University of Virginia Library

While I was a single man, and quite young, Mr. Randolph passed my
residence, on his way from Prince Edward to his plantation in Charlotte,
where he afterwards resided, and where he was buried. He said he
would be lonesome, and asked me to go with him and stay a few days.
No white persons were then residing there. I went with him, and stayed
a week. It was during the war. At that time he drank but little—I
think only wine. His manners were, during this visit, gentle and kind,
as they always were when he was quite sober.

It was not hunting season, and therefore we had no hunting; but our
horses were saddled every morning, and we rode out in the plantation, or
not, as we liked—together or separate, as fancy led. He rode most frequently
along the roads in the woods which surrounded his house.

He was minutely attentive to all of his household affairs, and his neatness
and economy were praiseworthy and remarkable. His diet, though

simple, was excellent. His dwelling was at that time a single-story wood
building, with two good rooms down stairs, and the roof had also two.
He had no unnecessary furniture, but what he had was of the neatest
kind, and generally of the best materials. His breakfast was coffee, butter
and honey, with cold bacon ham, of the best quality, dressed in the
most palatable and neatest style. If he retired to his room, I did not
venture to knock at his door; and if I retired to mine, he would not call
on me until I came out.

His conversation during this visit was varied. His remarks on one
occasion were remarkable from their identity almost with a conversation
between Bonaparte and Dr. O'Meara, many years afterwards.

He said: "Sooner or later Bonaparte would be put down, and that
Great Britain would be the principal means of doing it; but, when she
did it, she would require remuneration for her extra services and expenses,
and that she would get it."

I asked him what kind of remuneration she would get.

He said: "Various kinds. She would require of Spain that she should
have the exclusive trade with South America, for perhaps eighty years, by
which time she would teach the people of that country how to rear all
the raw material for her manufactories that she got from us—their soil and
climate were better than ours for that purpose." He said that "Spain
would grant it, and that we would lose the market for ours."

I think Bonaparte told Dr. O'Meara that, for not doing this thing, Lord
Castlereagh ought to have been hanged. And when I saw what Bonaparte
said, I was struck with the coïncidence of opinion. Though
Randolph hated Bonaparte, there was a remarkable similarity, both in
expression and opinions, between them.

When Mr. Randolph took possession of his property, on his attaining
twenty-one years of age, it was mortgaged for fully as much as it was

worth. The estate consisted, I believe, of land and slaves only—perhaps
some few town lots. By the time, or about the time, he went to Russia
he paid off the last of this debt and interest, having in the meantime purchased
nearly as much more property, and, I believe, paid for it. It has
often been said by him and others, and was generally reported, that his
estate was mortgaged for nearly or quite as much as it was worth; but I
speak on the authority of the late John Wickham, of Richmond, Virginia,
who told me that he had the collection of most or all of these debts, and
that, without giving very long credits, the property, if sold, would not
have paid them. As to Mr. Wickham, his character is so generally
known, that it needs not anything that I could say to give his words or
his judgment credit. Gratitude, however, for unexpected kindness, as
gently and warmly bestowed as if I had either merited or had a right to
demand it, impels me to pay some tribute to his memory. I say, unexpected
kindness, for I was from rumor impressed firmly with the belief
that he was cold and selfish. I was surprised, therefore, to find him warm
and generous. I say, if I had merited it, because no man merits the
kindness of another who suffers such impressions to take hold on him from
mere rumor, or from the prejudices of others. A more manly, noble,
kind-hearted man I never knew; a more social, cordial, jovial fireside
companion I never saw. As to his talents, few, if any, in this country,
have surpassed him at the bar or as a practical farmer.

Mr. Randolph, having no other resources but the proceeds of his
crops, and the sale of a few horses of his own raising, and a portion of
his slaves at first, paid his mortgage debt and purchased much other property.
Need any comment be made as to his practical skill and judgment
in business?

Mr. Randolph was a frequent visitor at the house of Captain William
M. Watkins. He was fond of horses, dogs and guns; and whenever he
made a visit he brought some of his dogs with him, and they were suffered
to poke their noses into everything and to go where they pleased, from
kitchen to parlor. They were a great annoyance to ladies and housekeepers.
This, however, was obliged to be quietly submitted to, as any
unkind treatment to his dogs would have been regarded as an insult to
himself.

Very early in life, and before I knew him, he had imported English
stallions and blooded mares, and at all times had a large number on hand.
He occasionally put horses on the turf; but he was generally unsuccessful.

Speaking of horses, I may be permitted to mention an occurrence which
took place at an early period, and which may be considered characteristic.

It was court day and in the afternoon he offered for sale at public
auction one of his best stallions. If I am not mistaken, it was Roanoke,
by the celebrated horse Old Sir Archie, and out of Lady Bunsbury. For
a considerable time after the horse was put up there was no bid made;
but, at length, Hugh Wyllie, Esq., the owner of the celebrated race horse
Marske, bid fifty pounds. Mr. Randolph was very indignant at so small
a bid; and turning fiercely on Mr. Wyllie, looking him full in the face,
said: "Do you, Sir, bid fifty pounds for a horse that pushed Marske up to
the throat-latch?" There was a dead silence; no one spoke a word.
The horse was led off the yard.

While I am on horses I will mention another incident equally characteristic.

You have doubtless heard of the great match race between Eclipse and
Henry—the North against the South. Mr. Randolph attended the race.
Just as the horses were about to start, a stranger stepped up to Mr. Randolph
and offered to bet five hundred dollars on Eclipse. "Done," said
Randolph. "Colonel Thompson will hold the stakes," replied the stranger.
"Who will hold Colonel Thompson?" said Mr. Randolph.

Randolph saw the trap, and gobbled up Colonel Thompson's friend
without mercy.

After Mr. Randolph's death his fine stud of blooded horses were sold
by auction at high prices; many of them were purchased by gentlemen
who resided out of the State.

Although I had occasionally seen Mr. Randolph when I resided at the
Court-house, I did not make his acquaintance until after my removal to
Captain Watkins's, which was in September, 1807. Here I had an opportunity
of frequently meeting him, both in public and in a private family.
He was a frequent visitor at the house of Captain Watkins, where I then
boarded and where I continued to board for many years after.

Notwithstanding the fact that I at a later period incurred the displeasure
of Mr. Randolph, I must acknowledge that during the early part of our
acquaintance he was polite and kind.

Not long after I went to live at Captain Watkins's, I had a severe spell

of bilious fever which confined me to my room for six weeks or more. I
was very low. During my illness Mr. Randolph paid me a visit. His
suggestions in relaton to diet and his encouraging conversation and sympathy
were very grateful to my feelings.

When I first knew him he was about thirty-five or thirty-six years of
age. He was then a Republican, and hated Federalism with a perfect
hatred. But, notwithstanding this, he was always regarded, in heart and
in sentiment, an Englishman to the core. In his earlier speeches he was
guilty of what might be considered as bad taste at the present day, namely,
too frequently quoting and making allusions to English authors—Milton,
Shakspeare, Tillotson, Sherlock, Burke, and so on. The coincidence of
manner and thought between the speeches of Mr. Randolph and the writings
of Lawrence Sterne has always appeared to my mind so striking that
I have not been able to resist the belief that he had, without making the
acknowledgment, appropriated the manner and thought of that great
writer. But however this may have been, I am free to acknowledge that,
in my poor judgment, Mr. Randolph was by far the greatest and most
interesting speaker I have ever heard or ever expect to hear.

About this time our difficulties with England had greatly increased—
war became probable; the administration resorted to measures of restriction
upon commerce, such as embargo and non-intercourse laws. On these
measures Mr. Randolph took strong grounds against the administration.
The consequence was, that at the next congressional election he was opposed
by John W. Eppes, who was the son-in-law of Thomas Jefferson.
In due time the election came on. Mr. Eppes brought with him from
Washington what was called a cart-load of authorities, laid the books on
the stile in front of the court-house—large tomes and documents, such as
had never been seen by the natives. This was about fifty-five years ago.
There was an immense crowd present. Natives and foreigners from all
the surrounding and adjoining counties came to hear Mr. Randolph speak
and to see the son-in-law of Thomas Jefferson.

Eppes led off from the stile, knee-deep in books and documents. He
was rather a dull speaker read too much, and fatigued the people. Mr.
Randolph in reply remarked that "the gentleman is a very good reader."
His wit and humor soon caused interruption by some of the injudicious
and impulsive friends of Mr. Eppes; Colonel Gideon Spencer was the
first who interrupted him. High words ensued; the excitement was beyond

anything I ever witnessed; the crowd seemed to apprehend a collision
of parties. Some friend of Mr. Randolph hallooed out, "Stand firm
and keep cool," or something to that effect; then we have the reply of
Mr. Randolph which has been so often repeated that it has become stale,
"I am as cool as the centre seed of a cucumber."

Mr. Randolph remained on the court-yard for some time after the
speaking was over. The excitement was even greater than before. Mr.
Randolph at that time had an overseer by the name of P., a large, rough,
raw-boned man, head and shoulders above the crowd. This man P.,
with a large horseman's whip in his hand, held in a threatening attitude,
followed Mr. Randolph through the crowd, which was waving to and
fro, insisting that Mr. Randolph would be attacked and that he should be
protected; while Randolph, on his part, directed P. to keep quiet. The
day, however, passed without disturbance.

In due time the congressional election came on, and I voted for Eppes.
Mr. Randolph was defeated. He had proclaimed, not only in Congress,
but elsewhere, "that he was descended from a race who never forgot or
forgave an injury."[1] He certainly did not often forgive. I must remark,
however, that the vote given for Eppes was not my only offence. On the
revision of the State Constitution I voted for James Bruce, the elder, instead
of Randolph. In 1828 I was a member of the Anti-Jackson Convention,
and used my best efforts for the election of J. Q. Adams. Mr.
Randolph, in writing to his friends in Washington, stated that we were all
for Jackson; the result of the election in Charlotte showed that he was
mistaken, although the majority was large.

In addition to this, I had the misfortune, at a later time, to come in contact
with Mr. Randolph in matters of business, the settlement of which
might not have been satisfactory to him. I will mention two of the cases.
There was a very unpleasant, I might say angry, controversy between Mr.
Randolph and Robert Carrington on the subject of roads and right of

way. Under an order of the County Court of Charlotte the late Dennis
E. Morgan, Captain Fowlkes, and myself, were directed to view the road
and report to Court. The case was a plain one, admitting of no sort of
doubt whatever. The commissioners went upon the road, and found
pasted up on a gate-post a large sheet of foolscap paper, giving notice that
all persons whose names were written thereon were permitted to pass
through the plantation and use the road as formerly. The paper was filled
from top to bottom with names, male and female; and it was read over
and closely examined, to see if anyone in the neighborhood, either male
or female, who had used the road, or who might probably wish to do so,
had been omitted; and it was found from this examination that Robert
Carrington's name only was omitted. The land through which this
road passed was not a part of his homestead, but a small tract then recently
purchased of Dr. Bouldin. The report of the commissioners, in
substance, was, that the land through which the road ran was exceedingly
poor and of but little value; that the road had been in constant use, as
a mill and neighborhood road, for about fifty years; and that it had been
interdicted to Robert Carrington only.

I will mention another case, somewhat similar to the one above. Under
a decree of the county court, Joseph M. Daniel, myself and others
(names not now recollected), were ordered to make sale of a tract of
land adjoining the lands of Mr. Randolph, which belonged to the heirs of
a Mr. Lipscomb. The land was sold at public auction, and Mr. Randolph
was the purchaser. As soon as the land was knocked off, Mr. Randolph,
somewhat excited, stepped up to me hastily with his long strides and said,
"Mr. Green, you cannot call this real estate." And then said, "My attorney
or agent, Mr. Leigh, will have a deed written and will pay you the
money at next court." I told him that would be entirely satisfactory.
Whether the land could be called real estate or not, it sold for at least
double its value. But, when I saw Mr. Leigh (now Judge Leigh) he requested
me to delay making a report, saying that Mr. Randolph entertained
doubts as to whether the title would be good under the circumstances,
the land having sold for more than three hundred dollars for each
child or legatee. I felt quite confident, however, that Mr. Leigh entertained
no such doubt, but was simply acting under instructions. I felt
bound, in accordance with the decree of the court, to report the sale of
the land, and did so immediately—stating that Mr. Randolph having left

the county, and Mr. Leigh having declined to pay the purchase money,
no deed had been made. On this transaction I may remark, that the land
had been appraised according to law, and all the necessary forms gone
through before the sale, and consequently the objection made on account
of title was a mere pretext for delay. The explanation is simply this:
There was an old man in the neighborhood whom Mr. Randolph called
"the old turkey and 'coon hunter," who had greatly annoyed him by
hunting on his plantation. This man, B., was the only bidder against
Randolph. The land was exceedingly poor, and, to Mr. Randolph,
worthless. It was purchased solely for the purpose of keeping out a
disagreeable neighbor. Knowing that he had made a bad bargain, and
having no use for the land, he determined to carry the matter into court.
The court, however, decided against him, and ordered the money to be
paid, which was accordingly done. I mention these transactions to show
the unfortunate temper of the man.

I have now mentioned in detail everything that I can recollect that in
the slightest degree was calculated to provoke or irritate Mr. Randolph.
And what does it all amount to? Simply this: That on two occasions, I
had voted for other gentlemen rather than for him; that in 1828, I voted
for Adams rather than for Jackson, and had also, in two business transactions,
made reports to the County court which might be considered adverse
to him. This was all.

It was, I think, shortly after the election of the State Convention, when
I voted for James Bruce and General Carrington and others, that Mr.
Randolph approached my old friend and partner, Captain Watkins, for
the purpose of breaking up the mercantile business so long carried on by
us, and conducted by myself. He opened the subject by sending a note
to the Captain to borrow a few nails, saying that he "did not wish to have
anything to do with Mr. Green;" and subsequently, in conversation with
Captain Watkins, he remarked that he thought it strange that Captain
Watkins would continue business with a man who had always differed in
politics with him.

Mr. Randolph regarded a difference of opinion a sufficient cause for
severing business connections. The Captain was of a different opinion.

These facts were derived from Captain Watkins himself.

But, notwithstanding all that I have related, I, at no time of my life,
suffered myself to indulge in bitter and relentless feelings towards Mr.

Randolph, being always disposed to make due allowances for the unfortunate
temperament of the man. And moreover, I have the pleasure to
know that some time before his death, his intolerant and vindictive feelings
towards me had become considerably modified.

I was present in court at the time, and heard what passed.

The grand jury had called up the subject in their room, and the late
John Marshall, who happened to be a guest of Mr. Randolph, and heard
the order given to the slaves, was summoned to prove the offence. He
positively refused to answer, because, as he alleged, he was Mr. Randolph's
guest, and what took place under such circumstances, in his presence,
was deemed sacred among gentlemen; and voluntarily to divulge it
would be an act of dishonor, and in gross violation of the decencies and
proprieties of social intercourse. The grand jury said they could not be
governed by such a consideration in the discharge of their legal duty.
Mr. Marshall still refusing to answer, the jury, through their foreman, appealed
to the court (Judge Leigh). The judge, without a moment's
hesitation, announced that a guest, however unpleasant his situation might
be, could claim no such privilege as that asserted by Mr. Marshall, and
ordered him to answer.

Mr. Marshall returned to the jury room, and about that time Mr. Randolph,
in his English coach—a very clumsy vehicle, by the way—drawn
by four blooded horses, drove rapidly into the village, and stopped immediately

in front of the court-house. He came directly into the court-room
and took his seat in front of the bar, between that and the jury bench, and
almost immediately in front of the judge. As he took his seat, Mr. Marshall,
who had just come down from the jury room, approached him. Mr.
Randolph, in one of his peculiar half-whispers, which penetrated every
portion of the court-room, and which was heard as plainly as if spoken in
the loudest tone, said to him: "I understand I am to be presented, sir,
and I have come to make my own defence." Mr. Marshall immediately
replied that the matter had been dropped by the jury, and he would hear
no more of it.

Mr. Marshall, when sent back to the jury with orders to answer, had
referred to the Revised Code of 1819, the then law of the court, and
ascertained that the act of each slave was a separate offence, and the penalty
only $1.67, being below the jurisdiction of the circuit court. The
grand jury being satisfied on reference to the statute that they had no
jurisdiction of the offence, abandoned the investigation, and thus the
presentment was not made.

The foreman of that jury, if my memory is not at fault, was Mr. E. W.
Henry, and he is still alive—the last of the sons of Patrick Henry.