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66

No. VI.

Last illness

and death of

Washington.

Mr. Peter, requesting them to come with their wives (Mrs. Wash- APPENDIX, ington's granddaughters) as soon as possible to Mount Vernon. About ten o'clock he made several attempts to speak to me before he could effect it. At length he said; I am just going. Have me decently buried; and do not let my body be put into the vault in less than three days after I am dead." I bowed assent, for I could not speak. He then looked at me again and said; Do you understand me?" I replied, "Yes." " "T is well," said he. About ten minutes before he expired (which was between ten and eleven o'clock), his breathing became easier. He lay quietly; he withdrew his hand from mine, and felt his own pulse. I saw his countenance change. I spoke to Dr. Craik, who sat by the fire. He came to the bedside. The General's hand fell from his wrist. I took it in mine, and pressed it to my bosom. Dr. Craik put his hands over his eyes, and he expired without a struggle or a sigh.

While we were fixed in silent grief, Mrs. Washington, who was sitting at the foot of the bed, asked with a firm and collected voice; "Is he gone?" I could not speak, but held up my hand as a signal, that he was no more. ""T is well," said she, in the same voice, "all is now over; I shall soon follow him; I have no more trials to pass through."

OCCURRENCES NOT NOTED IN THE PRECEDING NARRATIVE.

The General's servant, Christopher, was in the room during the day; and in the afternoon the General directed him to sit down, as he had been standing almost the whole day. He did so.

About eight o'clock in the morning, he expressed a desire to get up. His clothes were put on, and he was led to a chair by the fire. He found no relief from that position, and lay down again about ten o'clock.

About five in the afternoon, he was helped up again, and, after sitting about half an hour, he desired to be undressed and put in bed, which was done.

During his whole illness he spoke but seldom, and with great difficulty and distress; and in so low and broken a voice, as at times hardly to be understood. His patience, fortitude, and resignation never forsook him for a moment. In all his distress he uttered not a sigh nor a complaint; always endeavoring, from a sense of duty as it appeared, to take what was offered him, and to do as he was desired by the physicians.

At the time of his decease, Dr. Craik and myself were in the

No. VI.

APPENDIX, situation before mentioned. Mrs. Washington was sitting near the foot of the bed. Christopher was standing near the bedside. Last illness Caroline, Molly, and Charlotte were in the room, standing near Washington. the door. Mrs. Forbes, the housekeeper, was frequently in the room during the day and evening.

and death of

As soon as Dr. Craik could speak, after the distressing scene was closed, he desired one of the servants to ask the gentlemen below to come up stairs. When they came to the bedside, I kissed the cold hand, which I had held to my bosom, laid it down, and went to the other end of the room, where I was for some time lost in profound grief, until aroused by Christopher desiring me to take care of the General's keys, and other things, which were taken out of his pockets, and which Mrs. Washington directed him to give to me. I wrapped them in the General's handkerchief, and took them to my room.

About twelve o'clock the corpse was brought down stairs, and laid out in the large room.*

Washing

ton's funeral.

Sunday, December 15th. Mrs. Washington sent for me in the morning, and desired that I would send up to Alexandria and have a coffin made, which I did.

About ten o'clock,

Mrs. Stuart was sent for in the morning. Mr. Thomas Peter came down ; and about two, Mr. and Mrs. Law, to whom I had written on Saturday evening. Dr. Thornton came down with Mr. Law. Dr. Craik stayed all day and night.

In the evening I consulted with Mr. Law, Mr. Peter, and Dr. Craik on fixing a day for depositing the body in the vault. I wished the ceremony to be postponed till the last of the week, to give time to some of the General's relations to be here; but Dr. Craik and Dr. Thornton gave it decidedly as their opinion, that, considering the disorder of which the General died, being of an inflammatory nature, it would not be proper to keep the body so long, and therefore Wednesday was fixed upon for the funeral.

Monday, December 16th. I directed the people to open the family vault, clear away the rubbish about it, and make every thing decent; ordered a door to be made to the vault, instead of closing

*The following certificate, in the handwriting of Dr. Craik, is appended to the above portion of Mr. Lear's narrative.

"Sunday, December 15th. The foregoing statement, so far as I can recollect, is correct. "JAS. CRAIK."

it again with brick, as had been the custom. Engaged Mr. Inglis APPENDIX, and Mr. Munn to have a mahogany coffin made, lined with lead.

No. VI.

ton's funeral

Dr. Craik, Mr. Peter, and Dr. Thornton left us after breakfast. WashingMrs. Stuart and her daughters came in the afternoon. Mr. Anderson went to Alexandria to get a number of things preparatory for the funeral. Mourning was ordered for the family, domestics, and

overseers.

Having received information from Alexandria, that the militia, freemasons, &c., were determined to show their respect for the General's memory, by attending his body to the grave, I directed provision to be prepared for a large number of people, as some refreshment would be expected by them. Mr. Robert Hamilton wrote to me a letter, informing me that a schooner of his would be off Mount Vernon to fire minute guns, while the body was carrying to the grave. I gave notice of the time fixed for the funeral to the following persons by Mrs. Washington's desire; namely, Mr. Mason and family, Mr. Peake and family, Mr. Nickols and family, Mr. McCarty and family, Miss McCarty, Mr. and Mrs. McClanahan, Lord Fairfax and family, Mr. Triplet and family, Mr. Anderson and family, Mr. Diggs, Mr. Cockburn and family, Mr. Massey and family, and Mr. R. West. Wrote also the Rev. Mr. Davis to read the service.

Tuesday, December 17th. Every preparation for the mournful ceremony was making. Mr. Stewart, adjutant of the Alexandria regiment, came to view the ground for the procession. About one o'clock the coffin was brought from Alexandria. Mr. Grater accompanied it with a shroud. The body was laid in the coffin. The mahogany coffin was lined with lead, soldered at the joints, with a cover of lead to be soldered on after the body should be in the vault. The coffin was put into a case, lined and covered with black cloth.

Wednesday, December 18th. About eleven o'clock numbers of people began to assemble to attend the funeral, which was intended to have been at twelve o'clock; but, as a great part of the troops expected could not get down in time, it did not take place till three.

Eleven pieces of artillery were brought from Alexandria; and a schooner, belonging to Mr. R. Hamilton, came down and lay off Mount Vernon to fire minute guns.

About three o'clock the procession began to move. The arrangements of the procession were made by Colonels Little, Simms, Deneale, and Dr. Dick. The pall-holders were Colonels Little,

No. VI.

Washington's funeral.

APPENDIX, Simms, Payne, Gilpin, Ramsey, and Marsteler. Colonel Blackburn preceded the corpse. Colonel Deneale marched with the military. The procession moved out through the gate at the left wing of the house, and proceeded round in front of the lawn, and down to the vault on the right wing of the house. The procession as follows;

The Troops, horse and foot.

The Clergy, namely, the Reverend Messrs. Davis, Muir, Moffatt,
and Addison.

The General's horse, with his saddle, holsters,' and pistols, led by
two grooms, Cyrus and Wilson, in black.
The Body, borne by the Freemasons and Officers.
Principal Mourners, namely,

Mrs. Stuart and Mrs. Law,
Misses Nancy and Sally Stuart,
Miss Fairfax and Miss Dennison,
Mr. Law and Mr. Peter,

Mr. Lear and Dr. Craik,

Lord Fairfax and Ferdinando Fairfax.
Lodge, No. 23.

Corporation of Alexandria.

All other persons; preceded

by Mr. Anderson and the Overseers.

When the body arrived at the vault, the Rev. Mr. Davis read the service, and pronounced a short address.

The Masons performed their ceremonies, and the body was deposited in the vault.

No. VII. p. 489.

PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE
DEATH OF WASHINGTON.

SPEECH OF JOHN MARSHALL IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
ADOPTED BY THE HOUSE, DECEMBER 19TH,

AND RESOLUTIONS

1799.*

MR. SPEAKER,

No. VII.

of Congress.

The melancholy event, which was yesterday announced with APPENDIX, doubt, has been rendered but too certain. Our Washington is no more! The hero, the patriot, and the sage of America; the Proceedings man on whom in times of danger every eye was turned, and all hopes were placed, lives now only in his own great actions, and in the hearts of an affectionate and afflicted people.

If, Sir, it had even not been usual openly to testify respect for the memory of those whom Heaven has selected as its instruments for dispensing good to man, yet such has been the uncommon worth, and such the extraordinary incidents, which have marked the life of him whose loss we all deplore, that the whole American nation, impelled by the same feelings, would call with one voice for a public manifestation of that sorrow, which is so deep and so universal.

More than any other individual, and as much as to one individual was possible, has he contributed to found this our widespreading empire, and to give to the western world independence and freedom.

Having effected the great object for which he was placed at the head of our armies, we have seen him convert the sword into the ploughshare, and sink the soldier in the citizen.

When the debility of our federal system had become manifest, and the bonds which connected this vast continent were dissolving, we have seen him the chief of those patriots, who formed for us a constitution, which, by preserving the union, will, I trust, substantiate and perpetuate, those blessings which our Revolution had promised to bestow.

In obedience to the general voice of his country, calling him to preside over a great people, we have seen him once more quit

* The intelligence of the death of Washington had been received the preceding day, and the House immediately adjourned. The next morning Mr. Marshall addressed this speech to the House.

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