The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-11-09
For the vIRaINIAN.l
A Brief Biography of John Randolph
BY HIS IRISH FRIEND JACOB HARVEY.
MR.. RANDOLPH IN LONDON.

NIX. RANDOLPH IN LONDON.
A short time before | LETT London, we dned
together at the Marquis of Is where We
met party of the most agreeable people
Among them learned professor of Cambridge
University, and that venerable Irish patriot
the late Sir John Newport. | mention those
two in particular, as the professor was quite
astounded at Mr.. Randolphs intimate knowl-
edge Of every thing in England, whether lit
erary, political, or local whilst good Sir John
regarded with an incredulous smile, Ran
dolph's assertion that he had never been in
Ireland.
well, my dear sir" said he, II wish to
Heaven you would inoculate some of our
Irish absentees with your admiration of poor
Ireland, and induce them to obtain. by OBJ
scyyaiI0i, one quarter the information which
YOU have learned from men and books. |
frankly confess to you that | do not believe
there is one OF them in London whom you
could not easily puzzle by few home ques-
tons"
ought TO have mentioned in its proper
pie e that our card of invitation said "a quar-
Ter past seven sand 10 Randolph that this
meant eight O'clock and that we need not be at
the house earlier.
"Sir," replied he, "punctuality to engage
ments was one OF the lessons taught me by
my mother, God bless herr and have always
made it a rule to comply literally with the
terms of an invitation. We must be there at
the time specified, sir ; late enough, in all con-
science tor dinner"
We went accordingly and when we arrived,
just MS The clock struck the quarter, the ser
wants most politely stared at us, said nothing
but looked wonders, and quietly ushered us
into the drawing room, where we found
nobody. The Marquis had not reached home
from tha Hon 80 If I,orlc and the nj her Ul1nsS
more fashionable than ourselves, added the
usual half hours grace to the appointed time.
BY and by the Warehouses, a most. fascinating
woman, and good as she was fascinating made
her appearance. apologizing for her late toilet,
which Mr. Randolph met by an amusing
counter-apology for our republican punctual-
ity saying that We had gained decided adj
vantage over the other gentlemen Ivy thus
monopoizing her company to ourselves. At
eight O'Clock all were assembled and dinner
was announced. Randolph was given the post
OF honor. next to the Warehouses, and at first
thought he would be obliged to offer his SER
vices to carve, duty which he by no means
coveted, but to his ineXpresslble relief the
dishes were one by one removed to a side
table where the servants performed the man
ual labor and afterwards handed round each
dish properly carved to the guests The con-
vcrsation soon became very animated, and
took political turn. Mr.. Randolph was
questioned closely on American affairs and
answered freely and fully. He candidly adj |
mitied what he considered to be the mistakes |
of the trainers OF the Constitution, the greatest |
of which, he said, was the abolition of the
laws of pr5mogeniture. Some of the guests |
thought this rather a strange complaint from |
Il republican, although agreeing with him in |
principle; and before WE separated, they had |
nearly mistaken him for an aristocrat. The |
Cambridge professor was SO much inter-
esed in the conversation he walked home \
with us after the rarity broke up,and remained |
until two in the morning, closely questioning
Randolph about American affairs. Randolph
and myself were as much surprised at hi |
of the United States as he had
been at Randolph's knowledge of England.
met no one in London who seemed to have
taken more pains 10 gain correct information
of everything American, and who had so
much confidence in the success of the great
experiment, a republican government.
We spent several days together visiting the
public buildings of London. and his previous
intimate knowledge of their history and To-
cality rendered him an invaluable guide. He
could not endure The hacknied showmen, who
make it business to wait upon visitors, and
recite, for pay, the well-learned lesson. Take
your tee. sir, and begone, we want not your
services" he would say Indignantly to theas-
tonished guide; who, however, would still
follow US, as If he could not consceniiously
pocket the money without having earned it.
At Westminster Abby just as we entered its
venerable halls, the solemn organ from the
chapel sounded in our ears, and Randolph
said:
"ComP, my friend, let us worship together
for once, and perhaps only once, in this glo-
rious receptacle of the great, the WISE the
mighty of the earth and, whilst we kneel in
prayer to the Almighty Father let us reflect,
rs oar eyes rest ON the sculptnred tombs of
kings and statesmen, that vanity of vanities,
al is vanity saith the preacher"
We accordingly attended prayers, and most
ludbly and solemnly did Randolph repeat the
responses. His figure his voice, his solemnity
Of manner were so striking, the people present
eyed him with no small curiosity and caught X
even the reverend clergyman's gaze more than
,nce fixed upon him ) bat I've noticed them not, 4
80 completely were his feelings enlisted Ia the
simple services at the altar.
After we had examined and criticised all I
he most striking monuments, he said to me
Now, come, and | will show you the most X
IMPOSING of all the mementos, in this great
rational mausoeum not for grandeur of de-
'ign, nor beauty of sculpture. but for the
greatest simplicity. Look down, sir, on these
wo plain slabs, land he pointed to two very
)lain tomb stones