Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-12-24
21flistellaneous Reaomg
.JOHN RANDOLPH.


wav, and the passengers somewhat acqualnt,
ed with each other, they sought, by various
amusemepts, to relieve the tedium Of their
voyaqe. Whist was favorite game on
board and here Mr. Randolph soon proved
his superiority as player. 1tbecame con-
test each night who should have him as
partner, and finally they took turns.
observed, one morning, says Mr.. Jacob
Harvey, of New York, to whom we are In
debted for the incidents Of this voyage, that
Mr.. Randolph was examining very large
box of books, containing enough to keep
him busy reading during voyage round
the world. I asked him why he had brought
so many with him? Il want to have them
bound in England, SIR replied he. Bound
in England exclaimed I, laughing, 'why
did YOU not send them to New York or Bos-
ton, where you can get them done cheaper:
What, SIR replied he sharply, 'patronlze
some of our Yankee taskmasters; those pat
riotic gentry, who have caused such heavy
duty to be imposed upon foreign books =
Never, sir, never; | will neither wear what
they make, nor eat what they raise, so long
as my tobacco crop will enable me to get
supplies from old England; and shall en-
plov John Bull to bind my books, until the
time arrives when they can be properly done
.S,uth If .N,soa and Diron'$! He was kind
enough to offer me the use of them, saying !:
Take nv advice and don't read any of the
novels; and when you get home, sir, tell
your father that recommended abstinence
from novel reading.aud rhiAy Puach. De-
pend upon it, sir, they are both equally IN
furious to the Jroin!
His favorite author was Milton, and ne
frequently gave us readings from PARADISE
Lost stopping occasionally to point out the
beauties Of the poem. Young, Thompson,
Johnson and Sou,hey, did not please his
taste; they were, he said, too artificial. -
But his classification Of modern poems was
very original
sSir. place first on this list, Tom Cribs
Memorial to Congress, for its great wit and
satire; next the Two Penny Post Boy, for
similar excellencies aud the third, Chiide
Harolds Pilgrimage, for every variety OF
sentiment, well expressed. But, sir, Ono
offence to Ireland, l can't 90 Moore's songs ;
they arc too sentimental by half; all ideal
and above nature.
Turning over his books one day, was
surprised to fuda copy Of Fanny Mr.. Hal
leck's very clever satirical poem, which had
been recently published i am glad, said
l, that you do not prescribe l"nh'" poetry
as we'll as KnnAcc Goldfish.
% 10, sir replied he, [ always admire
talent. no matter where it comes from; AMI
consider this little work as the best Specl-
men of American poetry that we have yet
seen. I am proud Of it, sir; and mean to
take it to London with me, and to present 1t
to that lady whose talents and conversation
shall most admire
may mention here, although somewhat
out of place, when We met in London IN
June following, suddenly recollected the
circumstances, aud said to him: BY the way,
Mr.. Randolph, to whom did you present
'Fanuy?'
TO your countrywoman, Miss Edgeworth,
sir she has no competitor in my estimation
She fairly won the book, sir
lie proposed, one fine morning, to read
Fanny to me aloud, and on deck where we
were enjoying fine breeze aud MONDAY
SUM- 1t was the most amusing reading |
ever listened to. The mites were much
longer than the poem; for whenever he came
to we'll known name up went his spccta-
cles and down went the book, and he branch
ed off into some anecdote Of the person or
of his family. Thus we progressed slowly
from page to page, and it actually consumed
three mornings before we reached
'.And music ceases when it rains
In Scudder'S balcony"
was one morning looking over his books
for my own amusement, and observed that
several of tie prettiest editions were marked
This for Miss -
sIIow is this = said | some fair lady
seems to have enchained you
sAh, replied he, if you only knew her,
the sweetest girl in the Ancient Dominion,
and particular favorite of mine, sir; | shall
have ali these books beautifully bound in
London, sir, fit to grace her ceutre-table on
my own return