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had assigned himself the task of labouring till the approaching summer, and was not disposed to shun it but from extreme necessity. To others this necessity was now obvious; but, feeling no acute disease, he was more disposed to charge himself with indolence than to impute his aversion from labour to physical disability. He also knew that the Caxton establishment was not provided with a successor; and he believed it his duty, at whatever personal inconvenience or suffering, to fulfil his obligations.

His last note to Cornwall, written upon a scrap of paper, with a trembling hand, proved that his powers were nearly exhausted.

"MY DEAR ANNA,

"38, Newgate-street, London, Feb. 26, 1833.

"I have neither time nor strength to write you a long letter by this conveyance. I I hope, in a few days, to send you a long one by post, giving you an account of my visit to the physician, and his opinion on the interview. I am weak and feeble. My appetite is but indifferent; but I sleep well.

66

I hope in July my final probation ends.
Your affectionate father,
"SAMUEL DREW."

66

"Mrs. John Read, Helston."

The

Alas! before July his mortal probation terminated!the thread of life was nearly spun! day after the receipt of the above, which came by a private hand, Mrs. Read received from her sister the result of their father's visit to the physician, dated March 1st. This was, that medicine could avail nothing; that, as his last remedy, he ought to go,

without delay, to his native air, and free himself from all exertion of body and mind; and that, unless he went soon, he would be unable to go at all.

Decisive steps were now imperative. Mr. Drew felt them to be so; and decided upon instantly relinquishing the occupation to which he had been, for a considerable time, constraining himself. To his eldest son and daughter, who immediately upon the receipt of their sister's letter, had left Cornwall, to accompany their father thither, his debility appeared so great as to render it a matter of surprise how he could have continued at his labour so long. His appetite was gone-his whole frame emaciatedand he was not only willing, but anxious, to wind up his concerns in London, and bid it a final adieu.

SECTION XXV.

Effect of bodily debility on Mr. Drew's mind - He leaves

His journey to Cornwall

London
His last days and
death-His epitaph - Further particulars of his decline —
Tribute of his townsmen to his memory.

To his editorial duties Mr. Drew attended, until Saturday, March 2nd, the last day of his 68th year. On Monday, the 4th, at the request of his family, he remained at home. On Tuesday he went to his office, to consult with Mr. Fisher on the propriety of immediately relinquishing his engagements; but, after having been there a little more than an hour, a sudden prostration of strength occasioned faintness. He was then taken home by a kind person employed on the premises, and appeared much better on that and the following day. On Thursday he went in a carriage to the office, accompanied by his daughter, to make his final arrangements. The exertion and excitement were too much for him. He sank on a chair in a state of great exhaustion, and was brought to his daughter's house, unable to walk without assistance.

From this time it became apparent that his bodily debility had affected his mind. Indeed, for several days previously, frequent instances of nervous irritability, remarkably contrasting with his philosophical

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firmness, shewed that his lofty powers were yielding with his sinking frame. Of this he was conscious. When relating to his son his last interview with the physician, among other particulars he observed, "Dr. C. said to me, 'It has been your misfortune, Mr. Drew, to enjoy almost uninterrupted health. You thought your constitution would submit to any thing; and you have tasked it beyond endurance. Your soul, sir, has been too great for your body. This is breaking down, and is bearing that with it; and nothing can restore your energies but complete freedom from labour and excitement.' Feeling the truth of these observations, at the hazard of being thought unkind, he shunned, as much as possible, the conversation of those friends whose solicitude for his health led them to make frequent personal inquiries. For the same reason, he chose to be under the care of his daughter, at Helston, and to avoid even passing through his native town, where the sight of so many well-known faces would overpower him.

As his weakness would not permit him to sit up, or bear any irregular motion, it was suggested, by his medical adviser, that his removal to Cornwall should be by water. This, it was found, would occasion much delay; and preparations were made for travelling by land. The inside of one of the Exeter stage coaches having been engaged, a plank was laid from seat to seat, supporting a soft mattrass, purposely prepared, with a covering of blankets to ensure the requisite degree of warmth. In this recumbent posture he travelled, attended by his two children. Sago and soup were the only articles of nutriment he could

take. These, as they could not be procured instantly on the journey, were previously provided, and warmed in the coach by a spirit-lamp. Cheered at the prospect of soon breathing Cornish air, and pleased with the preparations made to ensure his comfort while travelling, he expressed his confidence that he should perform the journey with little inconvenience.

On Monday afternoon, March 11th, Mr. Drew left London; reaching Exeter, with less fatigue than his attendants expected, about Tuesday noon. Here he rested that night. The following night, by a carriage suited to his manner of travelling, he reached Bodmin. It was a beautiful morning of early spring when he left Exeter; and the sight of primroses and furze blossoms on the hedges, and lambs in the fields, delighted and exhilarated him. Frequently during the day he entered into conversation, and shewed all his former self, sometimes displaying his natural turn for raillery, at the expense of his companions. At these indications of returning vigour they were overjoyed, unapprehensive of their short duration. Long before his arrival at Bodmin, he became exhausted, and his late distressing symptoms of mental aberration returned; but after leaving Launceston there was no other resting-place. Two days were occupied with the remaining journey of forty miles. On the Thursday night he slept at Truro, where every kindness that sympathy could dictate was shewn by the proprietors of the hotel, to whom he was known. On Friday afternoon, the 15th, he reached Helston, with apparently recruited strength and spirits so much so, that he imagined himself capable of walking from

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