearly indicates. We
met, however, as proposed, at the Bloomfield
House, Boston, and proceeded at once to the
cars for the Concord, n. II, stopping over
train at Andover.
We were detained at Concord ten days or
more by bad weather, and then took carriage
for the long contemplated trip, when we mop
ed might extend far beyond the White Noun
tains TO the wild scenery Of Dixheld Moth.
We only reached Centre Harbor late 10 the
afternoon of the second day. He was weary
and very restless during the night. He par
took OF a slight breakfast in his room the next
morning, and about IL o'clock went out upon
the piazza, which commands as you know,
a remarkably fine view of the lake. Red Hill
and pleasant pictures in the direction oil
W olfsboro' on one side and Mount Beknap
on the other. He was weak, but not suffering
from pain and evidently enjoyed he hour. /
was much impressed with the idea that his
| Journey of life might terminate nearer the sea,
which he so much loved, than Dixfeld notch,
and suggested that it might be well to remain
day or two where we were. He said no; we
will go on this afternoon. The changing
scenery in this picturesque region will attract
,,Ioacantlv. fha M will NOT fa-
tigup me- and am, on the whole, more COM
Portable in the carriage, with you alone, than
anywhere else. We conversed but little DUR
ing that afternoons drive. But his eye was
qnick to catch every object, striking or beau
.iful, whether mountain or quiet valley, placid
lake or running stream. Such remarks as
he did make were characteristic; like himself,
and like no body else.
He asked if L had read the account of
Thackeray's death. and on receiving an afima-
| tive answer, remarked, in low, solilloqulzing
tone, what boon 1t would be if wnen life
draws TO its close, one could pass away with
out a struggle. We arrived at the Pemige-
wasset House. Plymouth, just as the sun was
sinking behind the hills, and casting his last
rays into our rooms. He took cup OF tea
in the evening, with slight nourishment. and
then upon the sofa dropped into quiet slum-
Der, fiom which he awoke in an hour or so,
and retired for the night. Passing from his
room to my own. leaving the door open and
so placing The lamp that its direct rays would
not fall upon him and yet enable me to see
distinctly from my bed | betook myself to
rest too, a little after 10 o'clock But awoke
before II o'clock, and noticed that he was
lying in a perfectly natural position, like
child, with his right hand under his cheek.
That noble brow and face struck me as more
grand and serenely calm than ever before.
With new hope that such undisturbed repose
| might bring back fresh vigor, tell asleep
again: but he was so very restless the nicht
previous that / was surprised and startled
when noticed, at O'Clock, that his position
was identically the same as when l observed
Lin between II and II. Fastening softly to
his bedside, l could not perceive that he
breathed, although no change bad come over
his features | seized his wrist but found no
pulse; ran my hand down upon his bare side,
but the great, generous, brave heart beat no
more The boon OF which he spoke in the
afternoon had, before morning dawn, been
graciously granted to him. He had pass-
ed from natural sleep to that from which there
is no earthly waking, without the slightest
struggle, evidently without moving muscle.
Ever your friend, FRANLIN PIERCE.