text:  They describe him as "having completed his 74th year and having thus lived longer than any of his ancestors for the last two centuries; that his existence had been without any great misfortune and without any acute disease and that he owed all praise and thanksgiving to the Supreme Being; that the next step would probably be his last; that he was now too much exhausted both in mind and body to be of service to his country but was fortunate in leaving his children well and happy; and that he now waited the Divine will with becoming resignation