Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-08-20
5osas nANDot.pYs.
LAST MOMENTS OF JOHN RANDOLPH
OF ROANnEc


LAST MOMENTS OF JOHN RANDOLPH
OF ROANOKE
We publish below, copied from the Rich
mond Enquirer, the deposition Of DIR, Parrish,
respecting the last moments o. John Randolph
Of Roanoke, given at the late Investigation n,
Richmond.
"Joseph Parrish, Of the city of Phi
ladelphia, Doctor of Medicine, aged
fity-fve or thereabouts, being pro-
duced, affirmed and examined on be-
half of William Meade, named in the
annexed commission, deposeth, as fol-
lows: That being legally required to
make a deposition relative TO John
Randolph, Of Roanoke, hereby state
my recollections of such incidents as
consider calculated to show the state of
his mind, during the period Of my me-
deal attendance.
John Randolph died under my me-
dlcal care on the morning of the eth
month May twenty fourth, eigh-
teen hundred and thirty-three, at one
quarter before twelve o'clock. He
breathed his last in a chamber Of the
City Hotel, No. 81, North Third street
was present at his departure. closed
ms eyes and placed his limbs in a de-
cent position. | was called to visit
hun on the twentieth of said month by
Edmund Badger, one Of the proprictors
OF the City Hotel. II was stormy
night--the patient had arrived that al
noon in the steamboat from Baltimore.
He was bound for Europe, and had
been disappointed in getting on board
the packet. He soon informed me
he was acquainted with me by charac-
teri know you through Giles
aiiudisg, ! presume, to William b.
TILES, late Governor of Virginia, res
pecting whose case / was repeatedly
consulted. The patient appeared
rduch disturbed, on account Of some
difficulties he had encountered after
leaving the steamboat. II was evil
dent he was extremely i'll: his debility
was such, that II was with great diff
Guilty he could expectorate, which
caused much distress in respiration.-
lie appeared fully aware Of his danger:
told RE he had attended several cour-
ses Of lectures on Anatomy;-described
his symptoms with medical accuracy,
declaring he must die if he could not
discharge the purifoun matter. On
enquinng how long he had been sick,
he replied, Don't ask rue that ques-
lion; ! have been sick all my e.
lie soon told, however, that he had
been affected for three wears with his
present dilea e. which bad been GREAT
" aggravated b, his voyage TO Russia-
this bad killed him" On feeling
hts pulsc. he said, "You can form no
judgment from my pulse, il is so pecu-
liAr.' | soon perceived. TINT TO man
age the case before me would be like
steering between Scylla and Charyb.
dis, and concluded to proceed be cag,-
tious sounding, rather than advance
under full sail.
told him he had been so long
an Invalid he must have acquired an
accurate knowledge OF the general
course Of practice adapted 10 his case.
lie replied, certainly, at forty fool
or ply stefan, you know" remark
ID there were idiosyncracies in many
constitutions, and wished TO ascertain
what was peculiar about him. He
aid. have been an idiosyncTacy all
my life. This appeared truly most
intc and correct view OF he subject, al
though tho qucnsi did not consider il
necessary 10 give a concurring reply
Hs informed me that ali the brepaa-
ions ofcamphor invariably injured him,
md az TO ether, III would blow me
up Not so Of opium and is prepare
ions. for ] soon discovered nc was ac-
cusiomcd 10 the free use a this drug in
ONE form OF other. On one occasion
no. told inc that he either did or could
4 am not clear as to the words did or
e9uhf) take opium like a Turk; but
stiainly received from him the impress
on that he was in the habifual use Of
plum IN some shape or other. His
conyeratIon was curiously diversified, /
aod he complained with no small aspc- I
n'y Of the difficulties he encountered .
after leaving the steamboat. lie was
lli into a wrelched hack-the glass
@ the carriage was broken--he had
been obliged 70 60 from the Hotel 10
another in search Of lodgings, exposed
!, me peltings Of the storm, and every
,H'hs vas IN state Of discomfor.---
y, ~ soon introduced the subject Of
VIC ,Suakers, conplimeniing as in bis
Pesuhaf msnner for neainess, economy, /
oruefi comfort in every thing. right IL
e'efy hins' except politics there, al