Upon leaving the hustings, Mr. Lambton, accompanied by the Hon. Charles Grey, retired to a house, to which all the efforts of his family to trace him were ineffectual. At length it was ascertained that he had dispatched Captain Bacon Grey to Mr. Beaumont, desiring that gentleman to hold a friend in readiness to receive an immediate communication from General Grey, for whom the Hon. Charles Grey had rode off express to Howick. In less than an hour the General arrived in Alnwick, and had a conference with Captain Plunkett, on the part of Mr. Beaumont. The result was, an appointment for a hostile meeting at nine o’clock, at the Moor, three miles from the town. On reaching the ground, Mr. Lambton did not find Mr. Beaumont; but he shortly after received a communication from him by Captain Plunkett, stating that the Captain, finding Mr. Beaumont beset by a crowd on the way, had advised him to return, as no doubt the meeting would be disturbed. They, therefore, made the best of their way to Belford, North Durham; from which they passed to a field adjoining the strand at Bamborough; where, about three in the afternoon, and amidst heavy rain, Mr. Lambton and Mr. Beaumont were placed on the ground, at a distance of twelve paces, and immediately exchanged shots, without effect. Captain Plunkett was preparing to re-load Mr. Beaumont’s pistol, when General Grey stepped up to him, and said that enough had been done for the honour of the parties, and that Mr. Lambton had never thought of requiring an apology. Captain Plunkett replied, that his friend was there for the purpose of giving satisfaction; but that if General Grey thought proper to withdraw Mr. Lambton, he, Captain Plunkett, must necessarily withdraw Mr. Beaumont. Mr. Lambton was then withdrawn; and here the matter terminated to the satisfaction, it was believed, of all present, though not a word passed between the principals.
The following is the official statement signed by the seconds:—“In consequence of some language which occurred on the hustings at Alnwick yesterday, a meeting took place this afternoon at Bamborough, between John George Lambton, Esq., M.P., and Thomas Wentworth Beaumont, Esq., when, after an exchange of shots, the affair terminated to the satisfaction of the seconds.—July 1, 1826.”
BETWEEN THE MARQUIS DE LIVRON AND M. DU TRONE.
November 18, 1826.
A duel between the Marquis de Livron and M. Du Trone took place at mid-day, in the forest of Senart, near the château of Madame de Cayla. The whole affair had the appearance of an act of madness, and resembled more a tournament than a modern duel. M. Du Trone, the young advocate, was habited in the costume of a Greek chief: each combatant was mounted on horseback, and had three seconds. The parties were armed with sabres, and, on the onset, M. Livron was dismounted by the concussion of the horses. Both were slightly wounded, and the seconds then thought proper to interfere. What adds to the singularity of this duel is, that it took place in the presence of a hundred and fifty spectators.
BETWEEN MR. BRIC AND MR. HAYES.
December 26, 1826.
At Dublin, on the 26th of December, Mr. Bric, the counsellor, fell a victim to false notions of honour. On the preceding day, he was returning from the post-office, when the Cork mail drove up. Mr. Hayes, with other gentlemen, were talking of the contested election at Cork; and the majority of Hutchinson over Callaghan being announced, Mr. Bric said, rather hastily, that “he rejoiced at the prospect of the defeat of that rascal Callaghan;” alluding to his decided hostility to the claims of the Roman Catholics. Mr. Hayes, a cousin and active friend of Mr. Callaghan, looking at Mr. Bric, replied, “Whoever calls Mr. Callaghan a rascal is a scoundrel and liar.” He then handed his card to Mr. Bric, who returned his own. On the following morning, at half-past seven, they met in a field near the Broadstone, at Phibsborough, on the north side of the town. The ground being measured, the combatants took their position. Mr. Bric was previously observed to shake hands with several of his friends, the sight of whom agitated him a little. He mistook the signal “present” for “fire,” and for an instant elevated his pistol; but, discovering his mistake, again dropped it, and apologized for having been premature. The signal was given immediately afterwards. Mr. Bric fired: his ball entered the earth, and after drawing the trigger, he wheeled round and threw up his left arm, thereby exposing his person to his adversary’s fire. Mr. Hayes’s ball entered Mr. Bric’s left side, and, passing through his body came out under his left arm. He reeled, dropped his pistol, and went down gently. He at first was not conscious of the extent of his danger, and said rather calmly, he hoped the wound would not prove serious. The surgeons, however, on examining it, pronounced it fatal; and he expired in less than an hour. Mr. Bric was a native of Tralee. In 1819, he came to England, and attached himself, in quality of reporter, to one of the London daily journals. On his return to Dublin in 1824, he was called to the bar, and almost immediately took a leading part in the agitation of the Roman Catholic question.
BETWEEN M. GOULARD AND M. CAIRE.
February 21, 1827.
The following duel took place near Paris. A student of pharmacy, named Goulard, while playing at billiards, quarreled with a young medical student of the name of Caire. Their mutual friends having in vain tried every means of persuasion to prevent the consequences of the dispute, accompanied the young men without the walls of Paris. Goulard seemed disposed to submit to an arrangement, but Caire absolutely refused. The seconds measured the ground, and the first shot having been won by Goulard, he fired, and Caire fell down dead. Goulard did not appear during the prosecution; he continued absent on the day fixed for judgment, and the court, conformably to the code of criminal proceedings, pronounced on the charge, without the intervention of a jury. It acquitted Goulard of premeditation; but condemned him, for contumacy, to perpetual hard labour, and to be branded.
BETWEEN THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON AND THE EARL OF WINCHILSEA.
March 21, 1829.
In consequence of the part which the Duke of Wellington took, as Minister of the country, in bringing in the Roman Catholic Relief Bill, the Earl of Winchilsea, who was strongly opposed to the measure, addressed a letter, on the 14th of March, to the Secretary of the Committee for establishing the King’s College, London, which contained the following passage:—