American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-09-05
To the Editor of the National Gazette.

TO the Editor Of the National Gazette.
SIR: have seen since my arrival, your notice
of Mr.. Randolph's letter in relation to my treat.
ment Of hun during my last passage from this port
TO Liverpool, which letter was so maenauimously
published TO the injury Of an absent man. / have
to express my acknowledgements 10 you Tor inter.
posing kind word in my behalf. until could speak
for myself. This, now find, in he opinion oil my
friends, ought TO have been done before; but as.
sure you il has been omitted entirely because |
thought the character oil MIR. Randolph was so well
known throughout the country, that reply was not
necessary. AS it has been suggested TO me that
there are many very respectable persons. who know.
ing only one aide o the question, may take his ac-
count oI il 10 my disadvantage, without hearing the
other side plainly told, am therefore obliged, We.
~ much against my feelings and nclinstion, place
myself before the public, by showing 10 sell defence
the conduct of Mr. Randolph on board my ship.
No sooner had he gained the deck ol the ship at
Newcastle, than MIR. Randolth's irritable dspos
ton began TO shew ITSELF in consequence ol his over
hearing one passenger ask another whether Mr.
Randolph had paid his seamboai-iare his refusal
10 do which had become matter ol public converse
tion on board the steamboat, for this he swole he
would not do, BY reason, as he alleged, Of having
been taken to this city against his will, and that
therefore they were bound 10 return him free Of ex
the passengers actually paid Mr.. Randoph's pas
sage to Newcastle. It's proper for me 10 state here,
that the stories about the dog and the duel clrcula
led in this city after departure, we're not exactly
correct although it is true that in the affair oil The
dog between myself and seerage passenger MIR.
Randolph very particularly and politely requested
of me permission 10 take the animal and conssn'
ted ; and as it regards the duel, Mr.. Randolph did
display his pistols on deck, but for what object
cannot say. unless for the purpose OF intlmldatoh
On getting TO Mr. Randolph's querulous dis
position manifested itself in such variety OF ways
as to defy description II mainly consisted IN con-
'radic,ion, severity oi remark profanity, vugarlly,
and even obsceDity; indeed, as regards the latter,
such was his language, that the two gentlemen pas
senger, who had their families with them actually
desired me 10 have separate table Tor the ladies IN
lhei, own cabin. and was obliged to assure them
that it he did not mend his manners he should have
another apartment and table for his own private use.
Out oil such conduct, which was either alienation OF
mind or influence OF drink, grew the affair ON deck
which he has so generously requested should DC
taken and Judged by itself without any irrelevant
matter. This irrelevant matter is nothing more or
less than general abuse OF every thing and every
body II was his custom TO 60 upon deck, late al
night and there interfere with the discipline OF the
Ship by dvering the attention of officers, hrlmsman'
and watch, practice which neither master nor pas
sengers, as far as my experience goes, viii approVe
nor, while am governed by my present views O.!
duty to my owners, my passengers, and myself wi',
permit. On this occasion, politely requesed
him not to do so and was treated IN the vulgar man
ner he has publicly acknowledged. The officer oil
the deck afterwards told me he remained in the pre-
else position lef, him for haf an hour. with large
hunting knife in his hand and was also told iha'
he said in the ladies cabin that but for the presence
OF the officer and helmsman he would have ripped
the captain up. The general conduct OF Mr. Kan
dolph had become such, that was compelled, ios
the safety of all on board to make such arrange
mens as would prevent him from committing any
greater act of violence, should he attempt II ) bul
believe he got wind of what was in preparation, io
he behaved much better afterwards am happy
to reflect that am very we'll known in his own state
and will trust my character there and elsewhere
with perfect confidence. have been IL years car
ryng passengers across the Atlantic; and can tru'|
say that Mr.. John Randolph oi Roanoke, Is 'h'
first passenger ever had quarrel with on ooar'
my ship. will merely add, that all the passenger!
on this occasion, except Mr. Randolph, expressed
their desire, on our arrival at Liverpool, to sign
paper declaring their entire ya,isiac'on WIN ny
conduct throughout. did nj. deem il necessa,
to procure such testimony, bot Tor the fact conn
IDENTIFY appeal 10 any one OF thosis gentlemen. inu'
kresnectfuy. sS BALDWIN
| phihdeItLia Aug 81