The following account of the proceedings taken by the Superior Court of Law for New Kent County, in consequence of a projected duel between Colonel Graves and Captain Lacy, is from the Virginia Times, of the 23d of May:—The Superior Court of Law for New Kent County tried and determined five several presentments, found by the grand jury against Colonel Richard Graves, in each of which the defendant was charged with a violation of the act to suppress duelling. The case, during the last session of the legislature, had been laid before that body by Captain Archibald Lacy, with the view of removing Colonel Graves from his seat. The several presentments charged Richard Graves; first, with sending a challenge to Archibald Lacy to fight a duel; second, to fight a duel with poison; third, with sending a challenge to Archibald Lacy to fight a duel in the following manner—that two cups should be filled, the one with pure water and the other with deadly poison, and that two tickets should be rolled up and put in a hat, and they, Graves and Lacy, should draw lots who should drink the cup of poison; fourth, with sending a challenge to fight a duel with knives, &c.; and fifth, for challenging him to draw a lot for a cup of poison, which cup was to be drunk by the person to whom the same should fall by allotment.
To these charges the defendant pleaded not guilty; and the evidence went to establish the said charges. Verdict, “Not Guilty.”
BETWEEN THE MARQUIS OF LONDONDERRY AND MR. BATTIER.
May 6, 1824.
A duel took place between the Marquis of Londonderry and Ensign Battier, late a cornet of the 10th Royal Hussars, in consequence of a letter which he had published, in reference to his dispute with the officers of that regiment, in which he had stated, that the noble lord “sheltered himself under his rank.” Sir Henry Hardinge, Secretary to the Ordnance, was the Marquis’s second, and the second of Mr. Battier was Colonel Western. They met at a distance of ten paces. Sir Henry gave the choice of his pistols to Colonel Western. The word was given. Lord Londonderry’s shot passed Mr. Battier on the right; while Mr. Battler’s pistol missed fire. The marquis requested his antagonist might have another shot; but this Colonel Western declined, on the part of Mr. Battier, and thus the firing ended.
On the 13th of May the following General Order was issued from the Horse Guards:—“The Commander-in-chief having received a report from Lieutenant-General the Marquis of Londonderry, that his lordship had accepted a challenge to fight a duel with Ensign Battier, late a cornet of the 10th Royal Hussars, upon a point which his lordship considered to be one of military duty, his Royal Highness has felt it incumbent upon him to submit to the King a transaction at variance with the principles of subordination, and therefore of a tendency injurious to the discipline of the army. The King has consequently conveyed to his Royal Highness his Majesty’s commands, to express his Majesty’s concern and displeasure, that an officer of Lord Londonderry’s high rank and military reputation should have committed himself in personal collision with an inferior officer, by accepting a challenge for any supposed aggression proceeding from the exercise of his authority as Colonel of the Regiment.”
The London Gazette of the 18th announced that the name of Mr. Battier was erased from the half-pay list of the army.
BETWEEN CAPTAIN GOURLAY AND MR. WESTALL.
October 30, 1824.
At the preceding Doncaster races, a Mr. Westall lost a bet of seventy guineas to Capt. Gourlay, who also lost a bet at the same time to a friend of Mr. Westall. Captain Gourlay and Mr. Westall met at the Bull Inn, Edinburgh, recognising each other with apparent friendship. After some conversation, the Captain reminded Mr. Westall of his bet; which that gentleman acknowledged, but added, that he was authorised by his friend to set off the bet which he had won from Captain Gourlay, against that which he, Mr. Westall, had lost. An altercation ensuing, the Captain applied the term swindler to Mr. Westall; who, in return, called the Captain a liar. On this the Captain, snatching up the poker, made a blow at Mr. Westall’s head: the poker missed its aim, but descending on his shoulder, was snapped in two by the force of the blow; which, for some minutes, rendered him insensible. On recovering, Mr. Westall went into the coffee-room; where, after much warm language, a meeting was arranged. The parties met at South Ferry; and, together with their seconds, crossed in the boat, and proceeded to an eminence; where, preliminaries being adjusted, the parties took their stations, and Captain Gourlay, receiving Mr. Westall’s ball, fell dead upon the spot.
BETWEEN MR. LAMBTON, AFTERWARDS EARL OF DURHAM, AND MR. BEAUMONT.
July 1, 1826.
At Alnwick, on the 30th of June, after the close of the election for the county of Northumberland, at which Mr. Beaumont, Mr. Liddell, Mr. Bell, and Lord Howick were the candidates, Mr. Beaumont, while Lord Howick was addressing the freeholders, advanced and said, “I will now drag forth, not Lord Howick, but the head and front of all these proceedings. I accuse Mr. Lambton of prompting Lord Howick; which I have seen him do at every sentence of his speech.” Mr. Lambton declared he had not. Upon which, Mr. Beaumont called out, “Mr. Lambton, gentlemen, says it is not the fact; I say it is false.” Mr. Lambton instantly stepped forward and said, “I am ready to wave any intention of addressing you upon a matter relating personally to myself, being perfectly confident, that what has just occurred requires a very different answer from any which it can receive from these hustings, and which, let Mr. Beaumont be assured, it most certainly shall have. Can any one who heard Lord Howick believe that he wanted any man’s whisper to give utterance to his sentiments? Whatever may be Mr. Beaumont’s reasons for his conduct, if he wishes to engage in a private quarrel, he shall not be baulked.”