. The great American book of biography . meparticular circumstances should compel me to it, to possess another slave bypurchase ; it being among my first wishes to see some plan adopted by whichslavery in this country may be abolished by law^ Mrs. Washington, immediately after her husbands death, learning from hiswill that the only obstacle to the immediate emancipation of the slaves was herright of dower, immediately relinquished that right, and the slaves were at onceemancipated. The 12th of December, 1799, was chill and damp. Washington, however,took his usual round on horseback to his farm
. The great American book of biography . meparticular circumstances should compel me to it, to possess another slave bypurchase ; it being among my first wishes to see some plan adopted by whichslavery in this country may be abolished by law^ Mrs. Washington, immediately after her husbands death, learning from hiswill that the only obstacle to the immediate emancipation of the slaves was herright of dower, immediately relinquished that right, and the slaves were at onceemancipated. The 12th of December, 1799, was chill and damp. Washington, however,took his usual round on horseback to his farms, and returned late in the after- 54 GEORGE WASHINGTON. rhoui-h the snow was clinirinof his noon, wet with sleet, and shivering with cold. to his hair behind when he came in, he sat down to dinner without changin^dress. The ne.\t day three inches of snow whitened the ground, and the skywas clouded. Washington, feeling that he had taken cold, remained by the fire-side during the morning. As it cleared up in the afternoon, he went out to. ^^KsX^^i THE TOMB OF WASHINGTON AT MOUNT VERNON. superintend some work upon the lawn. He was then hoarse, and the hoarse-ness increased as night came on. He, however, took no remedy for it, saying, I never take anything to carry off a cold. Let it go as it came. He passed the evening as usual, reading the papers, answering letters, andconversing with his family. About two oclock the next morning, Saturday, the LAST HOURS. 55 14th, he awoke in an ague-chill, and was seriously unwell. At sunrise hisphysician, Dr. Craig, who resided at Alexandria, was sent for. In the mean-time he was bled by one of his overseers, but with no relief as he rapidly Dr. Craig reached Mount Vernon at eleven oclock, and immediatelybled his patient again, but without effect. Two consulting physicians arrivedduring the day ; and, as the difficulty in breathing and swallowing rapidlyincreased, venesection was again attempted. It is evident that Washingtonthen
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