The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1875-12-25
John Randolph Anecdotes.

John Randolph Anecdotes.
He made us well acquainted with his
favoritc slave, Juba, whom he daily
cited for some good quality or other.
He has not half the talents OF my man
Juba, sir" was frequent expression
when discussion the merits OF d politi-
clan whom he disliked.
HIS knowledge OF the most important
lighthouses, points Of land, latitude and
longitude OF places, was very great, and
astonished even our captain, with whom
he made several amusing bets on the
subject, which, by the way, he always
won. Two or three days before he made
the land, we were sitting on deck, whilst
the captain was taking an observation
at noon. Pray" said Randolph, "what
is our latitude and longitude now?" The
captain told him. ''How do we head by
the compassS" This was also told him.
Now, captain, continued he, "can you
tell me off the book, what land we shall
M irst make, i we .g,y continue i, on our pres
tain, ''if you show me the chart, I'll tell
you in minute" ooh, mol" exclaim-
ed Randolph. tyou must go by head
work. say we shall hit Sligo Head,
and III back my opinion by q pipe OF
with him Il won't bet any more" re.
piled the captain, "but shall prove you
to be wrong by the chart, for ! say We
shall make Null OF Cantire. Z" The chart
was produced-the compass used, the
line drawn, and-"by George, you're
always right" shouted the captain, as
the line touched Sligo Head-"1'll never
contradict any assertion OF yours again.
Mr. Randolph, upon any point"
On the 5th Of April we made the land
n N ~ NO hn Ind hal
varied after Randolph's prediction
about Sligo Head, we first saw the noun
tains Of Donegal, which are further
north. After we had gone some hun
dred and fifty miles along the coast,
which Is very barren to the eye, Ran
dolph said to me: "Well, sir, I now be-
lieve the story by Arthur Young, Of q
farmer who took his son out walking u
few miles distant from his home in the
boy stopped and asked, Father what Is
that? never having seen one before!
Here we have been sailing by Ireland
for whole day, and have not laid my
eyes yet on single tree!'
] assisted Mr.. Randolph In asserting
his papers, books, etc, q day or two be-
fore we reached Liverpool, and he in
sisted upon presenting me with several
Of them, but at length he became so
l.
receive any more. / happened to men,
top that had forgotten in the hurry Of
departure. TO procure Waite's State
Papers, which had recently been pub
lished by order OF Congress, for my
father, who was fond OF all such Amerf-
can publications.. ''He, sir" said H.,
''he shall have my copy" =
by no MEANS" said /, "you have al
ready been too liberal, and ! positively
In,
you. pray, sir, rejoined he, in u half
comic, half serious way, "do you hold a
power OF attorney from your father, to
take or reject all presents made to him?
II you do, produce it, let us see the seal;
il not, the question admits OF no argu-
ment. 1 do not give y01 the books, as
you do not deserve them; they are your
fathers sir, and II you refuse to take
them, / shall find another carrierl" 1
had previously told him that my grand
father had been very kind to those
Americans who visited Cork during the
revolutionary war, for which he had re-
ceived the thanks Of Congress, through
Gen. Washington, who had also sent
him his miniature likeness In a gold
ring, which the family felt very proud Of.
After the conversation about the books
he sat down and wrote the following
letter on his knee, addressed to my
father:
AMITY, AT SEA, April 4, 1882. I
Lat. 81 80, long. 13, 4.
Sr-Having had the pleasure OF an
to your son by Mr.. -,
OF New York, on the morning Of our
for Liverpool, 1 have taken
the liberty to order my bookseller at
Washington to send to your address a
copy Of Waite's State Pa apers, printed
by order OF Congress.
am not too young to remember
the capture OF Burgoyne; aud most OF
the subsequent events OF our struggle
for independence are also indelibly I'M s
pressed upon my memory. AS the coun-
tryman Of Washington, lfor too am a
Virginian) / offer these records OF the
Of which he was the foun-
der, to the son OF that man who received,
through him, the thanks OF Congress
for his humanity and kindness to poor
Americans, during those times.
''The enclosed coat OF arms, IL pasted
in the first volume, will be evidence un-
Of your title. -. -,
II am, sir, your fathers Obliged TEL
low w-creature, and your humble servant,
JOHN RANDOLPH, OF Roanoke,
Charlotte county, Va.
NAV here add that the said books
were forwarded from Washington to
New York, and unfortunately put on
board the packet ship Liverpool, which
was lost in the ice on her first voyage
and everything went down but the pas
sengers and crew, who were saved IN
the long boat; my father therefore
only receiving the preceding letter,
much to his disappointment.-W - Wqtdte,S