Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-08-13
LAST DAYS OF JOHN RANDolpH,


We commend to the attention Of our readers IN
following account Of the last da, OF the Or;
tor Of Roanoke. We do not recollect of eve
having read more interesting description
the last moments Of any distinguished maj
than y here presented in the plain uuvarnish
ed narrative Of the physician who attende
him during his last illness.
John Randolph died under nv medics
care on the morning of the fifth month
tMay1 twenty-fourth, eighteen hundre,
and thirty. three, at one quarter before i:
O'Clock. He breathed his last in cham
Der Of the City Hotel, No. al, North Thir,
street | was present at his departure
closed bis eyes, and placed his limbs in
decent position. Twas called 10 visit bin
on the twentieth OF said month by Edmun,
Badger, one Of the proprieiors Of the Cit,
Hotel X was stormy night--the patien
had arrived that afternoon in the steam
boat from Baltimore. He was bound 70,
Europe and had been disappointed in get
ting on board the packet He soon ia
formed me he was acquainted with me b,
character" know you through Giles !
-ailuding, presume, to William b Gle.
late governor Of Virginia, respecting whose
case unexpectedly Consulted The pa
tent appeared much disturbed, on account
oil some difficulties he had encountered af.
ter leaving the steamboat. 1t was evident
he was extremely i'll: bis debility was
such, that il was with great difficulty he
could expectorate, which caused much dis
tress 10 respiration. He appeared fully
aware oi his danger,--told me he had at.
tended several courses Of lectures on Ana
tomy.-prescribing his symptoms with
medical accuracy, declaring be must die
II he could not discharge the puriform
matter. On enquiring how long he had
been sick, he replied, "Dont ask me that
question; have been sick all my life. ~
lie soon told, however, that he had been
Affected Tor three years with his present
disease, which had been greatly aggraya-
led by his vo1 age to Russia. this had xii
led him. On ieeIns bis pulse, he said,
Xou can FORM no Judgment by my pulse
1t IS SO peculiar" 1 soon perceived, lhat
10 manage the Case before me would be
ike steering between oeylla and Charyb-
dis, aad concinded TO proceed by Cautious
soundings, rather than advance under a
full Sail.
" ! told him he had been so long invalid
he must have acquired an accurate know
ledge OF the general course OF practice
adapted TO bis Case, lie replied, .. Ger.
,ainly, at forty fool or ply stefan, you
kno" | remarked that there were lido.
syncracies in many Constitutions, & wish
ed TO know what was peculiar about hil.s.
ne said, | have been anidiosyncracy all my
liie. This appeared truly most trite aud
correct view OF the subject, although the
qnerist did not consider it necessary to
give q concurrIng reply. He informed
uie That all the preparations of camphor
invariably injured him, aud as TO ether,
" 1t would blow me up" Not so Of OPT
um and IFS preparations for soon disco
Vered that he was accustomed TO the free
use of this drug in some form or other
On one occasion be told me that he either
did or could q am not clear as to the
words did or could take opium like Turk;
but | certainly received from him the i'm
preston, that he was in the habitual use
OF opium in some shape or other. His
conversation was curiousIy diversified, and
he complained with no small Asperity of
the difficulties be encountered after leav.
ing the steamboat. He was put into a
wre.ched hack-the glass Of the carriage
was broken--he had been obliged to go
from the Hotel in search Of lodgings, ex-
posed to the peltings Of the storm and
everything was in a state discomfort. He
soon introduced the subject of the Qua
kers, complimenting us in bis peculiar
manner for neatness, economy, order,
comfort, in everything, except politics
there, always twistical" Before reti
red, he repeated portion Of the ltany OF
the Episcopal Church, with apparent fer
vor The following morning he sent for
me early-l was called from bed. He
apologised handsomely for disturbing me
y from this period we appeared mutually
TO enter into our new acquaintance in the
capacity Of patient and physician. After
considerable experience in sick chambers
and at death beds, may say, never met
with character so perfectly original and
unique. He might sometimes be compared
to spoiled and fractions child; but lit
lie observation convinced me, that in the
midst oil his extreme constitutional irrlta-
bility, petulance, Impotence and sarcasm,
there were some noble traits OF character.
Among these, was keen sense of pro-
priety. And when this was gently APP,
pealed TO, there was disposition to be
convinced and acknowledge indiscretions
On more than one occasion, it seenred pro.
per for the patient 10 understand, that
while bis physician felt a disposition 10 treat
him with kindness and respect, he wasnoi
insensible TO what was due to himself
On one occasion, when proposed some
thing Cor his relief, he pctulantly aud pos
itively refused compliance. paused and
! addressed few words to him. His good
sense predominated ; he apologised, and
was as submissive as an infant. On one
evening proposed medical consultation
leaving the choice to himself. With an
assurance Of entire confidence in his med