The parties met at Bishop’s Court demesne, Lord Ponsonby’s seat, in the county Kildare, thirteen miles from Dublin. It is said that in the meeting Mr. D’Esterre had been very disadvantageously placed by his second, being in a line with a tree, which afforded direction to his adversary’s aim.
BETWEEN COLONEL QUENTIN AND COLONEL PALMER.
February 9, 1815.
Colonel Palmer had been at Bourdeaux, and on his return to Paris, on Thursday last, found that Mr. Lawrell (Colonel Quentin’s brother-in-law) had left a card repeatedly at his hotel during his absence; in consequence of which he immediately signified his arrival to that gentleman. Mr. Lawrell soon after waited upon him with a challenge from Colonel Quentin. The parties met: Colonel Quentin accompanied by his relative, and Colonel Palmer by Mr. T. Thompson, member for Midhurst. The distance measured was twelve paces; and the challenger, thinking himself aggrieved, having given his first fire, Colonel Palmer showed that he was influenced by no personal motive, by instantly discharging his pistol in the air.
Mr. Lawrell and Colonel Quentin having thereupon, in answer to an inquiry from Mr. Thompson, declared themselves perfectly satisfied, the affair terminated, and the parties returned to Paris.
The Duke de Guiche and two French surgeons were on the ground.
BETWEEN MR. —— AND MR. ——.
Edinburgh, Feb. 18, 1815.
About three o’clock on Monday last, a duel was fought between two gentlemen of this city, near to Caroline Park. Intimation of their intention being given to the Sheriff, a warrant was issued for their apprehension; but before the officers could reach the ground, the parties had interchanged shots without effect. They and their seconds were however taken into custody; and on inquiry into the circumstances of the case, the cause of quarrel appeared so unsatisfactory, and the whole proceeding of those concerned so very strange, that, besides ordering them to find security to keep the peace, the Sheriff fined both principals and seconds in twenty-five guineas each; and ordered the same to be applied for the benefit of the Lunatic Asylum, as being, from its nature, an institution best entitled to a fine derived from such a source.
BETWEEN MAJOR HILLAS AND MR. THOMAS FENTON.
Towards the close of the same year, another fatal duel was fought in Ireland. In the month of December, 1815, a vessel was cast ashore by stress of weather upon the coast of Tirivagh, near the residence of Major Hillas, who was an active magistrate, and a young man of the most humane disposition. On hearing of the disaster, he immediately hastened to the spot to discharge his duties, and to fulfil his natural inclination. The captain, he found, had fallen overboard; and to his exertions, during the entire of a dark stormy night, the safety of the mate and eleven of the crew was chiefly to be attributed.
While Major Hillas was thus laudably engaged, Mr. John Fenton, a neighbouring gentleman, came up, and interfered in a manner which appeared to him highly incorrect; an altercation arose, which ended in Mr. Fenton’s threatening to throw Major Hillas into the sea. He, however, continued his exertions from the 6th to the 8th December, on which day Mr. Fenton arrived with a party of yeomanry, and forced the property out of his hands. It was in vain that Major Hillas remonstrated; that he declared that his object was not salvage, and that he only endeavoured to save as much as possible from the wreck for the benefit of the owners. Being thus frustrated in his intentions, he made a journey to Scotland, where the owners of the vessel resided, in order to make them acquainted with all the circumstances of the business. On his return Mr. Fenton thought proper to send him a message, which the Major very properly declined accepting. An investigation as to the right of salvage afterwards took place, during the course of which Major Hillas complained that he had been most unhandsomely treated by Mr. Fenton, who had interfered unjustifiably; and by taking the mate out of his hands, secured to himself, in an unhandsome manner, the legal custody of the vessel. Four days after the close of the investigation, Mr. John Fenton delivered a message to Major Hillas from Mr. Thomas Fenton. Major Hillas accepted the challenge, and when on the ground addressed the crowd of bystanders, saying—“I am sorry the mistaken laws of honour oblige me to come here to defend myself, and I declare to God I have no animosity to man or woman on the face of the earth.” Major Hillas, in anticipation of a fatal result, had dressed himself in a full suit of mourning. On the first shot he fell dead. Mr. Fenton was afterwards tried for the capital offence, but was acquitted by the jury.