Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-08-06

ty! What motives for such dispositions can be
conceIved9 Could the Louisiana writer have
deluded himself SO far as 10 believe the absurdi-
~ which he uttered?
The commentaries which have been made
upon Mr.. Adamss letter TO Mr.. l.. Harris,
from Client, are nearly Of as prepos;eroas
character. That letter argues deep, reflect
ing, american anxiety for the course and issue
Of the war, and as for the expressions Of alarm
and disquie,ude with reference to the oei,Ue re-
sources OF our government al that period, and
the policy or penuriousncss OF Congress, they
are not IS strong as those which were address,
ed about The same time TO Congress itself. by
the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr.. Dallas, who
obtained, as he deserved, much credit for his
manly and salu,ary frankness.
Nal Ga-.
JOHN RANDOLPH.-Descg ption Of Mr..
Randolph in le,te: from Virginia TO the editor
of the n. H. Pa,riot:-
While speaking, he stands quite erect. His
gestures are few, but never fail Of their effect.
In some orators The rise to enthusiasm is ndica.
ted by an increase of gesticularion, and a more
rapid and confused u,lerance. Not so with him.
The eyes Of his auditory are not diverted by an
uncailed for gesture or osientatious shifting Of
attitudes. The light Of his black eye seems
concentrated to a burning focus, which it is
sometimes painful TO encounter, and yet IL is
impossible 10 get away from the charming ser
penf Like those ia love, his hearers feel their
bonds, yet would no, be free. SIN the very tor
rent and whirlwind Of his passion" his compo-
sure is greatest, and his enuncIation most de.
ibera,e and distinct. have heard some ora
tors, whose words, On consequence OF detec-
tive movement Of the organs OF pronunciation,
seemed to be obtruded and laterated in The de-
livery. But his have a free, full and bonafds
discharge All that is musical in modulation,
distinct in utterance, appropriate in emphasis,
feicitous in thought, and energetic In expires
sion, plant his words ih the ear with an effect
that dehes the power Of criticism: and they fall
too on the tympanum, with that sort oil ring
ing which like new eagles from the mint,
shows the metal to be sterling, and the coinage
mastery While under the spell Of his en-
chantment, so completely is one satisfied, that
all ideas ofany thing nearer to perfection than
himself, are ether held in obeyance, or entirely
expelled the mind There is his peculiarly
about his shrll aud piercing voice, that his
words can be accurately distinguished as far as
their sound can be heard; and eaci man in the
crowd concei, es his own proper ear to be the
target at which are aimed the unerring bullets
of his rhetoric In fighting, no matter what the
size of his antagonist, there is no adaptation OF
his bolts to the dimensi ons of the object to be
demolished; but like the tightening OF heaven,
which finds it as easy TO shatter an oak as to
consume reed, the fash comes, burying in
one common grave, the pigmy and the giant.
In witnessing encounters of this sort, have
| frequently wished, with the love OF slaughter
natural to some that his victims possessed more
recuparatiye energy, that the process OF demo.
lition might be longer protracted. 1t Is true,
he has handled some, who like Goldsmith S
village school master, "though conquered, could
argue STILL" but this reaction was little more
than the subsuHus tendiaum Of expiring nature,
| He sometimes howevcfYby way of"good mea-
sure" continues to gore them after they are ut
! terly dcfunct; but I could never look with
much satisfaction upon his mangling OF a dead
body, or dragging dead Hector around the
walls Of Troy.
In private life there is no telling what he IS
He is not sub ect for ordinary speculation lie
is altogether splendid anomaly, an unique, a
sui generis, Caesar am nutlas, iusus nufurS
erea, man with many li,,lenesses "ot different
natures. maryellously mixed connection, exqul-
site of distau1. WORLDS He is the verriest rid
die 10 his dearest friends. Sometimes he Is
fond Of men of parts, sometimes in rap,ures
with those of no points. Sometimes he sees
wba, is no, TO he seem; again, cannot discover
wba, is ever SO plain Atone time he asIounds
his friends by rudeness, at another surprises
his enemy by kindness. Fearing no one in the
world he makes all the " orld fear him.
He is an ardent admirer of ladies, horses, and
dogs, but does not know to which he gives the
nreference, so equally is his esteem divided a
mongst them In his household he is plain
but neat TO Eastern serupulosity;- drinks cot;
fee aud wine, no milk-smokes segars, and
sometimes pipes-chews Tea for tobacco, al
others snuff, and detests whiskey
.Foy optics sharp it takes, ,oeen,
tn see tchat is not 10 be seen.
Jtoghingfo,, Bridge dpd Washington ana