The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-09-14
From the Portland Tribune.
JOHN RANDOLPH.

| | remember some years since TO have
seen John Randolph in Baltimore. | had
frequently read and heard descriptions oil
him, and one day as was standing in Mar
kel, now Baltimore street, remarked tall,
thin, unique looking being hurrying toward
me with quick impatient step, evidently
much annoyed by crowd of boys who
were following close 10 his heels, not in the
obstreperous mirth with which they would
have followed crazy or drunken man or
an organ grinder and his monkey, bot in the
silent, curious wonder with which they
would have haunted Chinese bedecked in
full costume. Instantly knew the ind-
vidual to be John Randolph from The de-
scriptions. l therefore advanced towards
him that might make full observation Of
his person without violating the rules Of
courtesy in stopping TO gaze at him. AS he
approached, he occasionally turned toward
the boys with an angry glance, but without
saying anything and then hurried on as if
10 oulslrip them; but it would not do. They
followed close on behind the orator, each
one said nothing 10 his companions. Just
before met him he stopped Mr.. G. a
cashier of one of the banks, said TO be as odd
fish as John himself loitered IN a store
close by, unnoticed, remarked the Roanoke
orator for considerable time, and really he
was the strangest looking being l ever be.
held.
His long thin legs, about as thick as a
strong walking cane, and Of much such
shape, were encased in pair of tight small
clothes, so tight that they seemed part and
parcel of the limbs of The wearer. Hand
some white stockings were fastened with
great tidiness at the knees by small gold
tuckle, and over them, coming about half
way up the calf, were a par OF what, l be-
lieve, are called hose, and country knit. He
wore shoes. They were old fashioned, and
fastened only with buekles-huge ones.-
He trod like an Indian, without turning his
toes out, but planking them down straight
ahead. 1t was the fashion 10 those days TO
wear a tan-tailed cont, with small collar
and buttons far apart behind, and few ON
the breast. Mr.. Randolph's were the re-
verse of all this, and instead of his coat be-
Ing fan tailed, it was what we believe the
knights of the needle call swallow tailed
the collar was immensely large, the buttons
behind were in kissing proximity, and they
sat together as close on the breast as the
feasters at crowded public festival. His
waist was remarkably slender; so slender
that, as he stood with his arms akimbo, he
could easily, as l thought, with his long DO.
ny fingers, have spanned it. Around him
his coat, which was very tight, was held to-
geher by one button, and in consequence an
inch or more of tape, 10 which it was attach
ed, was pereeplible where it was pulled
through the cloth. About his neck he wore
a large white crsvat, in which his chin was
occasionally buried as he moved his head 10
no shirt collar was percepti
BILE; every other person seemed 10 pride
himself upon the size Of his, as they were
worn large. Mr.. Randolph's complexion
was precisely that ofa mummy, withered
saffron, dry and bloodless; you could not
have placed a pins point upon his face,
where yol would not have touched wrin-
kIe. His lips were thin, compressed and
coloress; his chin, beardless as boys,
was broad for the size of his face, which |
was small; his nose was straight, with moth
ing remarkable in it, except it was too short.
He wore fur cap, which he took of, stand
ing few minutes uncovered. | observed
that his head was duile small a character
istic which is said to have marked many
men Of talent. Byron and Chief Justice
for instance.