Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-02-21
LETTERS FROM Mr.. RANDOLPH.

The Publishers at Philadelphia, (Messrs. Ca
rey, Lea & Blanchard) will publish in a few
days, in one vol. 9vo price to subscribers 81
rs, "Letters of John Randolph, of Roanoke, to
a young Relative, embracing series of years,
from early youth to mature manhood" The
following Preface and Extracts Of Letters are
published as giving some evidence of the cha
racter of the Work
PREFACE TO RANDoLPH's LETTERs-The fol-
lowing letters have been selected from among
several hundred, as most fit for publication.
"The sentiment Of filial devotion towards the
author, which, for many years, constituted
large portion of my moral existence, together
with the want of critical acumen, may so far
miSlead the Judgment, as to make me overrate
the merit of these letters. Be that as it may,
shall make no apology for giving them to the
public; neither have they any right to require,
nor shall they receive, any explanation Of the
motives, that may be personal to myself in ma
king the publication.
''Suffice it to say, that, think, they will do
credit TO American literature; and add some
thing to the fame of man, who long held
distinguished rank among American orators
and statesmen; and whose genius has added
not little to his country's glory.
(Ertract of Letter dated January 81, 1869
81 send you by the New Orleans mail, Let
tiers written by the great Mr. Pitt, afterwards
Earl of Chatham, to his Nephew, when at Col
lege.' You know my opinion of Lord Chatham;
that he was at once the greatest practical states
man that ever lived, and the most transcendant
orator With all this, he was truly good man,
Indeed, he must hare BEEN since pirtue is essen
tial to great excellence in laudable pursuits,)
and the most elegant and polished gentleman of
his time"
Extract of a letter, dated December 81 1879
Here find myself iSOte, almost as entirely
as at Roanoke-for the quiet of which (the last
paragraph, 20 the contrary, Notwithstanding
have sometimes painted; or, rather to escape
from the scene around me. Once the object of
prescriptions | am become one of Indifference
to all around me; and, in this respect, am, in
no wise, worse off than the rest-for, from all
that can see and learn, there are no two per-
sons here that care j single straw for one ano-
Their. My reception is best by the old Jacobins
enrages-neXt by the federalists, who have alb
iured their hereses, and reconciled themselves
to the true Catholic church-worst of all, by the
old minority men, white washed into courtiers."
(E:rtract of a Letter, dated January 81, 1928
"For, after certain time of life, the literary
man may make shift Ga poor one, grant, to
do without the society OF ladies. 10 young
man, nothing is so important as spirit Of de-
votiOn (neXt to his CreatOr) to some vrtuOuS
! and amiable woman, whose image may occupy
his heart, and guard it from the pollution which
besets it on all sides. Nevertheless, trust that
your fondness for the company of ladies, may
not rob you of the time which ought to be de-
voted to reading and meditatng on your pro-
fession; and, above all that it may not acquire
for YOU the reputation Of Dangler-in itself bor-
derng on the contemplate, and seriously detri-
mental to u0,r professional character.