But there were occasions when the Park was the scene of bloody conflict. Fierce fighting raged there, ghastly sights rivalling Tyburn were enacted under those old trees, which, could they but record their experiences, would hand to the world an unequalled series of “Reminiscences.” For some unknown cause, on a September morning in the waning eighteenth century, such a conflict disturbed the fresh quietude of the glade. Colonel the Hon. Cosmo Gordon and Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas met at the Ring to fight a duel. It was agreed by their seconds that, after receiving their pistols, they should advance and fire when they pleased. When about eight yards from each other the triggers fell almost simultaneously, but only Colonel Cosmo Gordon’s weapon went off. His adversary then fired, and Colonel Cosmo Gordon was seriously wounded in the thigh. The second pistols had no result, but after they were reloaded, the duellists again advanced and fired at about the same distance as before, when Colonel Thomas was badly wounded in the body. He fell, and though the ball was immediately removed by the surgeon whom he had brought with him, death followed. An action like this was no little Society function of the day, no mere working up to the rôle for the sake of appearances. It meant real feeling on the part of the actors, and the cause was deep-seated. Some pages back, mention was made that youths fought in sheer imitation of their elders and superiors in rank and position. A record survives as a ghastly illustration of the habit. One Thursday night four law students were spending the evening together at the Cecil Coffee House, where one of them, an Irishman named Frizell, lodged. They caroused till one o’clock in the morning, when Frizell declared he could drink no more. This annoyed another Irishman among the little party, whose name was Clark. He taunted Frizell with inhospitality. Frizell replied that he had meant nothing, but that if he had given offence he was also ready to give satisfaction. He then went off to bed. Clark declared to the other two companions that Frizell had challenged him, and though they repeatedly assured him there was no challenge in the words addressed to him he still remained unappeased, mounted to his friend’s bedroom, and would hear of no arrangement but that they should have a duel in five minutes. Frizell immediately put on his clothes and joined the others, saying that if his friends (Evans and Montgomery) considered that he had given offence he was perfectly willing to apologise. Clark, however, would take no apology, and insisted that they should fight it out in an hour’s time, at three o’clock in the morning, in Hyde Park.