But time was on its ever-ceaseless wing, and was now bringing the last
hour of this illustrious man. He saw its approach with undisturbed
serenity. He counted the moments as they passed, and beheld that his
last sands were falling. That day, too, was at hand which he had helped
to make immortal. One wish, one hope, if it were not presumptuous, beat
in his fainting breast. Could it be so might it please God, he would
desire once more to see the sun, once more to look abroad on the scene
around him on the great day of liberty. Heaven, in its mercy, fulfilled
that prayer. He saw that sun, he enjoyed its sacred light he thanked God
for this mercy, and bowed his aged head to the grave. "Felix, non vitae
tantum claritate, sid etiam opportunitate mortis."
The last public labor of Mr. Jefferson naturally suggests the expression
of the high praise which is due, both to him and to Mr. Adams, for their
uniform and zealous attachment to learning, and to the cause of general
knowledge. Of the advantages of learning, indeed, and of literary
accomplishments, their own characters were striking recommendations
and illustrations. They were scholars, ripe and good scholars;
widely acquainted with ancient, as well as modern literature, and not
altogether uninstructed in the deeper sciences.
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