Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-03-07

Then With my pencil vrote. 1uorss. =
He took the card in his hand W y hurried
. manner. and. fastening his eye y 4 viii
great intensity. exclaimed:s q Ssto L o.
the back Ibid 50. and hl1ed Il q
. him again.
n He vas excessively agitated Et this pe-
riod. He repeated "Remori you do
: not know what il i il has etribusesl
! to bring me to my present situ1Aisa but
have looked to the Lord Je(~. Christ.
: and hope have obtained parfpn.n he
then said" ..Now, let JOIN y youl
pencil and draw ! li6e ..zBder vcrSd. :
; which was aceordingly q = ze;ysd
-E..Whst <ss-to be done with shc card -
He replied. .'Put it in your pocket-take
, care of it-and when I am dead look a.
it." The original is now in my possession.
My situation at this period was serious
and embarrassing. Locked in the cham
: ber of a patient and solennly called upon
US witness, confirming q will already
made, for the liberation and support of his
slaves. when the only human ear tha,
heard these declarations. except myself
and the testator, was that Of one Of the
very slaves included in the bequest. I.
; required no unusual foresight to anticipate
the construction that might be put upon
such testimony; perhaps in a distant court
where the witness might be personally un-
known, especially when, added to this, it
was found he was member Of the reli-
gious society Of Friends. who had long
since washed their hands from the stain
of slavery and whose sentiments on the
subject were universally known. l saw
that. even under n charitable construction
Of the testimony. the force Of early i'm
prcssons. and the bias Of education might
be supposed impcrceptibly to influence
even an upright mind. aud give a color
ing to words and facts which to others diff
fercnily educated mi ght be viewed in an
other light. Under these views, I intro
duced the subject Of calling in some ad-
ditional witnesses. and suggested sending
down stairs for Edmund Badger, whose
attentions were very great to him. He
replied, II have already communicated
that to him"
| stated it was my intention to be with
him as steadily as possible until his death
but. with his concurrence. | would send
for two physicians, who would remain and
never lose sight Of him until he was dead
and to whom he conld max. declaration
My son, DIR. Isaac Parish. and my young
friend and late pupil. DIR. Francis West,
were proposed to him. saying that the
latter was brother of Captain Vest
He quickly answered: Captain West OF
the packet 2 On receiving an affirmative
reply, he said Send for hin-he is the
man-rll have him ~
Before the door was unlocked he point
ell towarl bureau and requested that I
; would take from il remuneration for my
services. To this l promptly objected,
informing him should feel as though
were acting indelicately to comply. lie
then waived the subject by saying: "In
England it is always customary"
The witnesses were now sent for and
soon arrived. The dying man was prop
ped up in bed with pillows, nearly erect.
Those only who knew his form and siDgu-
lar physioenomy. can form an idea of his
appearance at this moment. Being cx-
tremrly sensitive to cold. he had blank
; ct over his head and shoulders, and he
directed John to place his hat on over the
blanket. which aided in keeping it close
to his head.
The hat bore evident marks Of age, and
was probably the one exposed to the pelt-
ings of the storm during his discomforts
on the day of his arrival
a. 4. u
stood close to the bedside Of his diving mas
ter. The four witnesses were placed in a
: semicircle. in fnll view ], was evident
: ly an awfully interesting moment to the
: patient He rallied all the expiring en-
ergies of mind and body to this. las. ef.
! fort
His whole soul seemed concentrated in
the act. His eyes flashed feeling and in
telligence. Pointing towards us with hi.
; long index finger. he thus addressed Us
Il confirm all the directions in my viii
: respecting my slaves, and direct them tc
be inforced. particularly in regard to a
; provision for their support and then,
! raising his arm as high as he could. he
brought it down with his open hand on
the shoulder of his favorite John. adding
) these words. especially for this man
/ He then asked each of US whether We un-
! derssood him. At the close Of his ex.
haus,ing effort. | remarked TO my fellow
; witnesses that my patient short time be
fore informed me in private that according
: to the laws of Virginia. = viii might man
uni, slaves. vet in order for their sabse
: quent support. it was necessary that de
elaration should be made in the presenc,
, Of one or more white witnesses, who. aftel
receiving it from the party. should renal,
, and never lose sight Of him until he wa
, dead then appealed to@the dying mau
TO know whether had stated correctly
he replied: "Yes." and gracefully wav'
ing his hand rs q token of our dismiss:on
he said: The young gentleman will re
main with me-
took my leave with an assurance tha
I would return as speedily as possible aad
remain with him. Alter an aheence o
: perhaps an hour or mere, and about fift,
minutes before his disccase. | returned e
the sick room. But now the scene va
, changed. His keen, penetrating eye hae
, loss its expression. His powerful ninC
had given way. and he sppcsred scsall,