Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-08-30
JOHN RANDOLPH.

The following is from late number Of
the Richmond Compiler, where it appears
as Il testimony of Benjamin Watkins
Leigh, on the Randolph viii case:
Questioned whether Mr.. Randolph was
subject to deep dcpressious. Ans. Some
times he was even volatile-he was cheer.
full in his conversation very often, indeed,
generally when | was with him-but then
again have seen him much depressed.
Questioned whether Mr.. 4. was suspi-
cious man. Ans. He was, but his suspi-
cions were not generally groundless.--
He occasionally overshot the mark as all
such men sometimes do; but he was a very
sagacious man, and had great confidence
in his own sagacity. Questioned. Would
he not content himself in such cases with
very little evidence? Ans. Not little,
as he would state; for he had a remarka-
bic faculty for making a strong case out
ofscanty materials. Questioned. Had he
nota propensity to take up strong pre-
judices? Ans. He did take them up
Question. Was he not subject to strong
antipathies! Ans. Yes-there were some
persons of whom he always expressed dis
like, without regard to party. With 9th.
ers he was displeased and pleased again.
He was always peculiar Nan, and
more so late in life than before. Wit
ness supposed no man ever saw Mr.. r.
and conyersed with him for fifteen min
utcs, without thinking him an extraordi-
nary man. Question. When did the Pc
culiar prejudice called Anglo-mania first
exhibit itself in Mr. R! Ans. believe
the pariiality which has been so called
commenced with his birth. lie possessed
more anecdotes about England and En-
glishmen, than any man [ ever knew
lie was thoroughly acquainted with the
genealogy of the English gentry and OF
English race horses. Question. Did he
not carry this feeling to extremes during
the war-did You ever hear him speak OF
the action of the Essex? Ans. Tie always
spoke of our naval victories with exula-
tion-ald ofen said that England had
now met her match on the ocean, as it
was her own Anglo-Saxon blood she had
to contend with. Do not recolect hear
ing him speak of the action Of the Essex !;
but he spake with enthusiasm Of the a.
chievemcnts of Decatur and Perry. He
was fond of English history, and admired
the English character. lie held in high
estimation the common law Of England,
its trial by jury, viva voce testimony and
open courts of justice-in which opinions,
by the way, witness agreed with hm.--
His anecdotes of England after visiting
that country were most interesting. He
drew an impartial picture Of what he saw !;
it was not flattering description but
gave rather a sombrc view Of the state OF
society. Witness never heard of his hab-
it of dining late, until he returned from
Russia. lie hated France as much as he
Admired Eng gland. He hated the French
houses, ard said they were not neat, which
was with him q great fault. He said he
had been in France and Switzerland, and
up and down the Rhine. His conversation
upon the objects which came under his
notice in his travels, was highly amusing
and graphic; and his remarks evinced the
most minute attention to every thing ne
saw. His conversation was OF a similar
character after his return from Russia
His mind often wandered at that period.
Witness thought he was at times under
the influence of delirium. Also thought