Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-19
COMMUNICATES FOR THE ENQUIRER.
ST. Louis, JUN 10th, 1926.


conclusion OF a long session, prevented me when
answered your kind letter OF May the 5th, from
sVl 20 the explanations on some parts of your bro
ther affair with Mr.. Clay, which justice 10 him.
and his friends, demands at my hands These ex
plantations are particularly due on two material
points; the change of determination with respect
o hrlng, and the selection OF Yirgiaia ground for
the place OF the duel Upon the outside view of
tue affair, MIR. Randolph stands chargeabe with
Inconsistency in firing Mr.. Clay, after having
declared to me that he would not do so, and wish
a'Sfespect Tor Virginia, in going voluntarily within
her limits to hight duel in open violation OF one
OF her statutes. But very brief detail OF facts.
coming within my own Knowledge, will account
Tor D IN these circumstances, and shew tina, the
reso'' TO 'Hsinia upon that occasion. was the eff
icc' OF feeling IN MIR. Randolph directly the re-
verse ot disespect for his native state, and that
IN monetary change OF purpose with respect to
III NJ, w produced by sudden and " exnectsl in
Clients occurring almost in the crisis OF the duel
self.
The challenge, as You know, was delivered OF.
The first dsy oil April, which. was Saturday. To-
wards noon OF that day, the Senate not being ia
session, MIR. Randolph came so IN, lodgings, shey-
ed me the challenge winch he had received, incuir-
e. into the iaci o!'ny relationship with MIS- lay,
and but ioi that would have wished me to have
been his second. ctfe ed my services in differ
ent charac er. that OF peace msker, but he told me
mere was no room for 1t, tLat the challenge was
peremitory, and ths; the answer " Guild be orompt
and Unconditional. lie Lett 10 ind Col. Fat
nall OF Georgia, and TO get him to carry back hi.
answer immediately; but before we parted he de-
sired 20 make my bosom the depository of deca.
ration which, he said lie should commit TO no ser
person: II was this: That he dill not mean 10 fire
at Mr.. Clay.
The duel did not take place for a week. The
seconds took II on themselves 10 pun it off for that
length OF time, not Tor the purpose of preparing the
parties, but from generous desire TO prevent blood
shed and TO afford time for mutual friends to
erect an honorable accommodation. Myself s. some
others iaboured at this work, most assiduously but
without results. The gentlemen remained jnfexi-
Die, MIR. Randolph IN refusing TO explain mt n.
The Senate any thing that he had said il, 4, and
Mi Clay in demanding PREPARATION OF some kind for
what ne conceived 10 De personal injury done
him i'll that body.
on the day of the duel, Saturday the Sin,
spent several hours with your brother. and he re-
newed TO me at parting the declaration of hi. in
tention moi to fire at MIR. Clay. There were cir
cumstsnces connected with this declaration At this
.iine which made an indelibe impression upon IN,
| Feelings anu memory; but they 10 Tot come within
the scope OF this letter /. detail, though fatler
myself II will be agreeable TO you TO hear them n,
some 'u'uFe 'ine' when can avail myself Of your
hinu invitation to pass night at your house
1he meeting was to take place on The riyb, hank
oil the Potomac, near the Little Falls Bridge. and
within the edge OF the Virginia line, which thef,
approaches near 10 he river. Mr. Randoltb had
chosen it himself. He wished, if he fell. n CsIl
upon the soil of Virginia.; and as he did not mean
TO IRE al Mr. Clay, he iet it to be no nractjo, of
ner statute against dueng 20 within her limits
ioF 'he mere purpose oil receiving the ire of his ad
verSAIy. Ills words to me were: break no law of
virginia. neither accept a challenge within her
limits, nor do fght duel within them.
Inc secondson bott. sides had agreed that n;ybt
De at hand, when the meeting took place. for the
purpose OF interposing my mediation at the first
practicable moment. Awaiting myself of this per
mission folio on behind the parties crossed
The Little Falls Bridge just after them, and came
10 tue pace where the servants and Carriages had
stopped saw none OF the gentlemen. and sun
Posed they had all gone to the place ,vh.,a m.
3 ound was marking out; but on speaking 10 49,,
want, MIR Randolph, Who " as still IN his c,rri,gs
and heard my voice, looked out from the ,yindo,y
and sad 10 me: Colonel, since / saw Won. .,i
since nave been In this Carriage, have heard
something which may make me Change nv defer
mhal"n. Col. Hamilton will give you note that
VIII explain it. Col. Hamilton was then in r,s
carriage with him, and gave me The mole in the
course OF the evening OF which ne spoke. ,ea
diy comprebended that this possible cb,,os of
determination related TO his firing; bui the emDhai.
with which he pronounced the word I.ou,,,
clearly Showed that MS nDd was Undecided sri
let u doubtful with me whether he ,vould fire ne
not no further conversation ook place between
u, the preparations tor the du were flushed and
went forward 10 piece OF rising ground from
which could see il, aud hear what was s,if
saw the pistol put into MIR Raudolpb's hand and
while he was adjusting the bu, to his GRASP. the
muZZ.e pointing downwards, il went off and the
oall entered the ground within less than ward ol
his own ieet. The pistol was Il har.trggef. and
the butt OF the saw-handle form. The instant il
hred Nh. Randolph turned TO his SECOND Colonel
ta'lnal anu told him that he had protested against
The hair-trigger Col Tauna Immediately con
irmed this appeal, aud took blame to himself for
having sprung the hair. .Ir Clay had not receive
ed his pistol at this time, and Mr. johnson who was
carrying II to him, was still several steps from him
rms unlimeiy ire, though clearly an accident, ne
cessanIy gave rise TO some conversation and 10 a
species Of enquiry which was conducted with the
utmost delicacy, but which. 10 Itself was OF a ma
iure To be inexpressbly painful to genheman's
Feelings. The IRE as quickly and Unanimously
admit ed u be accident; another pistol was inn
media ely furnished, and exchange OF shot ensu-
ed, very nearly together, happily without eff
feet seized the moment 10 20 In among the par
Ies, and 10 oder my mediation, but nothing could
be done, and the seconds were directed TO re iosd
ne pistols While This was doing, | prevailed on
dr. Randolph TO walk away from his post and
renewed TO him more pressngly than ever my i'm
p0f'unIlies TO agree 10 some accommodation; but
found bim more determined than had ever seen
hIm, and, TO- the first time, impatient at what
was saying The acclden al fire si his pistol prey
cd upon bis feelings. lie was doubly cb.grned
al u, both As Circumstance susceptible IN itself of
an unisr inerpre aiion, and as having been the
immediate and decisiUs cause Of bis firing at Mr..
Ola. lie egf eneJ this ffe the instant il was
oyer. lie ieit that 1t hal subjected him 10 two i'm
puistfJns from each Of which ne kns,v htruself -,