The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-19


HON GULIANC c. vsRPLANCS g RsMINIsoENCEs OF JOHN
RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE.
special meeting Of the above Society was held last
evening the Lecture Room, Second avenue, Of
Eleventh street, which attended by the leading
bers Of the Society and of the members OF The
bar Amongst those present observe Mayor Temann,
Judge Dsvies, Judge Roosevelt, Augustus schei &c.
The minutes OF the last meeting having been confirmed,
the President (on Lu,her Braaisu) congratulated the
society the presence that occasion Of Of the
Oldest and distDg members Of the society
who always them their regular monthly
meetings, and to whom he gave cordial welcome. He
then announced thai be had received Q Communication
from Washington Irving presenting to the society a
portrait OF John Randolph copy Of the celebrated por
trait painted by John Wesley Davis
The sEcErAY read the letter and exhibited the portrait
10 tie meeting.
The then announced that Mr. verpank would
read the paper OF the evening-"RemaHcences Of John
Of me age
Mr.. VERPIANK Who was most warmly received COM
melced by stating hat he did not gnow whether he
oueb, 10 apologize TO the society or complain OF 1t for the
in which ne was brought before sm. They has
called together large body Of the society to hesr hin
read the Remin scences Of JOHN Randolph Of Roanoke
He bad ntay mentioned In conversation some
doIes Of John Randolph ana he persuaded by
friends preserve these recoecops, without however
any idea ~ 10 any definite curse Thsckersy in his
"vTgpians" bought u his mind tote told him
by Randolph which similar to the ooe he would men
ton in course OF his remarks. Some keplle
belonging TO ths 'Century Club" who also
belonged to that institution. requested bin 70
read his paper Randolph" before the society which
be a. first declined be considered unfit in its general
texture for such audience Learning no that
society by bis old and valued, friend, M Washington
Irving whom honor 10 any 70 be able call
his rendthe portrait Of man full Of invectve 10 the
world generally anu full OF SPIRIT but who hal always
treated him with kindness, perhaps because be had
always contrsocted him-nduced MIN TO waive his
objection ana to read the paper, which he nigh,
"A
fictitious conversagsn-into which he had nterwoven,
however, the opinions snd actual speeches Of Ran
oolpb, expressed TO hm aud msde In bis heariug-
so tbat il Vas not all fiction. 1t was somstlng
between Bosvortb biography and dramatic historical
would be deemed toofancful du 10 be inter
esng IN drawing up hs paper he had CHOSEN TO put u
bic ~bo veil known in Wall street aud always
addressed there ONT President" but who, before
society, he would cali 'Mr secretary" The title OF bis
paper was, "Ihackery and his Virgnians-John Klo-
oolpn the tory and the republican tory of 1176" Nc
Secretary met hm one evening the reading Of the
Century Club ana inquired Of him n ne had
last "EaIpers monthly The chapter OF rhackersys
"vEgnans." He replied that he mad not, aud taen
h eye the novel, and then struck bis mind hether
Ibsckery had or had not brought in character and in
cdsais which he might have heard Of during his visit to
10 virginia. II was an aaecdo.e which nc hal beard
related by John Randolph Of great uncle " h 10
scotohmsn, aad had afterwards become a virgiuian
planter. Mr. Secretary said. Was John Randolph o.
Yrpiart, IL am to tell you about him, you have
Il in the same rambling style IN which Randolph gave it,"
Alt.ougn Mr.. hAnoOipu rAuoltu. tnnfc connect
and c9nerency in his rambling In Bsn,on's report OF
HE speeches Ran ioph appeared much me,bodcs
han be really was, be repo'e1 T. a c1ooeased
form and thore'ofe lost much OF h brittany. In as
common conversation lie appeared vv, nuet fs D. id
in his public speeches. He was font Of quoting the
beet latin authors giving them new fogcs by
the oiignsli,y Of their Application. His quotations
had poihng pedah.ic about them. He bai
habit OF practising his sharp tsyings in private
conversation apparently fer the purpose studying their
effect before usiog them public speeches Randolph
quoted largely from shakes and other Engsh authors
and he had great liking for Knoxs Elegant Extracts
a book which nearly out Of date. Milton ho rec tsd
admirably hut he fcuno the brilliant coupets OF Dry den
~ his purpose IN sa,raca and debate and
used them freely He seldom spoke Of Sir Walter Scott
whose Writings, boTeyer male deep impression uron
Dm. Byron he prased ia private frequently and in sa
be quoted 0vid's MetImo-pheses" frequently We eas
icularly fond Of latin law books ana sometimes
referred 20 Blacks he cca.i)pay alluded to mol
lets works, snd although be evidently good deal u
rreoch literature, be seldom quoted French authors Win
the exception of Moere. lie was very accurately In
fOruee 10 English art Amercah history and Frequently
Congress he displayed he knowledge Of historical da,es
After giving inauic description Of Rsaiolphs chArac
ter ard varied accomplish mems the honorable geneD
referred b grand uncle. Who young Sootchmsn
Who snsssed torture n Virginia and married lady n
large properly IN this couniry-"G ~ all good loosng
Gcotohmer fiur lie commented upon his gfea ioci atty
and action during the Revolution ,and his remark that
The honorable gentleman, at the conclusion OF his al
Bancroft, the thanks Of the society unanimously
an. rfsa