The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1860-04-21

With countenance full of sorrow, j ohm
stood close to the bedside of his dying mas
ter The four witnesses, viz, Edmund
Badger, DIR. Francis West, my son DIR.
Isaac Parrish, and myself, were placed in
semi-circle, in full view. 1t was evidently
an awfully interesting moment to the pa
tent. He rallied all the expiring energies
OF his mind and body to this last effort.
His whole soul seemed concentrated in the
act; his eyes flashed feeling and intelli-
gence. Pointing towards us with his long
index finger, he thus addressed us:
81 confirm all the directions in my will
respecting my slaves, and direct them to
be inforced, particularly in regard to a pro-
vision for their support"
And then raising his arm as high as he
could, he brought it down with his open
hand upon the shoulder of his favorite,
John, adding these words:
Especially for this man.
He then asked each of us whether we
understood him.
SAT the close of this exhausting effort, l
remarked to my fellow witnesses that my
patient, short time before, informed me
in private, that according to the laws of
Virginia, will might manumit slaves,
yet, in order for their subsequent support,
it was necessary that declaration should
be made in the presence of one or more
witnesses, who, after receiving it from the
party, should remain and never lose sight
of him until he was dead. l then appeal
ed to the dying man to know whether l
had stated it correctly. He replied, Eyes"
and gracefully waving his hand as token
of dismission, he said:
"The young gentlemen will remain with
me-"
/ took leave with an assurance that /
would return as speedily as possible, and
remain with him. After an absence of
perhaps an hour or more, and about fifty
minutes before his decease, returned to
his sick room, but now the scene was
changed. His keen, penetrating eye had
lost its expression; his powerful mind had
succumbed, and he appeared totally inca
pable of giving any correct directions re-
la.ing to his worldly concerns. To record
what now took place may not be required,
further than to say that almost to the last
moment, some of his eccentricities could be
seen lingering about him. He had enter.
ed within the dark valley of the shadow Of
death, and what was now passing in his
chamber was like the distant sound Of
words which fall with confusion on the ear
The further this master spirit receded from
human view the less distinct became the
sounds, until they were finally lost in the
deep recesses of the Valley, and all that
was mortal of Randolph of Roanoke was
hushed in death.
In conclusion, perhaps, it may be proper
for me clearly and distinctly to state, that
at the time he made the declaration in my
presence. relating to his will, he was capa-
BILE of discriminating correctly between
thing and thing, and he also possessed a
tenacity of memory. Hence, give it as
my decided belief that he was of sound dis
posing mind and memory. Early in the
afternoon of the day on which he died, il
was concluded by the four witnesses to
commit to writing the declarations which
he had made, according to their understand
ing of them. This did, in room CONT
guous to the one wherein he died, and
where his corpse was then lying, and the
original paper is now in my possession.
The paper hereunto annexed, marked and
signed with my name, is true copy Of
the same. JOS. PARRISH.