th. February
1846—
- Healey J. P.
- Storrs
A Letter from my Son, gave us
this morning, the tidings, of the fatal issue to the desease of his
youngest Son, Arthur—who died on
Monday the 9th. of February at 1/2 past six
o’clock, in the evening. He has passed away, like a delightful vision,
and leaves a memory of blighted hopes, and blasted prospects, for which
there is no consolation, to his bereaved
parents, or to me, but in that resignation, for which I
supplicate our Father in Heaven for them, for my partner in Life and for
myself— Mr.
Healey was here again this morning, and spoke of his
desire, to be employed to paint the Picture, intended to supply a panel
in the Rotunda of the Capitol, which has failed by the death of Mr. Inman—
He said he had since he last spoke to me on this subject, reflected
much, upon the selection of a subject, and the more he had thought of
it, the more confirmed he had found himself in the opinion that the
Congress at New-York, of 1765, was the best that could be chosen— I
renewed my promise to do what I could, to obtain this work for him—but
shortly afterwards, on attending at the House of Representatives, I
found that this purpose also, was destined to be disappointed— Alexander H. Stephens offered a
Resolution, calling on the Clerk of the
House, for the reasons of the delay in delivering the
remaining Copies, of Capt
Fremont’s Report. George
Rathbun of New-York, presented Resolutions of the
Legislature of that State, against any increase in the rates of Postage—
Among the Resolutions presented was one by Caleb. B. Smith, of Indiana, from the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, calling on the President, for Documents, relating to the payment, of the
fourth and fifth instalments of the Mexican indemnity—which have been
paid but not received.— Garrett
Davis of Kentucky, from the same Committee made an adverse
Report, on the Petition of Alexander.
H. Everrett for extra allowances, upon his accounts, in
425his Mission to Spain. Thomas. J. Henry of Indiana, from the
Committee on Patents, reported a Bill, to enlarge the Powers, of the
Chief Clerk of the Patent Office,
which was passed— William. W.
Campbell, of New York, from the Joint Committee on the
Library, reported a Resolution instructing that Committee, to inquire
into the present condition, of the Painting, ordered to be painted, by
the late Henry Inman, and if found unfinished, authorising and requiring
the Committee, to have it finished, at an expense, not exceeding the
original appropriation— Campbell moved for the immediate passage of the
Resolution, but Charles J.
Ingersoll, moved its referrence to the Committee of the
whole— A Debate arose, in which, I suggested, the expediency, of
referring to the Committee the inquiry, whether another Artist, should
be employed, instead, of procuring a Picture, commenced by one Artist
and finished by another, which I believed, would necessarily result in a
signal failure— After considerable discussion the whole subject, was at
the motion of Robert C.
Winthrop, referred back to the Joint Committee on the
Library— The Pension Appropriation Bill, was then resumed for
consideration, in Committee of the whole on the state of the Union,
Richard Brodhead in the
Chair, which was debated, tediously, until Tibbatts offered, an additional Section, providing that
no Widow whose husband was pensioned at the time of his decease, should
be required to furnish further evidence of the husband’s service, nor
any evidence, in the possession of the