The first meeting between Colonel Bolton and Major Brooks was to have
come off on the 20th December, 1804, at a place called Miller's Dam, off
the Aigburth-road, which, if I recollect rightly, was a small creek which
ran up to a mill--long and long ago swept away. The circumstance of the
quarrel, however, having by some means got abroad, the authorities
interposed and both gentlemen were arrested on their way to the
rendezvous. They were both bound over, in very heavy penalties, to keep
the peace to all and sundry of His Majesty's subjects, and each other in
particular, for twelve calendar months. Brooks, on being arrested,
exhibited the utmost rage and virulence, and expressed himself in strong
language against the Colonel, accusing him roundly of being the cause of
the arrest, and the interference they had met with. There was not word
of truth in this charge, Colonel Bolton, though forced into the matter,
according to the laws of honour, kept the meeting a secret, and it was
afterwards actually proved that the secret of the meeting oozed out from
one of Major Brooks' own friends.
During the twelve months the two gentlemen were bound over, Brooks let
slip no opportunity of insulting Colonel Bolton, as far as he dared
without coming into actual collision. He said he was the cause of their
meeting being interrupted, although he had been frequently assured of the
truth. As the twelve months were about to expire, Major Brooks increased
his violence. On the day the bond ceased to have effect, the Major,
meeting Colonel Bolton walking with Colonel Earle past the shop, kept at
present by Mr. Allender, in Castle-street, then and there publicly again
insulted him, and called him by a name which no gentleman could put up
with. A challenge was the consequence. The report of the disturbance
soon reached the Exchange, and the authorities again stepped forward to
prevent hostilities. Colonel Bolton was again arrested and bound over,
and Major Brooks was taken into custody. The latter denied the right of
the authorities to arrest him, asserting that he had done nothing of
sufficient weight to break his bond, and that he could not be again bound
over until the year of bondage had expired. The Major was some hours in
custody, but was at length released without promising anything. He was
no sooner at liberty than he sent a friend to Colonel Bolton, who
consented to a meeting for that very afternoon. This was on the 20th of
December, 1805. The place of rendezvous on this occasion was in a field
at the foot of Love-lane (now called Fairclough-lane), which was skirted
by it. The exact spot of meeting was in a field about half-way between
the present Boundary-street (then a narrow lane with hedges) and St.
Jude's Church. It was near Fielding's nursery ground, which occupied the
land now used as a timber-yard. It was quite dark when the combatants
arrived. Major Brooks was accompanied Mr. Forbes. Mr. Park, surgeon,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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