The History of Duelling. Vol. 2 (of 2)Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)
Philosophy
The History of Duelling. Vol. 2 (of 2)
Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)
Dueling
We, therefore,—for I speak but as one of a vast body who hold that
Christianity and true Conservatism are synonymous,—we, who in these days
of storm and tempest look to your Lordships as the sheet-anchor on which
the preservation of the state depends,—we who, respecting your wisdom,
and honouring your manly daring in the vindication and assertion of
truth and duty, deeply believe, however, and know with unalterable
conviction, that it is God’s blessing, and His only, which has hitherto
maintained, or can hereafter maintain, you in your posts and in your
usefulness; and who watch over you therefore with the jealousy of love,
lest in aught, through inadvertence, you come short of your high and
holy vocation. We call upon your Lordships, therefore, in the name of
God and man, as you would be consistent with yourselves, as you hope
God’s blessing to rest on your labours for your country’s good, to
accompany the verdict you pronounce on the solemn occasion about to
engage your attention with the fearless unqualified expression of your
united abhorrence of the unhallowed system of duelling.
I have the honour, &c.
LÆLIUS.
* * * * *
The following article contains a very graphic account of a duel, from
the origin down to the acquittal of the prisoner:—
THE LAW RESPECTING DUELLING.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING CHRONICLE.
SIR,
Your correspondent, whose communication on the subject of duelling you
printed on Friday, must have adopted the principle which he lays down
from an article in Knight’s Quarterly Magazine, a periodical which was
born and died some twenty years ago; but which, during its brief
existence, could boast some contributors who have since risen to
eminence; among others, _et facile princeps_, the Right Honourable
Thomas Macaulay, then at Cambridge—not, however, that I have the
slightest reason to believe the paper to which I refer to be his. As the
work is now scarce, I have made a copy of the article, which is at your
service.
I am, &c.
T.
* * * * *
Suppose a high-spirited, but good-natured, young man receives an insult.
It is possible that his first, or, at least, his second impulse, may be
to pass it over, and content himself with despising the brute who
offered it. The brute, however, mistaking love of peace for fear of war,
and glad of an opportunity of oppressing safely, repeats the aggression;
the bystanders, who, to a young man, are the representatives of all
mankind, past, present, and to come, begin to show by their looks that
they had not expected so much philosophy. Our hero gives or sends a
challenge; a “meeting takes place,”—the brute is shot dead, and nobody
regrets him, not even his creditors, for they had lost all hopes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account