The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-03-16
Last Hours Of Randolph,

~ :" "u' sPillg ol 1895, 1t was very evident IN
hahdoiphs friends that hls days were numbered
indeed he had himself given up nearly all homes
oi recovery, and yet he still talked Of another
,o,"Ge 10 England but when he reached PhiIa,
delphn his strength completely failed him mn i
sent for the late Dr. Parish, a pbysc;,,r +, ,o,,
he had implicit confidence, and who was also Lis
personal friend. '''
The Doctor finding him GROWING U,eator md
weaker, and not wishing to have the ol,.l. zoe,
possibility Of attending him himself SUGGESTED
the propriety OF calling in another physician, To
u"S BIT Randolph objected, saying
IN multitude Of councillors there ia NOT ,L
rays wisdom but soD,'i,SaeS confusion; and. sir
lhe patient may die whilst the doctors are LOOKING
at each other '''"''s
Ia me course Of the morning DR. Parish rc.
Gucsted Randolph To permit him 10 po AWAY for
m h1'r or two, to visit some of his other patients
Randolph objected and turning 10 his faithful
man, John, he said;
do yon not let the DR.. lea7e me. cahiio,
spare him" ''''
Alter a short time he added; John, did YOU I'm.
der,tand ne = '
=, John replied, "oh yes, master have locked
Tue door and put the key in my pocket"
ms prompt attention to his orders branch,
iIr'h a smile of appreciation, especially when Dt
iarINh very goodhummedly and kindly seot.L
h'ihSciat the ted side and made no further elfor,
to get away.
Some time later in the day, Randolph turned
towards the doctor and said
wish You TO remember sir, that confirm MI
ui"' nave dohe IN emancpatng my slaves, fol
whom ! have made provision"
Dr. Parish expressed sincere crarifcstion n,
hearing his declaration, but eypresscJ Wiz r.
call m some other witness, who might afterwo,l.
share wlth HIM the responsibility Of making il pub
he after his docease Randolph then assured him
that lie had already mentioned it ,o Others m,
next day, however in the presence of ano,he,
gentleman he again said
Il confirm all that have done respectipr the
freedom Of my slaves, and making provision E,
mem adding emphatically, "and especially fo,
IN, man laying his hand On the shoulders of hi,
faithful John. ''''
Finding himself growing weaker and believing
ms END to be approaching, he called to John and
desired i'Iln to bring hls fathers lrooch or shirt
pm, ana place II IN The bosom Of his shirt. which
was done, and evidently gave him pleasure. Du.
ring the morning, he said to Dr. Parish:
Il am afraid, SIR, You don't unlcrstand exactly
about nv slaves, =
The Dr. replied, tiatl Ire believed he understood
him fully.
NO sir, said Randolph, "you do not quite com.
prchehd the cause for, according to our Virginia
laws, you must not leave me until | die or nv
declaration may loose its force ms YOU could not
prove that had not subsequently, made coun.
ter declaration
Whilst the dhctor was reading for Randolpb.
the word impetus occurred. DR.. Parish pro.
nounced It impetus, laying the accent on the see.
ond syllable. Randolph, weak and diving AS he
was Immediately interrupted him with
w roIs doctor, impetus if you please"
shortly afterwards, while reading a chapter in
the Bible, he read the word "omniDgtent = aeon.
ting on the third syllable Randol ph exclaimed
wrong again. doctor; "onin;potent" is the
Randolph lay very quiet for some time, and
the'i repeated the word "remorst !" with great
emphasis. Turning to Dr. Parish, he added sol.
EMMY:
Bring me a dictionary, doctor, nm. do not IN.
dcr9tand thc word gou cannot comprehend II.
full meaning"
There was no dictionary in the room, and he
then requested DR.. Parish to write it down on pa
per. No paper being at hand, the doctor asked
linn if he should write the word ON bis CRan.
dophs old cards, which lay On a table, to which
he replied:
Nothing more proper, sir"
When this was done Randolph looked at it, and
after pause desired his man John to draw a line
-----undcr the word. When this was tini,-rd
DR.. Parish not knowing what he meant, or what
Randolph wished to be- done with it, asked him
II he should put the card in his pocket. to which
ne SIMPLY asScutcd, without any further directions
After DIR, Perish had finished reading the bi.
Die to him he said:
u have looked {, the Lord Jesus for marcy