Mr. Stockton insisted on meeting Captain Johnston the next morning, at five o’clock; to which the latter agreed, and returned to the garrison. Captain Johnston was prevented from meeting in the morning, from the circumstance of his having been put under arrest, and an order of garrison being made, that no officer should be permitted to pass the barriers, in coloured clothes or otherwise; he, however, contrived to elude the vigilance of the guard in the afternoon, and at half-past four met Mr. Stockton at St. Michael’s Cave.
The seconds instantly entered into conversation as to the mode of firing. Mr. Stockton’s friend proposed that they should, on receiving the word, take an unlimited time for aim. This was objected to by Captain Johnston’s friend as sanguinary, and at variance with those principles of honour upon which such meetings are founded. Some argument followed, which ended in a determination to decide by chance which mode should be adopted. The result was favourable to the more humane course; but the time which was lost in the dispute exposed them to the interruption of the guard, which was seen approaching. It was now discovered that Mr. Stockton had no pistols, and one of Captain Johnston’s was borrowed for his use. Having taken their ground at the distance of eight paces, Mr. Stockton proceeded to take a steady aim, by resting the barrel of his pistol on his left hand. Captain Johnston’s friend objected to this; and again the American endeavoured to justify that very unusual mode of deciding such matters. At length the guard was seen within a hundred paces, and Captain Johnston desired that the affair might proceed in the usual manner. This was agreed to, and the discharge took place: the ball of Lieutenant Stockton’s pistol passed through Captain Johnston’s great coat; and, before a second fire could take place, the guard came up and interfered.
BETWEEN MR. UNIACKE AND MR. BOWIE.
August 1, 1819.
A duel was fought at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the 1st of August, between Mr. Uniacke, son of the Attorney-General, and Mr. Bowie, an auctioneer; when the latter was killed on the spot. The deceased had been under a prosecution for an offence; in which cause he considered Mr. Uniacke, as the prosecuting attorney, had used improper expressions regarding him, and therefore called him out to the above ordeal.
BETWEEN CAPTAIN PELLEW, OF THE LIFE GUARDS, AND LIEUTENANT WALSH.
October 6, 1819.
The following are the particulars of a fatal duel which took place at Montmartre, near Paris, on the 6th of October, between Captain Pellew and Lieutenant Walsh:—Mr. Walsh not long since exchanged from the Life Guards, in which corps Captain Pellew held his commission. Previously to Mr. Walsh’s quitting the regiment, he had resided with his wife a good deal in the barracks in Hyde Park; where, being young and thoughtless, she unhappily received with too much readiness those attentions which military men too often think themselves at liberty to pay to every female. The consequences were such as might be expected to result from such infatuation. A close attachment was formed between Captain Pellew and the lady; and at length, in a fatal moment, she agreed to sacrifice her character, by eloping with the object of her blind affection. About a month before the duel she went off with him from her father’s house, where she had been residing for some time, during the absence of her husband. They repaired to Paris, whither they were followed by Mr. Walsh; he preferring what is called the satisfaction of a gentleman, to pursuing any legal means of redress. A meeting was arranged: the distance agreed upon was twelve full paces, and they were to fire together by signal. When that was given, the pistol of Mr. Walsh was immediately discharged. Captain Pellew did not fire; and it is said he never intended to do so. Mr. Walsh’s ball passed through the right temple into the brain of Captain Pellew, who instantly expired.
CHAPTER III
DUELS IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES, FROM 1820 TO 1841.
BETWEEN MR. GRATTAN AND LORD CLARE.
June 11, 1820.
Mr. Grattan, son of the deceased patriot, having, at a public meeting in Dublin, made use of expressions which Lord Clare conceived to reflect upon the late Lord Clare, his father, and having declined either to explain or to justify them, the parties met in Hyde Park; when Mr. Grattan, having received Lord Clare’s fire, instantly fired in the air. The friends present having given their opinion, that the affair could proceed no further, Mr. Grattan said, that having now met Lord Clare in the field, and given him the satisfaction required, he was willing to admit he was in the wrong, in having made use of such expressions. Upon which the parties shook hands, and the affair terminated.