Year: 1859




in. Various remedies were tried, and
additional bleeding, but all of no avail.
About half past four o'clock, writes
Mr.. H. ar, he desired me to call Mrs
Washington to his bedside, when he re.
quested her to 60 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useless, as being superseded by the other,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.


" After this was done returned to his
bedside and took his hand. He said to
me i find l am going; my breath cannot
last long. 1 believed from the first that
the disease would prove fatal. Do you
arrange all my military letters and papers.
Arrange my accounts and settle my books,
as you know more about them than any
one else; and let Mr.. Rawlins finish re-
cording my other letters which he has
begun told him this would be DONE
He then asked me if | recollected any
thing which it was essential for him to
do, as he had very short time to con.
tinue with ua, | told him that / could
recolect nothing but that l hoped he
was not so near his end. He observed,
smiling, that he certainly was, and that
as it was a debt which we must all pay,
he looked to the event with perfect resig-
nation.


In the course of the afternoon he ap-
peared to be in great pain and distress
from the difficulty of breathing, and fire.
quently changed his posture in the bed.
Mr. Lear endeavored to raise him and
turn him with as much ease as possible.
| am afraid fatigue you too much the
General would say. Upon being assured
to the contrary, 'Well,' observed he CRATE
fully, it is a debt we must pay to each
other, and hope when you want aid of
this kind you will find it,


His servant, Christopher, had been in
the room during the day, and almost the
whole time on his feet The General
noticed it in the afternoon, and kindly
told him to sit down.


About five O'Clock his old friend, DR..
Craik, came again into the room, and ap-
proached the bedside.


Doctor said the General, Il die hard,
but l am not afraid to 60. believed,
from my first attack, that should not
survive Tiny breath cannot last long"


The doctor pressed his hand in silence,
retired from the bedside, and sat by the
fire absorbed in grief.


Between five and six the other physi-
clans came in, and he was assisted to sit
up IN his bed. l feel | am going" said
he; l thank you for your attentions but


pray you to take no more trouble about
me; let me 90 off quietly cannot last
long He lay down again all retired
except DR.. Craik. The General continued
uneasy and restless but without CON-
planning, frequently asking what hour it
was.


Further remedies we're tried without
avail in the evening. He took whatever
was offered him, did as he was desired by
the physicians, and never uttered a sigh
or complaint,


About ten O'clock" writes Mr.. Lear,
he made several attempts to speak to me
before he could effect it At length he
said, 1 am just going, Have me decently
buried, and do not let my body be put into
the vault in less than three days after |
am dead | bowed assent, for | could
not speak. He then looked at Inc again
and said, DO you understand meP l
replied, Yes ''Tis we'll, said he


About ten minutes before he expired
(which was between ten and eleven O'Clock
on the night of December IA. 1899 his
breathing became easier. lie lay quietly;
he withdrew his hand from mine and felt
his own pulse. I saw his countenance
change. spoke to DR.. Craik, who sat
by the fire. He came to the bedside.
The Generals hand fell from his wrist, |
took it in niue and pressed it to my bosom.
DR.. Craik put his hand over his eyes,
and he expired without a struggle or
sigh.


While we were fixed in silent grief,
Mrs. Washington, who was seated at the
foot of the bed, asked with firm and
collected voice, Is he gomez could
not speak, but held up my hands as Il
signal that he was no more 'fis well,
said she, in the same voice. All is now
over shall soon follow him; have no