The death of Mrs. Jackson, consort of General Andrew Jackson, which we hastily
announced in our paper on Tuesday last, came upon our community like an electric shock. Arrangements had been made
by the citizens of Nashville for a public dinner and a ballon Tuesday, in honor of the General, and he was expected
in town that morning, to receive the congratulations of his friends, and to partake with them a parting glass,
preparatory to his departure for the seat of the national government. On Thursday preceding, Mrs. Jackson was attacked
with severe pain in the arm, shoulder and side, and violent palpitation of the heart. Medical assistance however
soon afforded her relief, and no serious result was apprehended. On Monday she again complained of pain, and slight
fever returned, but in the evening about 9 o’clock, when the physician visited her, she appeared relieved, and
was free from pain. No alarming symptoms appeared, nor was it then supposed that her indisposition would be so
great as to interfere with the arrangements of the next day. In about half an hour, however she sent for the physician,
who was in an adjoining room, and before he could reach her, she fell from her chair, and expired in less than
two minutes. The immediate cause of this awful event is supposed to have been a sudden spasmodic affection of the
heart. The funeral took place on Wednesday, and was attended by an immense crowd from Nashville and the surrounding
country.
Most sincerely do we sympathize with our distinguished fellow citizen in this severe and trying affliction. At
the moment of his high elevation, he is suddenly depressed and cast down. His hope are disappointed, his plans
deranged. Just as he is about to feel the weight of new cares, responsibilities and duties, he is deprived of that
domestic solace, which he had been so long accustomed to enjoy, and is left, solitary as it were, in the midst
of society, to enter upon the new theatre of action, where he had fondly anticipated the sharing of his honors
and pleasures and anxieties with the much loved partner of his bosom. This in indeed a great and sudden reverse,
and affords a striking lesson of the uncertainty of human happiness, a forcible illustration of the mixture of
alloy with the richest and purest of human enjoyments. -- Banner
