“Brookes’s, Friday night.”
A meeting, in consequence of the above correspondence, took place between the parties on the following afternoon, at three P.M., attended by Lord Foley and Mr. Kerr, the former as the friend of Lord Petersham, the latter as that of Mr. Webster Wedderburne; when, after exchanging two shots, each without effect, the seconds interfered, and the affair terminated.
BETWEEN M. MANUEL AND M. BEAUMONT.
April 10, 1821.
The following singular and shocking duel took place in Paris. The circumstances which led to the sad result are extremely curious. One of the parties was M. Manuel, a Pole, a man of great respectability and of large fortune: he was about fifty years of age, and the father of six children, by the wife who survives him. M. Beaumont, the other party, is a single man, between thirty and forty, likewise of considerable property, and a native of Geneva. They were both exchange brokers.
About five or six months ago, M. Manuel, who lived on the most affectionate terms with his wife, received an anonymous letter, saying that she was unfaithful to him. He tore the letter with contempt, and dismissed the matter from his mind. In about a fortnight he received a second letter, containing the same intimation; and this he treated like the first. In a few days he received a third, which stated, that as he was too incredulous to be convinced, except by ocular proof, he might have that proof the very next day, if he chose. The writer then told him to go at two o’clock to a particular house in a particular street, and to make a certain signal which he described, and he would then have no doubt of the writer’s veracity. M. Manuel went accordingly at the time designated to the house in question, and made the described signal. The door was instantly opened by a female, whom he knew to be his wife, but who did not at first recognise him, but throwing herself into his arms called him by the name of Beaumont. The husband was now convinced. He determined to leave Paris immediately; he converted his French property into disposeable effects, and set off for his native place, Warsaw. Before he went, he proffered forgiveness to his wife, and even agreed to live with her, provided she would abandon her paramour. This the mother of six children refused to do; and the husband left Paris without her.
A few days before the fatal event he returned, and reappeared on the exchange. Here he met M. Beaumont: a violent altercation ensued; and the result was a challenge, and a positive agreement, that one at least should not come out of the field alive. They met the next morning, fired, and M. Manuel was killed on the spot by a pistol shot in the breast. M. Beaumont shortly after fled to Switzerland, to escape the storm of indignation which exhibited itself against him at Paris; his colleagues on the exchange having come to a resolution never to transact business with him again.
The following curious circumstance occurred at the funeral of M. Manuel. When the body arrived at the church of St. Denys, in the Rue Caumartin, the authorities refused to receive it, because M. Manuel had been killed in a duel. The populace, however, insisted on its being received, and, after some delay, it was taken in. It was then found that no priest was present to perform the necessary rites: a second disturbance took place, and at length one appeared, but not habited in his canonicals; a fresh outcry, however, induced the priest to robe himself, and the service was performed in the usual manner. The body was afterwards carried to the cemetery of Père la Chaise, and there interred.
BETWEEN MR. WILLIAM BRITTLEBANK AND MR. CUDDIE.
May 22, 1821.
Mr. Cuddie, a Scotchman by birth, and a surgeon in the navy, came about four years before to reside at Winster, where he began to practise his profession. An attachment had subsisted for some time before his death between himself and Miss Brittlebank, the daughter of an eminent solicitor in the same town; and as she was in a delicate state of health, he had frequent opportunities of seeing her in his medical capacity. Mr. Cuddie’s attentions to the lady met with the decided disapprobation of her family, and it was expressed to him in the strongest terms. On Monday, the 21st of May, Mr. Cuddie and Miss Brittlebank were met, whilst walking together, by Mr. William Brittlebank, her brother; who took his sister away, after some harsh words had been exchanged between himself and Mr. Cuddie. So improper did the language of Mr. Cuddie appear to Mr. William Brittlebank, that he sent a challenge to him on the evening of the same day. To this Mr. Cuddie returned no answer, and another messenger was dispatched to him on the same errand the following morning, who was informed by Mr. Cuddie that he would not meet Mr. William Brittlebank, and therefore should not reply to his note. In consequence of this, Mr. Spencer, a surgeon, residing at Bakewell, a friend of both the parties, was sent for by Mr. W. Brittlebank. He came, and about three o’clock in the afternoon Mr. William and Mr. Francis Brittlebank, accompanied by Mr. Spencer, proceeded to Mr. Cuddie’s house. They were here joined by Mr. Andrew Brittlebank; when Mr. Spencer, going into the house, informed Mr. Cuddie, that he must either make some apology to Mr. William Brittlebank or fight. It is stated that he again declined to do either the one or the other. Subsequently, however, he appears to have consented to give Mr. W. Brittlebank the satisfaction he required: pistols were furnished by Mr. Spencer to the parties: they separated to a distance of fifteen yards on the gravel walk in Mr. Cuddie’s garden, and on the signal being given they fired. Mr. Cuddie unhappily received the shot of his antagonist in his bowels, and died on the following day.
A verdict of wilful murder was returned against the three brothers, Andrew, William, and Francis Brittlebank, and also against Mr. Spencer. Mr. W. Brittlebank had absconded. The other three were taken into custody, and conveyed to Derby jail.