The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-02-06
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JOHN RANDOLPH.

Extracts Of letters from WASHINGTON, publish.
ed IN the Providence Journal and the .Ne1o
York Gazette.
No man is more fantastic in his exterior
than Mr.. Randolph No man assumes
more to be manaerist With a figure
and general character of aspect strik-
lngly peculiar, he seems to pride himself in
the notorIety which the singularity of his
appearance gives him. Hence he often
appears for whole session in clothing out
OF all fashion, and which serves to make him
an universal mark. Describe John Ran
dolph's dress and figure 10 stranger. and
lie could not be ut Il rIrUnrnU-o loss IN reCog-
nising him from the Gallery of the House of
Representatives. So completely S"i generis
does his fantastic apparel render him.
Last year Mr.. Randolph assumed a char
acter of conduct and exterior entirely the
reverse of that which marked him during
the previous session. He wore clothes SINH
lar in most respects to those around him
a blue body coat, and vest and pantaloons
Of the same color, grey stockings and shoes,
constituted his uniform dress. He then
moved leisurely about the Senate, took little
or no apparent interest in what passed, and
specially disappointed number of ladies,
who attended in the lobby of the Senate,
anticipating speech from him, on the Bank
rupt Bill. As if in scorn of what was pas
sing around him, he held his peace. What
was still more remarkable, was his punctil-
ious civility to some of those very persons
upon whom he had poured out his severity
the previous year. | particularly remem-
/ Der to have seen him meet and shake the
hand of Mr.. Chambers of Maryland, with
great apparent cordlality-of whom, during
the former year, he had been known to eX-
press himself most contemptuously. He
opened his mouth but twice in the whole
session. Once upon the bill to increase the
salary of the Post Master General, and or
the last night of the session, upon PROPOSE
ton to amend the bill for the gradual III
crease of the Navy. On the latter occas-
ion there was numerous audience, and he
was quite happy in the few remarks which
he saw fit to make. From his long silence
this speech, although in no way very i'm
portant, excited much attention.
This year he has assumed another char
acter, and in a truly theatrical style, will
the part has also changed the costume. Hi
dress is now quite striking--his conduct i
not less so. He wears a full suit of yer,
light drab, consisting Of a long coat rang
ing i'll its cut betwixt surtout and a DO,
coat, with a standing collar, which reaches
almost to the top of his ears, and neart
closes in front around the chin-giving t.
his head the appearance of an acorn, set i
its cup-his small clothes are of the sam
materials, and his white topped boots, ker
in high state Of polish, are armed wit
shining spurs. He always enters the Hous
with his riding whip III his hand, nor have
seen him without it during the whole SEES
sion. He always sits, as is indeed the gen
eral custom, with his hat on, and do nc
recolect that he has once taken off hi
gloves. So that his appearance is at a
times that of Jockey, ready to mount
race horse, or Of some messenger extraol
Y binary, waiting for dispatches; and prepal
: ed to furnish blood and bone at the rate {
fifteen miles an hour, as soon as the Sc;
should be put to the packages to be entrus
ed to his care.
His person has often been described br
as | am writing of him, will give you
slight outline of his appearance. He is {
least six feet high, not well made, with
striking peculiarly in his conformation-h
legs being proportionately much longer tina
the upper portion Of his body, so that whe
sitting he gives no idea of his real heigh
f His head is small, and his hair parted in tn
middle, is combed smoothly down each sid
His face is lank, wrinkled and sallow h
eyes small and twinkling, capable, howeve
of much varied expression, when accom-
!, panying with their rapid flashes his wore
while engaged in debate. His voice
clear, high and thin, and its sounds may
Slikened 10 gentle kind of screaming,