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
Shortly after Lord Byron left the room also, and met Mr. Chaworth, when
he stated that he wished to speak with him. He then called a waiter, and
asked if there were any room disengaged. The waiter then showed them to
an unoccupied room, and went in with a candle, which was all the light,
except a dull fire, that was in the apartment. Lord Byron asked Mr.
Chaworth whether it was to him or to Sir Charles Sedley, that he was to
have recourse on the disputed subject. Mr. Chaworth then replied that it
was to him, and that if he had any thing further to say in the matter it
might be advisable to shut the door, which he immediately did; when
turning round, he perceived Lord Byron with his sword half drawn, who
instantly exclaimed, “Draw!” Mr. Chaworth immediately complied, and at
the first thrust his sword passed through Lord Byron’s waistcoat, and he
thought he had wounded him, when Lord Byron shortened his sword, and
gave him the fatal wound, observing at the same time that he had as much
courage as any man in England. A struggle then took place between the
parties, for when the waiter and the landlord entered the room they were
grasped in each others arms, Mr. Chaworth holding his sword in his left
hand, and Lord Byron having his in his right hand. Chaworth gave up his
sword readily, but Lord Byron only surrendered his with reluctance.
Hawkrup, the surgeon, was immediately sent for, and pronounced the wound
to be mortal. The sword had entered about an inch on the left side of
the naval, and passing obliquely upwards, had made its exit about five
or six inches higher on the left side of the back, and in its passage
had made a large opening in the bottom of the stomach, wounded one of
the small intestines, and had passed through the diaphragm.
It appears that when the sword of Mr. Chaworth passed through the
waistcoat of his antagonist, he expressed his apprehension that he had
seriously wounded him. Now, under such an apprehension, it is probable
that he was thrown off his guard, when Lord Byron immediately shortened
his sword and ran him through the body, the unfortunate gentleman
endeavouring to parry the thrust with his left hand, and seizing the
gripe of his sword and struggling for it, still saying that he hoped his
Lordship was not seriously hurt; it was then that Lord Byron exclaimed,
“That he hoped he would acknowledge that he was as brave a man as any
other in the kingdom.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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