Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-08-02
D&TS ES,ETG;.
From the Richmond Compiler. }

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From The Richmond Compicr)
THE RANDOLPH WILL CASE.-1 Conti"nca}
WEDNESDAY,, 9th July.
Benjamin Uutkins Leigh examined for the Defendant
Hobson Questioned to the state OF Mr.. Randolph s
mind in 1914 when he returned from New {ork-Sslc
that the first lime he discovered symptoms of alienation
Of mind in MIR. r., that OCCASION lie stad with
witness time, ard the main purpose with him. was
to shew him some papers he had collected concerning
Mrs. Governcur Morris, and he anxious 20 obtain
the sanction of witness for their publication Witness
opposed the publication of the papers, requested Tlr H.
not to publish them until he had conveTsed with him
again on the subject. Wfen witness saw him short
time afterwards he thanked him for his advice. and
agreed that the publication Of the papers would have
been improper. Understood it was his wish to publish
the correspondence with G. Morris, we'll as the pa.
pers he had collected in regard 10 Mrs M. He was not
insane at that time but he was under such inorbe
state of excitement that his mind die rot with its
usual vgor Witness convinced from the character
of the correspondence that Mr.. RS mind must have
been alienated at The time took place. The next time
the witness Mr. Rande phi in similar state was IN
April 1920 after the duel between Commoaores Barron
and Decatur. Thinks he was insane at that time Mr..
B. Tucker, WIS then anxious TO see Mr.. K but AIR
Boudin and witness advised him not to do as Mr. r.
then particularly excited and IN his paoXysns used
violent language against Judge Tucker and all his con-
nexions except Mis-. Coalter and her children. Witness
Mr. X. irequcntly -doubs whether he was ever IN
Richmond that witness did not him. Questioned
to the nature of the paroxysns alluded to-Answer
They bursts of violent and unreasonable rage:
without cause Witness had no doubt Mr. r. de-
ranged. Witness him not long afterwards, and he
perfectly restored. Questioned whether he ever
saw Mr.. r. exhibit religious phrenzy-says he OBJ
served either religious frenzy o. 'eancholy in Mr. r.
Recoeced communication from hIs w1inesS s. Bro
ther giving an of extraordinary conversation
between Mr.. Christopher Clarke and Mr.. K at Lynch
burg. The next time witness saw Mr.. Randolph, he
spoke of his religious sentiments, but was cheerful sa;
rational. Religion wa fs at sDpiI with Nj. na.
dolph,; but all his conversations with witness were
different from those which he had heard spoken Of
by Others lie never mentioned to witness that he huc
seen a vision. Questioned to Mr.. Randophs stat
Of mind when his way to Russia-Says he did
not think it was exactly right; but he exhibited 20 pa
roxysms Of rage as before. In conversation wllh
witness he was very much hurt at some remarks OF wit
ness, and seemed i'll perfect agouy-so much so, tha
witness left The room thinking that breach had been
made between them, which would never be healed Next
morning when witness came down stairs he found MIR
r. playing with his (witnessO children. This was de-
cisive to witness to Mr.. Randolphs feelings towards
him. MIR. R. afterwards alluded to the above cntion
ed conversation in letter Dr. Brockenbrough
tanning message for witness. The subject of that con-
versaon the mission to Russia. Mr. r. asked wit
ness his opinion of the propeiy Of his acceptance Of
the appoin Witness endeayored 10 avoid express
ing his opinion; but Mr. r. insisted upon hearing it
and witness gave it in strong terms Questioned whe-
ther this conversation indicated that Mr. Randolph was
not rlght-Says Not was his going about and exhibit
ing the correspondence between the Department Of
State and himself the subject of the mission 1t was
not strange that he should slew it TO his friends; but il
was strange that he should shew it &c persons with
whom he had little intercourse, and in whom lie
had no confidence. Witness beeyedtlat his mind was
highly excited the questions Oh the ProPr!ey OF his
acceptance of the mission, and that the conversation
with witness served TO aGgravute that excitement
Witness therefore regretted that Nh r. had forced him
to express his opinion Mr.. r. gave as the reason for
exhibiting the correspondence that he wished TO place
himself rcctuS in rRria and sIew that he had not So
lccd the mission, but that had been forced upon him.
This was his object in showing Others but he de-
manded from witness his opinion Of the proprety Of his
course insisting that he hada right to know it. Cues
toned whether Mr. r. not remarkable all his life for
irritability. Ans. He was-he seemed sometimes like
a man without skin-bu this sensitiveness varied with
the state Of his health and his health was bad all his life
When in pain be irritable in the extreme. 1t was
difficult TO describe the effects of passion upon him
When in public body he would sometimes te highly
ir-ated but he appeared perfectly coclaad II was this
control his feelings that enabled h to make those
severe retors for which he was distinguished. Wien
he angry, he very angry-he was quick to take
offence and he proportional the of reala
ton to the degree Of the offence. The slightest
severely punished as Of the greatest importance.
TurEsDAY, July 9Th.
BENJAMIN Hathins Leiehs examination continued.
Questioned whether Mr. Rando pin subject to
deep depression. Answer. Sometimes he vas even
volatie-he cheerful in his conversation very Of
ten, indeed, generally when | was with hM-bat then
again have him much depressed Questioned
whether MIR Il. was suspicious mar Aas lie was, but
his suspicious not generally groundess He occa-
sonaly overshot the mark, all such men sometimes do
but ne was very saacious and had great conhdence
In his own sagucty. Q. Would he not content him.
self In any such cases with very little evidence? Ans.
Not ttle as he would state; for he had remarkable
faculty tor making strong Of scanty materials
G. Had he not propensity 10 take up strong preudceso
Ans. He did take them up. @. Was he moi subject to
strong antpatheS? Ans. Ies-thee we're some persons
of whom he always expressed dislike without reuard
to party With others he dspleascd and pI.ased
again-He was always peculiar man, and more SO late
in life than before Witness supposes man ever saw
Mr. R. and conversed with him for fifteen minutes with
out thinking him an extraordinary @ When did the
peculiar prejudice called first exhibit itself in
MIR. R.: Ans. believe the Partially which has been
called commenced with his birth. He possessed more
ecdote about England and Englishmen than any maa !
ever knew. He thoroughly acquainted with the
aogy Of the English gentry and of English horses
G. Did he carry this feeling during the war
did you hear him speak Of the action OF the Essex
Ans. He always spoke Of our naval victories with eXua-
ton-and often said that England had met her match
the ocean, it her Anglo Saxon blood she
had contend with Do recoec hearing him speak
of the action the Essex but he spoke with
ofhe achievements oDecatur and Perry He was fond OF
English history, and admired the English character He
held in high estimation the law of England its
trial by jury, viva yoce testimony and open courts
tce-n which opinions, by the way witness agreed will,
him. His anecdotes Of England AFTER visiting that
country were most interesting He drew partial
picture of what he saw; it not attering descrp-
tom but gave rather sombre view Of the state Of
w. Witness never heard of his habit of dining late un.
Ill he returned from Russia. He hated France much
r. IL latal th, anoI ha,,a