Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-05-31

vIRGINIAN JOB OFFICE.

the servant 10 take them back to his masiar.
and to present to him his respects, and thanks
of his kind intentions, but to say that he had for
long ceased to make any use of arrack, and that
Miss Nelson had no cons ervatory in which sho
could protect the orange tree. ! was amused
at another scene. which witnessed between
him and the late Justice Washington of tho
Supreme Court, then practising law in the
city Of Richmond. He called on the Chanccl.
lor with bill Of injunction in behalf Of Gene
raj -, to restrain the collection OF debt.
The ground Of tho application was. that the
creditor had agreed to await the convenience
OF General -. for the pay Of the debt,
and that it was not then convenient TO pay it,
The Chancelloe a,tentively read the bill
through, and deliberately E,ldingi up. returned
u !" Mr. Washington, enquirlng, with an incf-
fable smile upon his iscountenancc, do you think
sir, that ought to grant this injunctionl''' Mr..
Washington blushed, and observed that he had
presented the bill at the earnest instance or his
client
Mr.. Wythes relations to the Judge. OF the
Court of Appeals, were not Of the most friend
ly or amicable kind. as may be inferred from
the tenor Of his reports. Conscientiously and
thoroughly convinced Of the justice and equity
OF his DEGREES. he was impatient when any Of
them were reversed. and accordingly evinccs
that feeling in his reports. Mr.. Pendleton.
from what have heard and the little knew Of
HIM, suppose was more prompt and ready,
and possessed greater powers Of elocution than
his great rival Mr.. Wythe's forte, as aave
understood, lay in the opening Of tho argument
of case; in which. for thorough preparation.
clearncss and force, no one could excel him
He was not so fortunate in reply Mr.. Pendlc-
fnp n,t tha f,vtr al. Il, lxsL
in opening and concluding an argument. and
was prompt to meet all the exigcncies which
would arise in the conduct Of a cause in court.
The consequence was, that Mr.. Pcndlcton was
. ofener successful than Mr. Wythc in their
, struggles at the bar On one occasion, when
Mr.. Wythe. being opposed to Mr.. Pendleton.
, lost the cause, in moment Of vexation, he de-
clared. in the presence of friend. that he would
quit the bar. go home. take orders, and enter
the pulpit. You had better not do that, rep-
ed his friend, for If you do, Mr.. Pendlcton will
60 home, take orders, and enter the pulpit too.
and beat you there. Mr. Pendleton was far
less learned than Mr.. Wythe, but he possessed
more versatile talents, nm accomplished
gentleman, and better adapted TO success in
general society and in the busy world. AL
though not so finished scholar as Mr.. Wythe.
he had much more pleasing style Of compost
ton. The high consideration in which Mossrs
Pcndeton and Wythe were both held, was Of
ten evinced by the distinguished honors and
eminent offices which they received from their
parent State. 1t was particularly exhibited in
the organization of the Cony ention which a.
dopted the Constitution Of the United States.
when Mr.. Pendlcon was appointed TO preside
the body and Mr.. Wythe to preside over
the Committee of the Whole, which he did
during, believe. the entire sitting ofthe Con.
vention-the Constitution having been consid.
cred and discussed in Committee of the Whole
Mr.Wythe' 'sPersonal appearance and his per.
sonal habits were plain, simple, and uno 'cnta
tious. His countennncc was full Of blandness and
benovolence, and think he made, in his salu-
tation of others, the most graceful bow that
ever witnessed. A little bent by age, he gem
orally wore grey coating, and when walking
csrrled cane. Even at this moment, after
the lapse of more than half a century since I
last saw him. his image is distinctly en-.
graved on my mind. During my whole acquain-
tance with him, he constantly aostaincd from
; the u.e Of all animal food
II is painful and melancholy to reflect, that
a man so pure, SO upright, SO virtuous, so
! distinguished and beloved should have met with
an unnatural death. The event did not
from Richmond to the State ofKcntucky, and
of course am not able, from personal knowl-
edge. to lrelate any Of the circumstances which
attended it, OF these, however, | obtained
such authentic information us to leave no doubt
in my mind as to the manner Of its occurrence.
He had grand nephew. youth scarcely,
believe, OF mature age, 10 whom, by his last
will and testament, written by me upon his
dic'aon before any departure from Richmond
after cmancpating his slaves, he devised. the
greater part Of his estate. That youth poison
ed him and others-black members Of his
,household-by putting arsenic into pot in
which coffee was preparing for breakfast. Tho
paper which had contained the arsenic, was
found on the floor Of the kitchen. The coffcc
having been drank by the Chancellor and his
servants. the poison developed its usual {.
fecis. The Chancellor lived long enough to
send for his neighbor, Major William Duval,
and got him to write another will for him, dis
n,heliting the ungrateful and guilty grand nePc
hew and making other dispositions Of his cs-
tate An old negro woman his cook, also
died under the operation Of the poison, but
believe that his other servants recovered. AZ
ter the Chsncellor's death, it was discovered
that the atrocious author Of it had also for
ged bank checks in the name Of his great uncle
and he was subsequently, understood, pros
ecu'ed for the forgery, convicted and sen,en-
ced to the penifeniiary but whether that was
the fact not, can be ascertained by resort
to the records Of the proper criminal Courts in
Richmond.
is have written this hasty sketch; not as a
memoir OF the illustrious man of whom it treats,
but for the purpose of contributing some ma
terials. which may be wrought by more com.
petrnt hands, into a biography more worthy
Of his great name and memory | conclude it
by an acknowledgement. demanded Of mo
alike by justice and feelings Of gratitude. that
to no man was more indebted, by his in
structions, his advice, aud his example. for the
little intellectual! improvement which | made.
up to the period, when. in my 2lst year, f.
nally left the city Of Richmond. .aa't
am with great respect, a
Your friend and obedient servant.
ege9 aafnH5s HENRY. CLAY,
Mr.. B. B. MINOR.