John Q. Adams poem days before death. One of his last autographs, Also w-Cay For Sale

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John Q. Adams poem days before death. One of his last autographs, Also w-Cay:
$8250.00

John Quincy Adams- poetic dedication twoweeks before his fatal stroke. Presented with an album from an admirer or autographcollector, Adams penned a short four stanza poem, signing with his full name, datingit Feb 7th 1848. This page, long since removed from the album, isalso signed at the top by his former Secretary of State Henry Clay. At the timeClay was out of office but apparently in Washington for a visit. Exactlytwo weeks later, on February 21, the elderly former President suffered a strokeand collapsed on the floor of the House of Representatives. He was carried to a side room where fourother Congressmen, all physicians, tried to help him. He was conscious and realized the strokewould kill him. Although completelyparalyzed on one side he managed to speak before slipping into a coma. His lastwords were reported to be “This is the end of earth” and either “but I amcomposed” or “I am content.” He died twodays later.

The handwriting shows the effects of his oldage, palsy and determination. Throughouthis public life he signed his name in one of three forms. He would sometimes signwith his full name, as he did here with obvious difficulty, or more commonlythe shorter versions “J. Q. Adams“ or “John Q. Adams”.

Inhis biography John Quincy Adams-Militant Spirit James Traub identifies what might be Adams’last poetic inscription, written on Sunday February 20, 1848 to CarolineEdwards of Springfield, MA: “In days of yore, the poet’s pen/from wing of birdwas plundered,/perhaps of goose, but now and then,/from Jove’s own eaglesundered.”

The Massachusetts Historic Society holds aFebruary 6th letter to another collector with a similar sentiment.The Society records this as one of the two last known letters known written byAdams, making this album page certainly one of the last examples of hissignature and handwriting.

H. Clay of Ashland

JohnQuincy Adams—Massachusetts

FairLady! When at thy request

Could butthe impulse of my breast

Thy lotthroughout this world of strife

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