Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-08-13

eIing the horrors Of the yellow fever (Which broke oul
tsw dsys after my arrival. aud drovsmy friend Bryan to
Georga passed the winter less unplesssnily than the
two former which had spent there and Left the right an
ged city in April May, 1884 In June came Of age
The crop Of that was destroyed aud also that Of 1885,
self overwhelmed with overseers'. black,mths', and
sheris claims OF several years standing This recon
eiled inc TO the sale OF Ma,oax, urged by your father
a"e s mousse (at his reques my home, aud lived tho
lilo OF mere loungcr.
The society OF your ia her. the conversation and com.
pahy OF j. thompson, Qor was halt my time in Peters.
ourg) did not rouse my literary ambition. rode about
from one race field TO another; hist New Market
races, my earliest friend (your father excepedD Henry
Middleton Ruedgc, I'd ard kuedye and ne phe
oil the celebrated John Rutl.dge of sou Carolina call
sd at Bizarre, on his way TO Charleston and finding
me at home, left letter, informing Of his intended
voyage TO Europe. knew Rutledge in New York; we
were In College together, aud burned with desire to
him once more My guardian had alN avs trowned upon
my wish TO raveii and now had not he Of iodul-
shg the inclination TO any extent borrowed however
as much money as would deray the expense OF my Jour
ney and In January, 1885, went Charleston, (eavng
you an infant In the crade aud then TO Savannah
Bryan.
returned in May, aud few weeks afterwards, whilst
lay III oil bilious fever, at Petersburg your father who
mao el' me convalescent, although Immediately reaPs.
GU was, IN me most strange and mysterious
sna'ehed away from not week alter no had ached
hs own house He left considerable debts OF his owa
produced as have before explained 10 you) and my ia
tef whole estate under mortgage for heavy Bri-
hsh debt Unpracsed in business, ignorant OF the value
oil property made compromise with the creditors and
sacrificed On you aud 81, George my affections and hopes
cenered and in you had the sweetest companions and
mos! dutIi children In 1882 chance threw into pub.
lie ile.-The rest you probably know.
omitted to state, that in the winter OF 1902 g. spent
some weeks at William s. Mary College, and made a
shgnt beginning In mathematics and natural philosophy
These are but hints and dates, outline that will on
some other occasion fill up. With this superficial and de.
Iecnve education, commenced politician. 1 can truly
say, mat except from mother who taught
never learned any thing from one Of my preceptors
must make further exception in favor Of Cochane with
whom wa. for few weeks only; think not more
Than hve or six The little that know has been self.
taught picked up from the dcsuory reading and
chiehy from an intercourse with tho world When took
up my psn nothing farther from my thoughts than to
dash OH this loose and imperfect sketch. Take il is
vi the books that have read with pleasure, and pro-
1T too, reckon Shakespeare, Milton Pope's Homer Don
euXote Chaucer, and Robinson Crusoe This last was
believe, me second book ever read Voltae's Life OF
Charles MI was the first and ought have been named
above My mother pointed my attention TO tho Car,
and may say, "Video meora, etc."
Enclosedis draft for $500. May it afford YOU plea
| sure and proht' wish il were cypher
! am, as ever, your fond uncle,
JOHN RANDOLPH of Ro,noL.