PEYTON RANDOLPH

the top sheet of this label states: "The Chroniclers of ancient dynasties are often foiled in their researches concerning early kings, and when they have lost the clue of regular descent , or find it leading abck into the domains of mere myth, they conveniently conclude that the first monarch of the line was begotton by a god. We have no difficulty in this great republican empire of the West, for dynasties change with men, and eyes are yet undimmed which aw the first chief magistrate of this free nation. He was a Virginian a native of the state called "mother of president' and his name was Peyton Randolph. He was born in the year 1723 and was a descendant of one of the oldest of the aristocratic families of Virginia who boast of having the royal blood of Powhatan in their veins. According to a then prevailing custom Randolph was sent to England to be educated. He was graduated at Oxford, with honor, and received the degree of Master of Arts. He commenced the study of law on his retun home; and so rapid was his success in his profession, that he was made attorney-general of the colony of Virginia, in 1756, when thirty-three years of age. At that time, the French and Indian War was progressing, and the Indians, incited by the French, were desolating the Virginia frontier. Narratives of these outrages around the indignation of Mr. Randolph, and collecting a hundred men, he led them to the borders of the Indian county, and taught the savages some terrible retributory lessons. Towards the close of that contest, Mr. Randolph was elected toa seat in the Virginia Legislature, and he often presided over that body. There his influence was very great, and as the storm of the Revolution came on space, his voice was ever heard on the side fo freedom. Mr Randolph was elected a delegate to the first Continental Congress, which assembled in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, on the 5th of September, 1774. Charles Thomson recorded on that day: "The Congres proceeded to the coince of a Presidentent, when the Hon. Peyton Randolph, Esq., was unaminously elected.' This vote made him really the first President of the United States, for then and there our Union had its birth. He was again chosen President when another Congress met at the same place in May following, but feeble health compelled h im to resign the office, fourteen days afterward, when John Hancock was chosed to fill his place. Mr. Randolph resumed his seat in Congress early the following Autumn; and on the 22d of O"ctober, 1775, he died at Philadelphia, from the effects of sppoplexy, in the fifty-third year of his age. "