Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-02

that the challenge perempory and that the answer
would be prompt and unconditional He left me to find
COL Tattna of Georgia. and get him to carry back his
answer immediately; but before parted he desired
to make my bosom the depository of declaration which
he said be should commit to other person 1t
that he did not mean to FIRE at Mr. Clay. The duel did
take place for week The seconds took it them
selves put it off for that length Of time, not for the
purpose Of preparing the parties but from generous de-
sire prevent bloodshed and to afford time for
tual friends to effect honorable accommodation Ny
self and others labored at this work most assdu.
ously but without results The gentlemen remained in
flexible Mr. Randolph in refusing to explain out of the
Senate any thing that he had said in it, ard Mr. Clay in
demanding PREPARATION Of kind for what he conceived
to be personal injury done him in that body
On the day Of the duel Saturday, the sth spent seve
raj hours with your brother and he renewed to me at
ing the declaration of his intention not FIRE at Mr. Clay
There circumstances connected with this decara-
ton at this time which made indehbe impression up
my feelings and memory but they do not come within
the scope Of this letter to DETAIL though fatter mysef
it viii be agreeable to you to have them at some future
time when avail myself Of your kind invitation to
pass night at your house.
The meeting was take place the right bank Of the
Potomac near the Little Falls bridge and within the edge
a the Virginia line. which there approaches near to the
river. Mr. Randolph had chosen it himself He wished,
he fell fall upon the soil Of Virginia; and, as he did
not to fire at Mr. Clay he felt it to be no nfaetion
Of against dueng to 60 within her limits for
the purpose Of receiving the FIRE Of his adversary
His words break no law Of Virginia re-
her accept challenge within her limits nor do Eight
duel within them The seconds both sides had agreed
that might be hand when the meeting took place. for
the purpose Of nteposng my mediation at the first prac
ticabe moment Awaiting myself of this permission,
followed behind Little Falls
bridge just after them, and to the place where the
servants and carriages had stopped saw Of the
gentlemen and supposed they had all gone to the place
where the ground marking out but speaking to
servant, Mr.. Randolph, who still m his carriage
and heard my voice. looked from the window and said
to "Colonel, since saw you and since have been
in this carriage have heard something which may make
me change my determination Col. Hamilton will give
you note which win explain it." COL Hamilton was
then in the carriage and gave the in the
of the evening Of which he spoke readily compre-
hended that this possible change Of determination related
his firing but the emphasis with which be pronounced
the word "may" clearly showed that his mind unde
cided, and left it doubtful with me whether he would fire
or not.
No further conversation took place between u.s. the pre-
partitions for the duel finished and went forward
TO piece Of rising ground from which could it and
hear what said. saw the pistol put into Mr.. Ran
dophs hand and while he adjusting the butt to his
grasp, the muzzle pointing downwards it went off, and
the ball entered the ground within less than yard Of
feet The pistol hair and the butt Of
saw-hande form The instant it fred Mr. Randolph turn
ed his second Col Tattne and told him that he had
tested against the hairgger Col Tattna Immediately
confirmed this appeal and took blame hmsefo having
sprung the hair Mr. Clay had received his pistol at this
time and Mr. johnson, whs carrying it to him. was
stir several steps from him. This untimely fire. though
clearly accident necessarily gave rise to
sation and to species Of inquiry which conducted
with the utmost delicacy, but which, in ITSELF Of
nature to be nexpressiby painful to gentlemans feel
ings The FIRE quickly and unanimously admitted to
be accident Another pistol was Immediately urnish
ed and exchange Of shots ensued very nearly toge
Their and happily without effect seized the moment
60 in amsng the parties and to offer my mediation but
nothing could be DONE and the seconds were directed to
reload the pistols While this doing prevailed on
Mr. Randolph to walk away from his post ard renewed to
him pressingy than my opportunities agree
to accommodation; but found him more determn
ed than had him, and for the FIRST time i'm.
patient at what was saying The accidental FIRE Of his
pistol preyed upon his feelings He doubly chagrn-
ed at it, both circumstance susceptible in itself Of on
unfair Interpretation and having been the immediate
and decisive Of his firing ct Mr. Clay He regret
ted this FIRE the instant it He felt that it had
SUBJECTED him TO TWO lmputa0ns from each OF which he
knew himself to be ree-a desire to kill Mr. Clay aud
contempt for the laws Of his Stae-Gnd the vexaon
which he felt at finding himself circumstanced revived
his FIRST determination and gave his mind decided bent
to execute his original purpose and receive FIRE without
returning it.
TWAS in this interval that he told what he had heard
since had parted and to which he had alluded when
he spoke to from the carriage 1t to this effect
that he had been informed COL Tattna that it pro-
posed to give out the preparatory and cautonary words
In such way to protrac the time for taking aim. This
information grated harshy apon his feelings 1t
he told me, and found it expressed in the note
which he had Immediately written in pencil to apprse
Of D whether under these circumstances he might not
'sGisaJl his adversary! This question was still upon
his mind and dependant for its solution upon the rising
incidents Of the moment when the accidental fire Of his
pistol gave the to his feelings which solved the doubt
But be declared to that he had not aimed at the life
Of Mr. Cay that be did not level high as the knee,
higher than the place for the knee band that his only
object was to shake him and spoil his aim and that he
would not have him fall MORALLY doubtfuy
wounded for oil the land that wstered by the King Of
Floods and all of his tributary streams. lie left to
his post utterly refusing to explain Of the Sc
nate any thing that he had said in it, and with the posi-
tive declaration that he would the next fire.
then Withdrew little way into the woods and kept my
eyes upon your brother, who knew be the emily
person in danger him receive the FIRE Of his adj
versary then level his own pistol and discharge IL into