LETTER CXLVI.
Babel, Jan. 20, 1817.
Monday.
No letter from you to day, my dear Theodore. The date
of your last is December 30th. Pray try and contrive to
send your letters to Petersburgh or Richmond, or any place
on the main line, by private hand.
A Mr. Johnson, (not Jackson,) of Virginia, took occasion to
be very scurrilous towards me, on the alleged account of an
expression used by the last session, and repeated a few days
ago on the compensation law, as it is called. Mr. B. seemed
also disposed to hold offensive language on the same subject,
rising, after a most laughable and good-humoured discourse
of R., (C's. bull-calf,) and replying, as I had done, to what
was said the day before. I was informed that the affair was
concerted, and that I was to stand a fire along the whole
line. I determined, therefore, to tread it out; and will endeavour
to report for you my remarks, and send them by
to-morrow's mail. Mean while, I must draw a check for
C., whose receipt please to take, and tell him that the money
has been lying idle; but I wanted to see whether he and P.
would not write about their own affairs, as they would not
about mine—although earnestly requested thereto. Since
Friday, it has been bitter cold, and I am afraid some of my
poor people may suffer. No doubt there is ice in abundance.
Mr. Secretary D. is dead.
Remember me kinkly to Colonel M., and send me a copy
of your meteorological diary.
Entirely yours,
JOHN RANDOLPH.
C. must endorse the check.
