On the 28th ult. a duel took place between Counsellor Hutchinson, third son to the Provost of the University of Dublin, and Lord Mountmorris, in consequence of some words spoken by the latter in the House of Lords, on Monday, the 23rd of April, of which his Lordship refused to give an explanation.
The parties met at Donnybrook; and the seconds having measured the ground, both fired at the same instant: when Lord Mountmorris fell, in consequence of a wound under the arm, and the seconds interposed to prevent farther bloodshed.
BETWEEN CHEVALIER LA B—— AND CAPTAIN S——.
June, 1787.
About three in the morning, on the 10th, a duel was fought between the Chevalier La B——, an officer in the French service, and Captain S—— of the 11th Regiment of Foot. The ground measured was five paces; and the first shot that was fired by Captain S—— took place on the Chevalier’s breast, but was fortunately prevented from penetrating by the intervention of his coat button; on which he fired his pistol into the air. The seconds interposed, and the combatants parted friends. The expression for which Captain S—— called out the Chevalier was to this effect—that the English army had more phlegm than spirit.
BETWEEN SIR JOHN MACPHERSON AND MAJOR BROWNE.
September 10, 1787.
A duel took place in Hyde Park, between Sir John Macpherson and Major Browne. The parties met near Grosvenor-gate, about eleven o’clock. The pistols were loaded on the ground, and it was agreed they both should fire at the same time. They did so. Sir John received the Major’s second fire; but his own pistol missed fire. Colonel Murray, second to Sir John, then asked Major Roberts, who was second to Major Browne, if his friend was satisfied. Major Browne said he was satisfied that Sir John had behaved with great gallantry, and much like a man of honour. But some further explanation being required on the part of the Major, a third shot was exchanged. And then both parties quitting the ground, came up to each other, said a few words, and parted with salutations of civility.
Dublin, January 31, 1788.
This day Robert Keon, Esq., was brought up to the Court of King’s Bench, to receive sentence for the murder of George Nugent Reynolds, Esq.
The circumstances of this murder were as follow:—These two gentlemen went out to fight a duel; and when Mr. Reynolds, previously to coming to action, was in the act of saluting Mr. Keon, with his hat in his hand, wishing him a good morning, the latter fired his pistol, and shot him through the head. Upon this Mr. Plunket, Mr. Reynolds’s second, called out, “A horrid murder!” On which Mr. Keon’s brother replied, “If you don’t like it, take that,” and snapped his pistol at Mr. Plunket, which luckily did not go off. The jury found Mr. Keon “guilty” in November last; but his counsel moved an arrest of judgment, and pleaded several errors in the different proceedings, to stop the sentence. The Court, after the most solemn arguments, over-ruled all the objections, and passed sentence of death upon him, according to the verdict, and he was executed on the sixteenth of the following month.