University of Virginia Library

DEATH OF MR. RANDOLPH.

Mr. Randolph reached Philadelphia in May, 1833, on his way to New York,
from whence it was his wish to embark again for Europe—it being, as he stated,
the last throw of the die. He was very low when he arrived, and continued to
sink, gradually, to the end. The lamp of life flickered in the socket, and even
its occasional flashes informed those around his bedside of the near approach of
death. He possessed the power and brilliancy of his intellect to a late hour.
One account states that, only two hours before his death, he talked and said he
felt as well as ever; in fact, that his health had recovered—and he wrote to
Virginia for the pedigree of a horse. "I am going," said he to a gentleman, "to
England.—It is the last throw of the die." It was but the last flickering of the
flame, that blazed up for a moment to go out for ever. The evening before his
death, his physician, with a laudable frankness, announced to him his approaching
end. He received the awful tidings without surprise or alarm; spoke of
his life as a protracted illness, and that it was time the scene of suffering should
close. He gave directions that his body should be conveyed to his late home,
Roanoke, and buried under a particular tree. A clergyman being in attendance,
read a portion of Scripture, during which he laid the accent on the word omnipotent,
on the penultimate syllable, when Mr. Randolph rose up, and supporting
himself on his elbow, repeated, twice, "Omnipotent—omnipotent," laying
the accent on the second syllable, fell back and expired, on Friday, the 20th of
May, 1833. A meeting of the citizens was convened, at 1 o'clock, at the court
room, to take some measure with regard to Mr. Randolph's death. Judge Hopkinson,
formerly a member of the House, was called to the chair. Mr. Sargeant (also
a member) made a forcible and eloquent address on the character and abilities
of the deceased, and a committee was appointed to confer with the personal
friends of Mr. Randolph, with a view of entering into arrangements for offering
a public tribute of respect to his memory. Owing to the warmth of the weather
and the inconvenience of the necessary delay a compliance with the request
would occasion, Mr. John S. Barbour, on the part of Mr. R.'s friends, on the
25th of May, declined the committee's invitation, in a most respectful note, and
the remains of Mr. Randolph were removed on board a vessel, to be taken to

his native State, to be deposited with those of his ancestors. The coffin arrived
at Richmond on the 28th, when the funeral service of the Episcopal Church was
read over it by the Rev. Mr. Lee—this being all the ceremony the deceased desired,
in a wish uttered a few weeks before. An immense procession followed
the corpse as far as Mayo's bridge; minute guns were fired by a detachment
of artillery, as a token of respect. Lieutenant Robert B. Randolph, a relation,
who had rendered himself famous by bearding the lion in his den—or,
pulling President Jackson's nose, on the 5th of the month—arrived in time to
Join the procession. Johnny and Juba, whose names have become classical,
and, as the account states, will go down to posterity in union with that of their
master, formed a conspicuous part of it. Public sympathy was excited by the
silent and unostentatious grief of these faithful servants, particularly the former,
at the sight of the tears which trickled down his cheeks, while they assisted in
placing the remains of their master in the hearse.