Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-07-13

Mr. Bentons eagerly expected work is un.
der press in New York and will shortly make
lite appearance. We predict that il will have
agreaier run than any American book pub
lishedin tbs last quarter of century. We
do not mean TO say that its merits will suipass
all others-on the contrary we expect II 10 be
full faults. in its facts, opinions, temper and
style; but the topics will be of the most at.
tractive character, and Mr.. Benton, as a nara
tor of events. possesses unusual power and
felicity The New York Post has been per-
miled 10 make an extract from its pages, re-
iatye to an event OF which Mr. Benton was an
eye witness, and which at the time of It's occur
renee excited llyelier interest and concern
through The country, than any similar incident
since the fatal meeting between Burr and Ham.
illon. We transfer 10 our columns a portion
OF the Posts extract Il relates 10 The cee-
braled duel between Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Ran.
dolphin which the latter was challenged by
the former. for an attack he (Mr. r had made
upon him (Mr. ca in speech in the Senate,
in which it was reported, Mr.. Il. had used the
following words -
THAT a letter from Gen Salazar. the Mex
,can Minister at Washington, submitted by the
Executive to the Senate, bore the ear-fnark Of
having been manufactured or forged by the
Secretary OF State,and denounced the admins
tration as a coli upt coalition between tho Puri
tan and backlog; and. added at the same time,
that he Mr.. Randolph, J held himself personally
responsible fol all that he had said
According to Mr.. Tainall, Mr.. r IS second,
what he said was this:-
"Mr. Randolph informs me that The words
used by him in debate were as follows
That thought il would be in my power to
show evidence sufficiently presumptive 10 salts
fly Charlotte County, jury that this invitation
was MANUFACTURED here-that Salazar's letter
struck me as bearing strong likeness IN point
of style to the other papers. | did not under
take To prove this. but expressed my suspicion
that the fact was SC. applied TO the Admin
IstraiIon the eplthet diplomatic. black.
legged Administration Mr.. Randolph, in
giving these words as those uttered by him in
debate. is unwilling TO afford any explanation
as to their meaning and application"
The cl olepge was then persisted in, and the
iLcidenls occurred as detailed in Mr.. Bcnton's
account:
All hope ef aceo nmodnIion having vanish
ed, the seconds proceeded to prepare for The
duel. The afternoon OF Saturday, the Sth OF
April, was fixed upon as the tine the right
bank Of the Potomac, within the State oil Vir.
ginia, above the Little Falls bridge, was the
place, pistols the weapons, distance ten PAGES;
each patty 10 be attended by two seconds and
surgeon, and myself at libery 10 attend as a
mutual friend. There was 10 be no practising
with pistols and was none and the words
zone" 1.-TWO" "three" "stop" after word fire
were by agreement between the seconds, and
for the humane purpose of reducing the result
as near as possible 10 chance, to be given out
III quick succession. The Virginia side of The
Potomac was taken at the instance Of Mr.
Randolph. He went out as a Virginia Senator
refusing TO compromise that character, and, i
he fell in defence Of It's rights, Virginia sol
was 10 him the chosen ground TO receive hit
blood. There was statute of the State a
gainst duelling within her limits; but as he
merely went out TO receive fire without re-
turning it, he deemed that no fighting and con
scquently no breach of her statute. This rea
son for choosing Virginia could only be explain
ed to me; as | alone was the depository of his
secret. The weeks delay which the seconds
had contrived was about expiring. 1t was
Friday evening, or rather night, when | wen
10 see Mr.. Clay for the last thine before The du
ell There had been some alienation between
us since the time of the Presidential election
IN the House of Representatives, and wished
TO give evidence that there was nothing per
sonal in it. The family were in the parlor-
company present--and some of il stayed late
The youngest child, believe James, went t,
sleep on the SOFIA circumstance which avail
ed me for purpose the next day.-Mrs Cla,
was, as always since the death of her daugh
tiers, the picture Of desolation, but calm, con
versatile, and without the slightest apparent
consciousness of the pending event. Wher
all were gone, and she also had left the parlol
did what | came for and said to Mr.. Clay
that notwithstanding our late political differ
ence, my personal feelings towards him
were OF the same as formerly. and that, ii
Whatever concerned his life or honor, my best
wishes were with him. He expressed his graf
Ihcanon at the visit and the declaration, and
said II was what he would have expected o.
.Yao, a