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# JOHN RANDOLPH.
One or two characteristic anecdotes of Randolph, hitherto unpublished as I believe, will close this article. They are perfectly authentie:
During one of the suspensions of specie payment in his day, Mr. R. was on a visit to New York, on business. He had occasion to present a check to a large amount for payment at the Merchants' Bank of that city, for which he refused to accept anything but specie, which the tellers of the bank as obstinately refused to give. Randolph disdained to bandy words, with either clerks or principals on their conduct, which, in his own way of thinking, amounted to swindling, but withdrew and had a hand bill issued at the next printing office, which in two hours was posted over the whole city, stating that-
"John Randolph, of Roanoke, being on a visit to New York, will address his fellow-citizens upon the banking and currency question, from the steps of the Merchants' Bank, at six o'clock this evening."
A crowd began to gather more than an hour before the appointed time, enlarging so rapidly and amply, that, before the hour to address it had arrived, the officers of the bank took the alarm and finding out his lodging place sent one of the clerks with the amount in gold, which Randolph received with a sardonie smile and the apt quotation, "Chartaciam, invenit auream reliquit.""
He left New York in one of the stages which at the period anticipated daylight, as he was hardly known in that city, the notice passed off for a mere hoax on the public.
After leaving the Merchant's Bank, he called at the Mechanics' Bank to transact some money business there, involving a discount of a few dollars. Randolph, with his peculiar notions on such subjects, felt as though these had been stolen out of his pocket. He said nothing, however, until getting to the door of the entrance, where the effigy of a huge arm swung as huge a hammer, he asked what that meant. "The badge of our institution, sir-you know this is the Mechanics' Bank." was the explanation of the teller.
"You had better take it down and substitute a currier's knife." was Randolph's reply.-Petersburg Republican.
CONFESSION. -The following is from a Dublin journal:- Have you anything else whereof your conscience should be purged?' asked Father Phelan of a kneeling culprit at the confession.
'Yes,' replied the penitent, I have committed the mean sin of theft. I have stolen this watch; will your reverence accept it of me?'
'Me!' exclaimed the pious priest; 'I receive the fruit of your villany! No; instantly retorn the watch to its owner!"
• I have already offered it to him," replied the culprit, and he has refused to receive it; therefore, holy father, I beseech you to take it."
• Peace, wretch!" rejoined the priest, you should have repeated the offer."
*I did repeat it your reverence, but he would not take it."
Then,' said the priest, 'I must absolve you from the sin you have committed."
The purified thief had scarcely departed when the astonished father discovered that it was his own watch that had been stolen from the place where it had been deposited near the confessional!
