Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-09-10
NEOUS.


(From Mr.. Roguers EraminerJ
Having promised in our FIRST paper to give a statement
Of what occurred during the lasstwo hours OF Mr.. Ran
doiph's life. we now fulfil the engagement, dropping for
the occasion the editorial use OF the plural pr"noun IRE,
for which we trust ali excuse will be found In the nccessi-
~ of the case.
THE LAST MOMENTS OF MR.. RANDOLPH.
Mr.. Randolph arrived at Philadelphia, in the Baltimore
steamboat, OH Monday the 20di of May last, with The view
Of embarking for England in the packet, and took lodgings
at the City Hotel, in Third near Arch st. On Tuesday lie
rode out in a hack, and on his return was so feeble, as 10
be obliged TO go to bed. Wi,io out amy personal scquaint
ance with Mr.. Randolph bu, being an admirer Of his po
ltcal consistency and manly independence, ! made an APP.
poin,ment with a friend to call upon him., and accordingly
went with him to The Hotel between one and two O'Clock
Of Thursday the 23I. We sent our lanes up TO his room
on a card, and were then desired to walk up, by the SER
yant who delivered il.
On entering the room, which was a front one in the
third story, we found Mr.. Randolph i'm bed, living on his
back, with his head and shoulders propped UP by pillow
on a bed-chair, and his knees bent and elevated. He look
cd thin and emaciated, and more like a skeleton than a lv-
ing man. Ills countenance appeared 10 be almost dcsti'
tnie OF life, nn!, without turning his head, he put out hi:
hand as l approached the bed, which | took, and inquired
companion, Col. Biddlc. He seemed 10 be in a stupor, and
scarcely noticed liz, which I supposing to be the effect Of
%atemporary debility, sat down, in the hopes that heo ould
soon be able 10 converse. Col. BIldle also took a chair
nearer 10 the side OF the bed than the one OH which | sat.
There was nobody else in the room except Mr.. Badger,
one of he propriefos of The ho,el, aud we all three re-
mainel silent for ZONE minutes, as il in presence of dy-
ing man. waiting Tor MIR. R%indolph TO signify his wish TO
converse.
Ate u y IipSt NJ - D)IDIy i've minutes nom u { n
trance, MIR. Ranloipn beekoned 10 MIR. Badger, who APP
preached near to him. He said something in a W voice
TO him, which did no, hear, and then MT. Badger whis-
pered 10 Col. Fiddle, who then approached near 10 Mr.
Randolph who said something in a voice just aud bic
about "namcs for the peper-i will give a hund ed dol
lars towards IFS distribution" This was un ntell gible 10
us all, aaL Nr. Randolph perceiving that we did not under
stand, repeated wan, TO give nsmes for the paper
Mr.. Badger then said 10 us in a low tone, mir. Randolph
has sometimes been eighty but I, thinking tina, he wa:
under a mistake as to who his visitors were, said, al think
MIR. Randolph is under some mistake about Col. Biddle.'
Upon this Nj. Badger said to im' %"perhaps, sir, you have
mistaken thls gentleman for Mr.. - naming a gen
ileman . HON he had seen before. Mr.. Randolph replied,
mo, / have mol suppose him 10 be the editor OF the
State Rights paper." his expression Instantly clca ed
up the difficulty. Colonel Bidddle named me as the
Individual int, ded, and TOOK his place near Mr..
Randolph and said o him-'I am no, now, SIR, he edi-
tor OF a paper. The one which l conducted was
discontinued at Ihs end OF the last year. Ii was the Ban
nr Of The Constitution, TO which, | presume, you allude.'
He replied s~iIibly, 81 knew that that paper was discon-
tinued, but ! understood that you intended 10 publish ano-
Their, il sufficient patronage were obtained before the first
Of July" I replied, that "the first of May was the pc
riod assigned for its men', but that, as the re-
quisite support ~as not offered, the undertaking had been
abandoned. At the North, the cause Of State Rights had
been so completely annihilated, that nobody could he
found here TO support a paper devoted TO lis advocacy" |
coniinued-' AT the time you came out against the doc
trines OF the Presidents Proclamation, aud when The
cause stood in need of such able defenders, l hnJ been in
hopes that we shouId have been able here 10 rally a party,
but have been disappointed" ! said, al was lad 10 learn
from Mr.. T tew weeks ago, that he did not con-
slider he cause a. desperate in Virginia" Mr.. Randolph
then said, "Mr. = was here 10 see me this morning"
Daring tIese remarks, Mr.. Randolph listened with
great attention, showing that he felt a deep interest in the
cause OF State Rights up TO the latest period OF his lite, but
lie .as too feeble To converse, and thinking that any fur
ihar observations might disturb him, We took leave OF him,
uHdsr = strong psrsuasi0n that he could not long survive
In this impression we were confirmed by his man John
who had entered the room before we left il, and who ac
companied US out, and who stated in answer TO our gues.
tons, that he had been the constant attendant nj his mas.
ter for many months past, and that he had never seen him
so low as AZ that lime. He said he thonght at one time
In the preceding night that he was dying.
On the following day, Friday the "a b, i called AZ the
hotel at about = quarter before ten o'clock, to inquire
after Mr.. Rlnlolp h's health, but without any intention of
going TO his room. | saw Mr.. Badger, who said he
thought Mr.. RondOlph was dying, and 'aid he, al be-
lieve he inquired his morning for you. lie desired me Il
send for some gentle man - hose name | have forgotten,
ard think it was you then mentioned my name,
when he said "tbat was the name" | then said, l would
20 up and see him
On en. ring the room I found two young gentle men,
who I Afterwards learned were Dr. West, aud the youn-
ger DR.. Parrish, son OF the attending physician. Mr.
Ran1oIph was lying in bed in the same position in which I
had seen him Il e day b,i,re, aving lis head and back
propped up, ard hih knees elevated. He appeared to be
.lmost insensible.
which were given to him. lie then asked for spectacles
which were also given 10 him, when he began TO write
very earnestly, resting the paper on the back OF a waiter
Of o p5ge, the lines being regular and wide apart, he
handed it 10 MIR. Badger, who entered with the, TO read.
SIR. Badger attempted TO 10 so, but found it iRcohercnt
and in some parts iIIegibIe. MIR. Randolph then said
"scnd il over the way TO DR.. Coulter" His mind was
evidently wandering, aud as he insisted upon the notes
gong WIN ha''s' VII D'oseI 'eH INC room WIN ", aS u
10 send IT..
Mr.. Randolph SOON after began 10 write again. hfer
he had finished, ne beckonrd to me 10 come to him, and.
giving me The paper lac ssd "read II loud" 4 tried TO do
so. but could only mske out a part. IL commenced thus,
"DyiDg"-then followed words that looked like 'placc-
home" snI then these words, as well ~ I can recolIecI,
not having the paper before mel audolpi and Betty.
NY children, adieu-Pnt mo 10 he'd at chatham" lie
then told me 10 send the note quickly 10 Chatham, and as
he vas urgent upon IL, I lct the roon for two or thgce
minutes, r, II to execute his wishes.
At one time Nr. Randolph asked me 10 get an Orange, 10
which he pointed on the mantle piece, and cut it for him,
which | dti. Iie aO two small pieces. He asked lot
water, anl drank two or three lines. At times he show.
Ell by his remarks that his mint was nearly gone. At
one Iimo he sii "cali Captain @est back Captain West
had been an OH or Oh board VI one Of The packets, in
which Me-. Rindolph had mSdc a voyage 10 England but
was not ihen ~ port. ~ another, I've inquired chow
much DO they ask Tor all the chairs in Ibis room ~
Between 10 and III olcock Mr.. Henry +. Watkins OF
Virginia came into the room. Mr., Randolph seemed TO
recognize bin ss he took his hand. Tbs same occurred
with Mr.. John 5. Barbour, who came soon after Mr.