496 RANDOLPH COUNTY. 



John Randolph of Roanoke." This gentleman was born June 

 2d, 1773, in Prince George county, and was descended, in the 

 seventh generation, from Pocahontas, the celebrated Indian 

 princess. His mother was a very pious woman, and endea- 

 voured to bring up her son in a strictly religious manner. His 

 education was conducted in a very irregular way — first at a 

 country school, and then at three different colleges — Prince- 

 ton, Columbia, and William and Mary. He read law in the 

 office of Edmund Randolph. It does not appear that John 

 Randolph made any great proficiency in law reading. Black- 

 stone and Coke were laid aside, and Chaucer, Shakspeare, 

 and Milton substituted in their place. When about 26 

 years of age, he commenced his political career, and met the 

 celebrated Patrick Henry, then in his 67th year, and held a 

 long and animated discussion with him. The scene has been 

 thus described :* 



Mr. Henry, enfeebled by age and ill health, with a linen 

 cap upon his head, mounted the hustings and commenced with 

 difficulty ; but, as he proceeded, his eye lighted up with its 

 wonted fire, his voice assumed its wonted majesty ; gradually 

 accumulating strength and animation, his eloquence seemed 

 like an avalanche threatening to overwhelm his adversary. 

 In the course of his speech he said, " The alien and sedition 

 laws were only the fruits of that constitution the adoption of 



which he opposed If we are wrong, let us all go wrong 



together" — at the same time clasping his hands and waving 

 his body to the right and left, his auditory unconsciously waved 

 with him. As he finished, he literally descended into the arms 

 of the obstreperous throng, and was borne about in triumph, 

 when Dr. John H. Rice exclaimed, " The sun has set in all 

 his glory !" As Mr. Henry left the stand, Mr. Randolph, with 

 undaunted courage, arose in his place. He was of a youthful 

 and unprepossessing appearance. The audience, considering 

 it presumptuous for him to speak after Mr. Henry, partially 

 dispersed, and an Irishman present exclaimed, " Tut ! tut ! it 

 won't do ; it's nothing hut the hating of an old tin pan after 

 hearing a fine church organ:' He commenced — his singular 

 person and peculiar aspect, his novel, shrill, vibratory intona- 



* William Wirt. 



