Washington telegraph., 1853-08-17

siiW none OF ;he gentlemen, and supposed
they had all gone TO the spot where the
ground was being marked of; but on speak
ing to Johnny, Mr.. Randolph, who was still
IN the carriage, heard my voice, looked out
OF the window and said to me /:
/ Col, since ! saw you, aud since I have
been IN this carriage, have heard some
( ihing "h'ch mcy make me change my de-
termination. Col Hamilton will give Won
note which viii explain It." Col. II.
/ was then IN the carriage, and gave me the
nete III the course OF The evening. OF which
Mr.. Randolph spoke [ readily comrre-
hended that this possible chauae Of deter
mination related 10 bis firing: but the en-.
phasis with which he pronounced the word
may, clearly showed that his mind was
undecided, and left it doubtful whether he
would fire or not. Ne further conversation
took place between MS: the preparations for
the duel were finished; the parties went in
their places: and went forward to piece
Of rising ground, from which | could see
what passed and hear what was said.--
The faithful Johnny followed me close
speaking not a word but cyincinc the great
est anxiety for his beloved master. The
place was a thick forest, and the immediate
spot little depression, or basin, in which
the parties stood. The principals saluted
each other courtcously rs they took their
stands Col Taftnal had won the choice
of position. which gave to Gen. .Jesstlp the
delivery Of the word They stood on a line
east and west--a small stump iust behind
Mr. Clay low gravellv bank rose inst
behind Mr.. Randolph. This latter asked
Gen. -jessup to repeat the word rs he would
give it; ana while in the aci Of doing SO.
and Mr.. Randolph adjusting the butt Of the
pistol TO his hand, the muzzle POINTING
downward, and almost to the ground it fred.
Instantly 1ir. Randolph turned to Col. Tat
nall, and said i protested against that
hair trigger" Col Tattral took blame to
himself for having sprung the hair. Mr..
Clay had not then received his pistol Mr.
johnson, fJosiah) one Of his seconds, carrv-
ing it to him, and still several steps from
him. This mtimely fire, though clearly an
accident, necessarily gave rise to some re-
marks and a species of inquiry which was
conducted with the utmost leicacy. but
which, in itself, was Of nature to he IN
expressibly painful to gertleman's feel
incs
Mr.. Clay stopped it with :he generous
remark that the fire was clearly an accident
and it was so unanimously declared An
other pistol was Immediately furnished; an
exchange Of shots took place, and happily.
without effect uron the persons Mr. Ram
dolph's bullet strucl, the stumr behind Nr.
Clay, and Mr. Claws knocked ND the earth
and gravel behind Mr. Randolph. and in Il
line with the level of his hips: both bullets
having gone so true and close that It was "a
marvel how they missed The moment
had come for ne to interpose. went in
among the parties and offered my media
ton. hut nothing could be dorc. AIr. Clay
said, with that wave of the hand with which
he was accustomed to put away trila.-
THAT Is childs play - and required anoth-
er FIRE Mr.. Randolph also demanded an
other fire The seconds were directed to
reload. While this was doing, | prevailed
on Mr. Randolph to walk away from his
post, and renewed TO him, more pressiugly
han ever, my opportunities TO Weld to
some accommodation: but found him more
determined than had ever seen him; and
for the first time impatient, and seemingly
annoyed and dissatis fed at what | WIS do
ING. lie was indeed annoyed aud dissat-
isfed. The accidental fire of his pistol
preycd upon bis feelings lie was doublv
chaerincd at IT, both as a circumstance sus-
ceptib!c in itself Of an unfair Interpretation
and as having been the immediate and con-
trolling cause of his firing at Mr. Clay
He regretted this fire the instant !! was over.
Tie felt that it had subjected him TO iulpu-
tations from which he knew himself to bc
free desire to kin Mr.. Clay. and con-
tempt for the laws Of his beloved State. and
TIE annovances which he felt at these vexa-
tious circumstances revived his original de-
termination, and decided him irrevocabl7 to
carry ii ont.
It was in this interval That he told me
what he had heard since VIC parted, and 20
which he aliuded when he spoke TO me
from the window of the carriage It was
to this effect That he had been informed
by Col Tattnall that it was proposed to
give the words with more deliberatencss,
50 as to proloug the time for taking aim.
This information grated harshly upon his
feelings It unsettled his purpose, and
brought his mind to the inquiry (as he now
told me, and as | found it expressed in
the note, which he had Immediately writ.
ten in pencil to-apprise me of his possible
change) whether, under these circumstances,
he might not disable" his adversary =
This note is so characteristic, and such an
essential part of this affair, that | here
give its very words, so far as relates to this
very point. 1t ran thus:
"Information received from Col Tattnall
since got into the carriage may induce me
to change my mind of not returning Mr.
Clay's fire. | seek not his death would
not have his blood upon my hands-it will
not be upon my soul if she'd in selfde-
fence-for the world. He has determin-
ed, by the use Of a long preparatory eau