Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-08-14
PRIEST RICHARDS.

Messrs EDIToRs wa notice of Priest Richards death
in the Intellgencer of lat week. and in the Baltimore Sun
OF Friday appeared s sketch of his life but generally
erroneous (undesgnedy doub that shall feel grateful
for an opportunity in your paper to setmy old playmate and
associate OF my boyhoa right before the world since he is
unable to speak for hrnef:
JONI RIcHARDs WIS born in Alexandria His father
THOMAS RICHARDS, yas barber doing pretty well at his
business with the addition Of small store Of fancy goods
About this time ottey having been granted for the benefit
OF washington, one Its schemes, If memory me-
had Tor the capital pre- the " HOTEL valued at $50 000
FUSED afterwards post office and patent Office DESTROYED by
hre j the next cash prize of $685. 900 this was drawn
by THOMAS RcHAnps, not by JoHS stated in the Sun.
The circumstances attending this prize partakng large
y OF romance will apologize, I hope for brief DEPRESSION
Mr. Thomas Richards had bought ticket in this lottery
ana TWO or three OF his associates going the city during the
drawing he gave them the number of it. requesting them
keep an ear out fort They did and it came up prize of
S25 These rags Gone of them told me the story himse)
concluded there was sufficient capital for rood Joke and
their return reported that he had drawn SIS OOO and
demanded trer istanter; and with which the conidng
Thomas compiled like prince. The next day he went M
to his prize when, 10! the three cphers were some
how spirited away, leaving only S25 With some SYMPTOMS
OF disappointment and small spice of Indignation he spun
ed the pay sum, but suffered them to give him another
ticket; and her the blind goddess opened her eyes wide
protesting the hodI to be almost too cruel and the result
was, his ticket roO brought up The ueritab $685. 900 ITSELF
and no mistake
The sudden acquisition of this sum- however proved ra-
ther an injury than benefit its possesso He was unfor-
tunate in his adventures both in navigation and real estate
In Alexandra and when first knew him there in 1902 be
was reduced below his standard when he drew his prize His
son JOIN, at this date about nineteen well educated
not dSstpaed in his habits the Sun hath but we al
ways considered him of sudous, literary disposition At
this time the tragedy Of Douglas got up by few of
the amusement of ourselves and friends John personaed
Gieafro and seemed to apprehension portray all the var
GUS passions Of that abandoned difficult character
evlnce to others well himself that he could make play
er At this time the Virginia Company" as they were
caled-such Cooper Jefferson, Mackenzie, Wood, War
rem, Green, Bisse Twats, Suy, Francis Bray &c. with
their wives (and would ask the of the drama where
they expect to superior stock talent or character
this company bad just finished their engagement at Wash
ington, and passing TO Richmond John had been
dreaming Of the bsk and could resist this precious
opportunity he found missing but his father getting
early information, two consabes, who overlook him at
Dumfres, ard brought him home. He now became much
retired, joined the Methodist Society, became preacher of
promise, had misunderstanding, left them and the District
for parts unkr After the expiration of few months
however his whereabouts by series of letters
to that church from Priest Richards Of Montrea and said
to be any thing but cngeniai The next account we re.
member Of him in Maria Monks book where she makes
honorable mention of Father Richards as manfesnc
true spirit # Christian fobearance and sympathy on some
occasion in And this hut conrma,ory of that
innate benevdence of heart that carried him TO the
to comfort the dying and the wretched at the peril and ex
pense of his own life. G.