Duels were also fought in public. A fatal duel of this nature took place between a M. de C----, an officer of light cavalry, and M. V----, of Carcassone. It appeared, that while the regiment of M. C---- was quartered in the latter town, he had courted a sister of M. V----, and, under the promise of marriage, deceived her. The route arrived, and the regiment marched to Hesdin, where V---- followed the seducer, and insisted upon his marriage with his sister; to which proposal C---- acceded, stating, that he only waited for the consent of his family. A suspicious delay having taken place, M. de V---- followed him to Paris, and demanded a categorical explanation of his intentions; satisfaction was insisted upon, and C---- again renewed his promises, fixing a period. This period having expired, M. de V----, accompanied by his sister and mother, repaired to Hesdin, where the regiment was in garrison. C---- continuing to hesitate, a meeting was fixed upon, near the glacis of the town; the commanding officer and the mayor being both apprised of a transaction which was considered unavoidable. The gates of the town were closed after upwards of eighteen hundred persons had assembled to witness the conflict. On the ground, M. de V---- once more called upon De C---- to fulfil his promise, and rescue his unfortunate sister from ignominy, adding, that from his expertness in the use of the pistol, his life was at his disposal; and he even proposed swords, to afford him a more equal chance in the conflict. This remonstrance and generous conduct were of no avail. M. de C----, it appears, had practised pistol firing for a considerable length of time, and was equally certain of a successful aim. Lots were drawn for the first fire, which fell upon C----, whose ball grazed the head of his adversary, who firing in turn, shot his dishonourable adversary through the head. All distinction of rank appeared to be levelled; and a general officer who was disappointed in his expectation of promotion, actually sent a message to Marshal Soult, then minister of war, demanding either the advancement he had memorialized for, or personal satisfaction. The age and position of the marshal were sufficient motives to decline this singular meeting; when the general thought proper to call out the marshal’s son, the Marquis de Dalmatie, to fight for his father, a challenge which, of course, was also refused; when the pugnacious memorialist published an insulting letter addressed to the marquis, in the usual language of what is called “posting;” but this outrageous conduct was very properly treated with the contempt it deserved.