political boards of which Mr. Randolph has so long been an actor of all-work, that whatever other qualifications he may possess, malignant passions abound in him, and that his tongue is little scrupulous in giving vent to them. They overflowed in epithets of even more than his usual venom and scurrility upon Mr. Clay. I do not mean, by the remark, to justify the latter in the course he took; for besides other objections to it, it gave to Mr. Randolph a certain political consequence which he could not have reached without it. But the remark may suggest some excuse, as showing the event to have sprung from the frailties of an honourable mind, roused, at last, by attacks, that had become rather personal than political."

Mr. Randolph having resolved, near the time of the adjustment of the Missouri question, to have an affair of honour with Mr. Clay, kept his resolution ever afterwards steadily in view. The motives by which he was actuated it is difficult to conjecture. That he hated Mr. Clay for having triumphed over him so often and so signally, admits of no doubt. Perhaps he reflected, that if he succeeded in killing Mr. Clay, his long-cherished malice would be gratified; and that, if he himself fell by Mr. C's hand, he should be consecrated in the minds of the multitude, like a tree in ancient times, when struck by lightning.

Mr. Randolph's seat in the senate, during Mr. Clay's secretaryship, gave him an opportunity to effect his object. How did he use it ?-By assailing Mr. C.'s personal character-by calling him a blackleg-by stealing, in short, "a leaf from the curse-book of Pandemonium," to abuse and insult him. He knew that Mr. Clay was surrounded by his family. He knew that his every word, whether spoken in his sober or inebriated moments, was pregnant with death to the pride and the happiness of the

innocent and the lovely. Although he himself had no family-although he was the individual, in reference to whom a distinguished friend of ours once thanked God in congress, that monsters could not perpetuate their species; —still he must have known, from hearsay, that the feelings of a wife and a daughter are keenly sensitive. Had Mr. Clay held a seat in the senate, Mr. Randolph, dark as were his designs, and much as he longed for a quarrel, would not have dared to use the language of open outrage. There was ever something in Mr. C.'s eye, before which his spirit quailed and blinked like a frightened thing. It is said to be in the order of nature, that even the fierce crest of the wild-cat cowers before the majesty of a godlike face. Mr. Clay, however, was absent; and every day of his forbearance added bitterness to the insults that were heaped on him. What could he do? Undoubtedly that religion, whose kingdom is not of this world, required him to endure patiently unto the end. It is a matter of regret that he did not;—but who shall censure him harshly for having, in a moment of uncontrollable exasperation, turned upon his pursuer, and dared him to single combat!

Of the duel itself it is not necessary to say much. Mr. Randolph, in defiance of established usage, went upon the field in a huge morning-gown; and the seconds, had not Mr. Clay interfered, would have made this singular conduct the occasion of a quarrel. In due time the parties fired; and, luckily for both of them, or at least for Mr. Clay, Mr. Randolph's life was saved by his gown. The unseemly garment constituted such a vast circumference, that the locality of "the thin and swarthy senator" was, at least, a matter of very vague conjecture. Mr. C. might as well have fired into the outspread top of an oak, in the hope of hitting a bird that he supposed to be snugly perched somewhere among the branches. His ball hit the centre

of the visible object, but Randolph was not there—and, of course, the shot did no harm, and no good. After the first discharge, Mr. Randolph, by firing into the air, showed his disinclination to continue the fight, and is now living "to fight another day."

PREFACE.

INDEX.

Page 3

PART FIRST.

SECTION FIRST.-Introductory remarks-birth of Mr. Clay-placed
in a lawyer's office-admitted to the bar--removes to the west-
first effort at public speaking—his success-practitioner of law-
his success-defence of Mrs. Phelps, success of-of two Germans
-of Mr. Willis-triumph over the court-uniformly engaged in
all capital trials-case of the negro slave-his success in the man-
agement of civil cases.

p. 7.
SECTION SECOND.-Commencement of the political career of Mr. Clay
-his views of slavery-unpopularity of his views in Kentucky-
his opposition to the alien and sedition laws-effects of that oppo-
sition—chosen to the legislature—Mr. Grundy—Mr. Clay's re-
marks on motion to remove seat of government-Mr. Clay's diffi-
culty with Mr. Daviess-reconciliation-Mr. Clay appears as
counsel for Aaron Burr-the reason-Mr. Clay elected to U. S.
Senate-speech on bill for constructing bridge over Potomac―
reply to Mr. Tracy-remarks on habeas corpus bill-retires from
Senate-elected to Kentucky legislature-chosen speaker-re-
marks on British decisions of law-difficulty with Mr. Marshall
-duel-views of a contested election-chosen U. S. Senator-
popularity.

p. 21.
SECTION THIRD.-Mr. Clay supports a bill for internal improvements
-speech-U. S. claims to part of West Florida-speech in favour
of opposition to claims by federal party-second speech-Na-
tional bank, rechartering of causes of opposition to-speech—
effects of.

P. 48.

PART SECOND.

SECTION FIRST.-Mr. Clay elected to Congress-chosen speaker-
John Randolph, character of our relations with England—ses-
sion of Congress-preparations for war-bill to raise an army—
speech-bill for navy-speech-success of bill-embargo—Mr..
Quincy, character of Mr. Clay's speech on embargo-contro-
versy with Mr. Randolph-declaration of war.

p. 62.
SECTION SECOND.-Session of Congress-report of military committee
-opposition to the report-Mr. Quincy's attack on republican
party-Mr. Clay's speech-his castigation of Mr. Quincy-Mr.
Clay appointed Commissioner to treat for peace-resigns the
speaker's chair.

P. 88.

SECTION THIRD.-Negotiation for peace-Mr. Clay at Ghent-his
abilities as a negociator-difficulties attending plural commissions
-reason for not conceding navigation of Mississippi-difference
of opinion among American Commissioners-Mr. Gallatin-Mr.
Clay-Mr. Bayard-Mr. Clay refuses to sign treaty-the Missis-
sippi question-issue of dispute between Mr. Adams and Mr.
Russel in 1822-cause of the dispute--course pursued by Mr.
Clay-his letter to Mr. Russel-misstatement of Mr. Adams in his
controversy with Mr. Russel-correction by Mr. Clay.

PART THIRD.

P. 102.

SECTION FIRST.-Session of Congress 1815-16-Mr. Clay chosen
speaker-National bank, report of committee on-Mr. Clay in
favour of bank-change of his opinion-difference between old
and new bank.

P. 117
SECTION SECOND.-South American Republicks-Mr. Clay's feelings
enlisted in their favour-his remarks-commissioners sent to
South America-Mr. Clay proposes to send a minister to La Plata
-his speech-his defeat-his success in 1820-his speech-effect
of recognition-general remarks on true merit-compliment of
Mr. Forsyth-letter of Bolivar-Mr. Clay's reply.

p. 123.
SECTION THIRD.-Internal improvements--opinions of Jefferson,
Madison and Monroe-Mr. Clay's speech in favour of internal
improvements—his construction of the constitution-opposition to
-allusion to the President-motion of Mr. Clay carried-speech
on internal improvement in 1824-opposition disarmed.

P. 146.