Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-12
.,,vru AND RANDOLPH.

,birks will interest the readers OF 'h'
Disnatcb because OF it's references y
rohn Randolph OF Roanoke Ana 20 II
uu1 but the character and merfted repu-
elton Of Mr.. Gllmer will give 1t addi'
tional interest.
Afr Gnmer was a great favorite OF MT
.Jefferson's and the comparatively carry
termination Of his brilliant career cauSeo
much grief to all Virginia. Ihrough
Mr.. Jenerson's influence he was sent 10
England to obtain the first professors III
tho University OF Virginia, and ala pro-
c,re Professors Bonnycastle, Long Key
and RIaettersman. He -yas appointed the
erst head Of its Law Department, bu'
the boarv and relentless ScythemaH cut
him down. before he could give reputa'
tion 10 that department, which has since
been made so highly distinguished by the
I1abors Of John Tayloe Lomax. John A. u.
paws. Nathaniel p. Howard, Henry St
George Tucker, and John b. Minor
Mr.. Gilmer was the ward OF d.
Everette." as he addressed him. ana az
the date Of the following letter was
pursuing his studies in the District OIL
Columbia
Mr.. jefferson gave him n special letter
Of introduction 10 our Minister, Mr.. Rush'
in which he says: "The best educated
subject we have raised since the ReVoiu-
ton, highly qualified in all the impor-
tant branches Of science, processing par
ticularly that Of the law, which ne mas
practiced some years at our supreme
Court with good success and hattering
prospects. His morals. his amiable tenn
Der. and discretion will do justice TO any
confidence you may be willing 20 place
IN him" Mr. Gimer was the reporter Of
the decisions Of the Supreme Court Of
Appeals Of Virginia, and issued one vol
ume. lie was also the author Of a vol
ume of sketches essays, and translations
published in lS2S.
Here is Mr.. Gilmer's letter:
Georgetown, February Z, 1909.
Ny Dear sir,-I read with much plea
sure yours Of the 1st ultimo. These tes-
timonies Of regard from my friends of
Albemarle must always, when / am abb
sent from them. constitute the purest
source Of my pleasure The answers to
your queries shall claim my first page.
and for the rest, just what comes upper
most. To begin with the morning: No
thing is done before breakfast, at which
/ fancy hear you eXclaim, BE not hasty.
Mr.. V. is of Dutch extract and
preserves their customs rigOrOusly-eats
breakfast by sunrise. So you may con-
graduate me for rising time enough 20
share the repast. After breakfast
comes geOmetry-the sixth book o.
Euclid-which, with algebra, occupies me
until dinner; then arithmetick; i'm the
evening, French. From 5 till 10 O'Clock,
history; TO il, Greek and Latin, alter
nately. Exercise, irregular, scarcely
any in fact, for with us, walking is i'm
practicable, for the mud etc. In about
four days / shall commence trigonome-
try, then surveying and the use of the
globes. When / shall have become an
adept in the practical parts of the math-
ematcks, / shall have obtained AN that
this situation offers. What we shall do
next you will touch on in your next,
IN case no inducement can be- found 10
remain longer than the expiration of
the present quarter. In the pecuniary
way. | am rather low. having only 80
i'm my purse. Candles 20 pay for every
week: wood and washing will be paid
at the end Of the quarter, which will
amount TO about So So you may either
inclose i'm your next few d'll's. for inn
mediate use. and wait for the rest. or
otherwise.
Concerning the operations which are
going on here. and on which you request
me to touch, there is very little interest
ing. The buildings. foundry, navy-yard.
etc, you have seem But for Congress,
too much would be said. even if / only
said the one thOusandth part OF what
the dullest member says I'm his dulest
speech They have for some days been
busily engaged on bin for repeating the
several embargo acts. which will be car
ried finally. on Friday last II was given
out that j. X. would show his legs. and
1 went 10 hear the debate. He spoke at
some length. My opinion can. and in-
deed, ought 20. have but little weight
when opposed by almost the universal
voice OF this country, hut / candidly
think that he has no very strong claims
10 the character Of an orator. He IS
certainly a handsome speaker He inte-
rests. but neither moves nor does he
az all convince, So according 10 CicorO's
definition, he has only one of the qualities
Of an orator. His arguments. If he can
be said to have any, are weak and sophls-
teal His illustrations are new and
striking; his strokes NJ wit too. are very
successful. though always at the ex-
pense of some not very distant neighbor.
While speaking Of the embargo. some Of
the members shook their heads. on which
he Observed II see some gentlemen
shake their heads and heads. too. of
4, f..I.t
them myself His manner is fun
Of energy and force and not entirely des-
titute of grace; his voice piercing and
shril but round. soft flowing and
grateful to the ear. He ridicules his
brother members, individually and col
lectively. laughs at the slow movements
OF Congress. and apologies by saying
that large bodies always move slowly.
and bodies which move through ellpsos
0he hall. you know. is an ellipse). also
move slowly: complains that Eve have
been long time in our aphelion," but
hopes that I'VE are again coming around
to more illumined part of our orbit:
he hopes that he will die IN the good
old political church. and knows very
well that he will die In the faith" His
illusions TO the ancient poets and fables
are happy. Speaking Of our manner of
treating with England. he deprecafes
strongly the threats that we have So
copiously dealt out. and objects TO con-
tinuing the embargo until June. because
that. too, is threat. 1.-The sword
Of pamocles is 10 be suspended by
horse hair over their heads. and if such
and such things are not done 10 be cut
down on the lst of June: just. Mr.. Chair
man. i'm the same minatorv strain I'm
which we have all along gone on"
He is too aggressive for a speaker Of
any kind. but more especially for poll