[Life and Public Services of John Quincy Adams by William H. Seward]@TWC D-Link book
Life and Public Services of John Quincy Adams

CHAPTER XV
7/107

A voice from on high called him away from earth's stormy struggles, to bright and peaceful scenes in the spirit land.

He could no longer tarry.

Death found the faithful veteran at his post, with his harness on.

How applicable the words of Scott, on the departure of Pitt:-- "Hadst thou but lived, though stripp'd of power, A watchman on the lonely tower, Thy thrilling trump had roused the land, When fraud or danger were at hand; By thee, as by the beacon-light, Our pilots had kept course aright; As some proud column, though alone, Thy strength had propp'd the tottering throne.
Now is the stately column broke, The beacon-light is quenched in smoke, The trumpet's silver sound is still, The warder silent on the hill! O think how, to his latest day, When death, just hovering, claimed his prey, With Palinure's unaltered mood, Firm at his dangerous post he stood; Each call for needful rest repell'd, With dying hand the rudder held, Till, in his fall, with fateful sway, The steerage of the realm gave way." It has been supposed by some that the remote cause of Mr.Adams's death was a severe injury he received by a fall in the House of Representatives, in June, 1840.

The accident is thus described by an eye witness:-- "It had been a very warm day, and the debates had partaken of extraordinary excitement, when, a few moments before sunset, the House adjourned, and most of the members had sought relief from an oppressive atmosphere, in the arbors and recesses of the adjoining Congressional gardens.
"At that time I held a subordinate clerkship in the House, which usually confined me, the larger portion of the day not devoted to debate, to one of the committee rooms; whilst the balance of the day I occupied as a reporter.
"Mr.Adams was always the first man in the House, and the last man out of it; and, as I usually detained myself an hour or more after adjournment, in writing up my notes, I often came in contact with him.


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books