National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-04-05

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS,
Some sorsps from his Memoir!

Among the many items Of interest TO the citl
zens Of the District contained in the "Memolrs OF
John Quincy Adams" now in course OF pub!ca-
ton is the following in reference TO the death OF
Commodore Decatur:
"March -, lS2O.-Before LETT my house this
morning to go to my Office, W. ). Smith clme in
and told me that Commodore Decatur had just
been brought in from Bladensburg mOrtally
wounded in a duel with Commodore James Bar
ron, who was also wounded, but not dangerously.
/ went Immediately to Decatur's house. Oa the
way met Captains McDOnough and Ballard, who
were coming from Il, and whose information was
discourag!ng hut not decisive. At the house
saw Generals Brown and Harper, Colonel Bonn
ford and Z. WyeT. Brown ard Harper were Hat
tered by some uncertainties OF DIR. Lowell, the
surgeon general, who, suppose, thinks 1t humane
to keep Mis-. Decatur and her father, who Is with
her. in suspense as long as possible, Myer, who
had seen Decatur, told me that he could not sur
Yive the day. He died between Q and 10 o'clock
this evening. TIE nation has lost 10 him one OF
its heroes, one who has illustrated its history, and
given grace and dignity TO It's character In the
eyes OF the world. He was warm-hearted, cheer
full, unassuming, gentle in department, friendly
ard hospitable, beloved in social life; with soul
all devoted to his country, and a sense OF honor
too dsdainful Of life, since 1t could not attain that
highest summit Of magnanimity which delib-
erately refuses the guilt and exposure OF private
war. He has fallen in q duel, and his dying
breath was a sigh of conjunction that 1t was not
in his eountry's cause. The sensation in the city
and HeighbGThcod produced by this catastrophe
the practice Of dueling were, and Will be, iruit-
less, Of they always are"
On the Path OF March there IS an account OF .
solennity at the Roman Catholic church Tor the
murdered Duke di Berri, father OF the present
Bourbon claimant TO the throne OF France,) to
which Mr.. Adams went by invitation OF the French
Minister. This lasted three hours. Mr.. Adams
goes on and says:
''Aiter the service was over went to my ounce,
and attended the funeral Of Decatur. There were
said to be ten thousand persons assembled. An
order Of procession had been announced In the
newspapers and was inverted at the house. The
people walked to Kalorama, where the body was
deposited in the family vault OF the Barlows. A
very thOrt prayer was made ut the vault by DR..
Hunter, and a volley OF musketry from detach-
ment OF the Marine Corps closed the ceremony
over the earthly remaies Of spirit as kindly as
generous and as dauntless as breathed In this ma
tion or on this earth. l walked with Mr.. Draw
ford. John Randolph was there; FIRST walking,
then backing his horse then calling for his phoe'
ton, and lastly crowdinR up 10 the vault as the
cOftiin was removed into IL from the heArse-
/ tricky humOrs to make himself conspicuous.
Yesterday he made q melton that the House adj
| iourn over this day to attend Decaturs funeral,
| and that the members should wear Grape in honor
| OF his memory. John W. Taylor opposed the mo-
ton, protesting great respect for Decaturs char
| scter, but disapproving the manner Of his death
| The House rejected Rsndolph's motion, and one
| which he Immediately afterwards made TO ad
! iOurn This day he repeated the motion to ad
iourn TO attend the funeral, which was again re
| Iected. This feeble and negative censure upoI
the practice Of dueling is all that can be Ootane.
from Congress-"